Feel lucky to be alive after falling forward down my stairs.

[Tolkienista]

I'm writing this just to say that you never know what is round the corner and for me I'm still in shock that I had the luckiest escape ever.
Saturday night I was on my own & stupidly descended a few steps of my staircase & leaned over the bannister to turn down the thermostat. I felt my foot pretty much disengage from the tread I was standing on and I was in free fall heading head first down the stairs.

It was probably only a milli second but I literally thought, I'm going to die as I was going forward and I knew the point of impact probably eight steps down would be my head. Miraculously I somehow managed to grab the rail on my right side and slammed into it with my body. It stopped me falling further and I disentangled myself and realised I'm alive.

Yes I've got bruised ribs, but nothing paracetamol can't deal with.

But I'm here to tell my tale and realise that at worst I could have died and at best I'd have sustained a head injury but to what degree I don't know.
Cue a massive sigh of relief , a massive reflection on my life and all that I've done to safeguard myself & then I throw it all away by endangering my life turning down a thermostat over the bannister.
If you've read this far, thank you for your time ........I just needed to get my story out there and say I'm safe, I'm fine, I'm really thankful and most importantly I'M ALIVE.

Wow what a thread to read. I’m glad you came away relatively unscathed OP and realise that whilst worse off, I was actually pretty lucky too!

I fell from halfway down in my early 20’s and landed in a heap at the bottom. Totally smashed the ball joint in my right ankle, surgeons had to remove all the bone fragments, shave it off and rebuild. Lots of rehab back in the day but I’m alive and apart from a cool set of scars no lasting signs.

Thank God you’re ok. Like a pp, it’s scary enough when you just slip, miss a step but ready yourself.

Before I had my DS, I remember reading about a lady who died falling down the stairs at home.. at her and her DD joint 40th and 18th Birthday Party……and crying. Now I have them, it’s even more unimaginably horrifically tragic.

Take care! Go Slow! And, my lovely uniformed services and medical parents impressed… DO NOT CARRY things in each hand! Stay safe……..🙏 🤞

I’m so very sorry. What evil scum. I hope they are caught and I send positive thoughts to you all..🙏💖 🤞.

Stairs are bastards. Need to be respected. People look askance at me going up and down them slowly. But I know what the f@@@ers can do.

Ugh bless you ! So glad you’re ok
i did this on a stairwell at a girls grammar school a few years ago … my foot somehow ( I’ll never know now ) went right under and I launched forward and twisted my foot so badly in nearly passed out .. I called for help and one of the young girls shouted was I ok ? .. it brought me round and she got me a drink bless her ! … shaken up .. I still have a bit of a weakness there now ..shook me up and I am even now wary of stairs … get well soon .. I know the fear and sudden shock… ( felt like a labour pain in my ankle lol … awful that’s the only way I can describe it )

You and who? Are you pregnant?

Oh that’s so so sad.

Vom 🤢

I loathe comments like this. So all the poor people who die - did your Sky Fairy not love them as much? Did that poor baby who died deserve it? What a crock of shite.

That sounds so scary OP. You must in shock. 💐 I‘m glad to hear you managed to catch this fall. It may not be the time now to say this but if you’ve ever thought about balance and strength training while you’re fit - this would be the time to do it. Stay as reactive and strong as you are now. Most falls aren’t being caught because those who experience them have lost muscle mass to save themselves.

So scary for you OP. I fell down quite a long flight of stairs at the cinema (I was wearing flip flops & caught my foot)It all happened so quickly. I was incredibly lucky not to hit my head but I was massively bruised & very shaken up. Kept having flashbacks for weeks afterwards.

I did this last year but flew through the air and landed on my face. I broke my nose and did something weird to my wrist but I was very surprised how unscathed I was. In movies the person always seems to die or break loads of bones. I think I knew I wouldn't die but I knew it was going to really hurt!

Just to clarify, I didn't hit my head.
I reached out and made contact with a rail using my hand and crashed into the rail too with my body......hence bruised ribs, but thankfully absolutely no contact with my head.

My DD3 once fell down our stairs when she was about 15 months old. I wasn't quick enough to grab her, and could only watch in horror as she tumbled roly poly, head over heels, all the way down to the bottom of our stairs, which are in the shape of a long backwards C. I scooped her up, popped her into her highchair, and fed her chocolate buttons. She seemed no more than a bit nonplussed. 16 years on and she's none the worse for it. I think she instinctively went floppy and "went" with the motion, which saved her from injury. I was bloody terrified at the time, though!

I too only wear slippers with backs as I had another fall down some stairs when I was wearing backless mules. Only 5 or 6 steps that time but no way would I ever wear backless slippers again.

I once worked for a lady who was once, without warning, pushed down the steps in a multi storey carpark. Obviously she survived, but with injuries, never found out who did it. To this day she would completely freak if she thought anyone were creeping up behind her. Just awful, poor woman.

You are so right @Tolkienista

My ex-colleagues hubby fell down the stairs when he was 35yo.

He survived but has been in a nursing home since. She didn't have a power of attorney so could do nothing with his car, the house, his business. It nearly bankrupted her.
Bless her she still visits him but by the time she was in her mid 40's she realised he wasn't going to get any better, so she started dating again.

Walking up/down stairs is about the most hazardous standard everyday thing we all do. I loathe them. Can't wait to make my next home purchase which will be a bungalow.

Heal well @Tolkienista

Children bounce, thank god.

This happened to me at work the first week of December
Fell down a full flight of stairs head first.
I remember falling really fast and just thinking " I'm falling! Fuck, I'm still falling!"
Very luckily for me, a customer was on the bottom stair, looked up, saw me falling towards him and caught me.
So, so lucky.
Like you, I hurt my ribs and I pulled every muscle in my arm and shoulder.
Lots of pain for about 4 weeks and then it eased. But I was saved from a serious head or neck injury and I'm so grateful.

But as you said, the psychological impact has been huge
It's really scared me. And made me realise my kids and grandson could have lost me in a matter of seconds
Very glad you are ok OP

I am so sorry to read all these sad and scary stories, stairs are truly hazardous. I am always so worried about my parents who are 80 and the fact that they still climb the stairs every day. I tell them to go slow, lean in towrds the stairs, walk backwards down them or on all 4s if possible. Me and my siblings have tried to talk to them about moving to a bungalow but they always drag their feet on the issue (sorry for the pun). I'd love to get a lift for them but not sure they would fork out for one, but reading this thread makes me think a 2nd handrail might be a good stopgap. Any tips on how I find a reliable company to fit one? Stay safe OP and all, go slow and steady.

I always think im in danger of falling because in the morning still sleepy and the cats excited for food! When I go down the 2 cats run down beside me knowing it's breakfast and kind of double take me around my feet, stay close to my feet nearly tripping me up, im going to fall one day because of them in sure of it! Also nearly trip over them on flat floor too tbh.

Tomorrow is not a promise to anyone. And our path is written before we were born. There's just no explanation. Being a believer is a mercy. Sorry if it was not given to you.

@KLMUK my house had two banister rails when I moved on some years ago as previously owner was disabled. We debated removing one when we were moving our furniture in. I am so glad we didn't. Having both has saved me more than once.
You can buy one from.Amazon if you or anyone you know are handy with a drill.

My brother did the same at at a year old. My mum said he was none the worse for it but she rang the doctor anyway in a panic, and he said what you did

I have lived in flats since I was thirty as I live in a capital city. When I visit my three daughters in their houses I am aware of the dangers stairs are something to to take with care, they are killers, some are so narrow, and steep the foot cannot be placed correctly on the tread, also there is only one handrail.
I am fit and have gym 4 times a week but house stairs are another thing.