A dad has become paralysed down one side of his body after suffering a devastating brain haemorrhage at work.

Paul Alan Devine, fondly known to many as “Dibby”, was found to have two bleeds on the brain and needed emergency surgery at the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) in Cardiff.

After being transferred to Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr in Ystrad Mynach to continue his recovery, the 53-year-old was discharged home where he is now in a hospital bed in his living room.

The family claims they are not entitled to any council grants because his wife, Liz Devine, works as a nurse in the Welsh NHS. It means they are having to fundraise for vital adaptations to his home themselves.

His stepdaughter Angharad Joseph said: “I would really love to see him have some independence and not have to sleep in a hospital bed in our living room.

“Our dining table has been in the garden since March.”

Rugby fanatic Dibby, who lives in in Llanbradach, Caerphilly, and was a coach with Bedwas RFC, was working as a mechanic when he collapsed in January.

“On that day, life as we knew it was completely turned upside down,” recalled Angharad, 26, who lives in Exeter.

“The stroke left him paralysed down his left and we were told that he may never walk again.

“He’s not someone you would think this would happen to. He did complain a bit about headaches one day, but you would never associate that with anything serious.”

After his lifesaving operation at UHW and his transfer to Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr, Dibby’s family were told he would not be a priority for ventilation due to the coronavirus pandemic and were asked to sign a ‘do not attempt resuscitation’ (DNR) form.

“From that point we decided to bring him home,” Angharad added.

“But our home is not fit for him and needs adaptations. He has been unable to use a bathroom or have a proper shower since he returned from hospital when the pandemic first hit.

“It’s also not ideal for his teenage sons Sam, 15, and Robbie, 17, who live at home and are helping take care of their dad while studying for their GCSEs and A levels.”

Angharad added that Liz has effectively become her husband’s carer and has had to take time off work from the NHS.

“She’s coped amazingly well and hasn’t asked for help from anyone,” she said.

“She wants to go back to work but she doesn’t want to run the risk of giving him coronavirus.”

Angharad added that Dibby was proving some of the medics wrong by making steady progress with his mobility.

“He can walk from one side of the house to the other, but he gets really fatigued,” she said.

“He can talk, but his face has drooped and he can get quite confused at times. We are so lucky that he’s alive but we doubt he’ll ever be quite the same again.”

The family has set up a GoFundMe page in a bid to raise £5,000 for changes to his home which will allow him to wash properly and get onto the first floor.

Since it was set up on November 23 more than £2,300 has been donated. To donate please click here.

“We have been blown away by people’s generosity,” she added.

“Instead of any presents or cards this Christmas, it would be great if people could donate to this cause to help him get his life back. Anything that anyone could give would be greatly appreciated.”