Marcus Gibiliru, 39, was left paralysed from the neck down after a fight inside a mental health facility, his mother Habiba has revealed. She says no one has told her what happened to her son.
Admission and Altercation
Marcus was admitted to the Broadoak mental healthcare unit at Broadgreen Hospital in Liverpool in March 2022. According to his mother, just days into his stay he was involved in a fight. During the altercation, Marcus was kicked in the neck, causing permanent damage to the top of his spine.
Life-Altering Injuries
Habiba said: "When I went to see him after the fight he was lying in bed and couldn't move his legs. They blew up like a balloon." Marcus, who has schizophrenia and has been repeatedly admitted to mental health facilities over the past two decades, is now unable to walk and is paralysed from the neck down. His mother claims the injury is a direct result of the fight while he was under the care of the state.
Family Demands Answers
Habiba told the Liverpool Echo that the last four years have been "horrendous." She said: "The staff didn't tell us anything about why it happened or how it happened, all we know is he was kicked in the neck." She added that when Marcus was transferred to the Walton Centre, doctors confirmed that a force to the neck caused the damage.
Trust Response
Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust, which runs the Broadoak unit, declined to comment on the specific incident. A spokesperson said: "We are aware of concerns raised by the family of a former inpatient about their care while using our services. We are unable to discuss individual patients because of rules governing patient confidentiality and would welcome the opportunity to look into the issues raised." They encouraged the family to contact the Patient Advice and Liaison Service (PALS) and Complaints team.
No Arrests Made
Habiba confirmed that no one was arrested in connection with the incident. Marcus is now a patient at a mental health facility in Mossley Hill. She said: "Marcus is traumatised by what he has been through. He says it is what it is but it's not, someone did this to him and we don't know why."
Heartbreak and Hope for Justice
Habiba described the impact on the family: "Marcus is up and down. He just says to me he wishes he was walking but he can't. It has been horrible and horrendous for the whole family. We're all heartbroken by what Marcus has been through. We want answers."
