British artist hospitalised with injuries that posed a risk to his life in a "car-crash"-style accident after tripping over his cat domestically.
TOI World Desk | TOI Global Desk | Oct 07, 2025, 23:05 IST
Chris Rowley, a professional musician from Leicestershire, England, narrowly survived a freak household accident caused by his pet sphinx cat. After tumbling down the stairs, Rowley suffered injuries comparable to those sustained in a serious car crash. Found 14 hours later by his wife, he is now recovering with the help of medical professionals and community support through a fundraising campaign.
TL;DR
This musician of 59 years lay crushed and broken with skull fractures, a shattered spine, and some fractured ribs after tripping over an active cat as he rolled down the staircase and remained trapped for 14 hours, after which he was rescued by his wife.
The incident: An ordinary evening turns dangerous
59-year-old Chris Rowley was descending down the stairs at his home in Leicestershire when his sphinx kitten named Eric Morecambe jumped onto his leg. Rowley trampled 14 steps and sustained life-threatening injuries.
“I can’t remember much, just falling fast — it was quick and over within seconds,” Rowley told The Mirror.
The fall left him immobilized at the base of the stairs with extensive trauma, including a fractured skull, broken neck, two spinal fractures, and nine broken ribs — several of which were fractured in multiple places. Medical responders later compared his injuries to those seen in major car crashes.
Hours of Isolation and Pain
Rowley’s wife, Jackie, a children’s care worker, was away on a night shift at the time of the incident. With a dead phone and no ability to move, Rowley lay injured for nearly 14 hours until Jackie returned the next morning.
“When I opened the door and heard him screaming, I saw the blood and knew it was bad,” she said. Emergency services arrived within minutes after she called for help.
Rowley was rushed by paramedics to a trauma center, where he was treated for the extensive injuries he had sustained. He remains oxygen-dependent and is being observed for possible seizures and internal bleeding.
A Long Path to Recovery
Doctors estimate that Rowley’s recovery could take between six months and a year. “I won’t be great for another 12 months, I’d have thought,” he said. “They’re still deciding if they need to drain blood from my lungs.”
This condition has deprived Rowley of the ability to perform or tour, thus constituting a serious loss of income. Friends have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help and support the couple through Rowley's recovery.
Despite everything, Rowley still very much loves his cat. “The cat’s adorable, and he’s only young,” he said. “I don’t take any umbrage to that — it could have happened anyway.”
Expert Perspective on Pet-Related Household Accidents
Based on statistics from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), thousands of falls caused by pets are experienced in UK households annually. Stairways should be kept clear, proper lighting used, and attention paid to pets' movement — particularly in multi-storey homes, suggests experts.
“Cats are naturally curious and unpredictable. It’s easy for playful behavior to result in a fall, especially on stairs,” said a RoSPA spokesperson.
FAQs
This musician of 59 years lay crushed and broken with skull fractures, a shattered spine, and some fractured ribs after tripping over an active cat as he rolled down the staircase and remained trapped for 14 hours, after which he was rescued by his wife.
The incident: An ordinary evening turns dangerous
59-year-old Chris Rowley was descending down the stairs at his home in Leicestershire when his sphinx kitten named Eric Morecambe jumped onto his leg. Rowley trampled 14 steps and sustained life-threatening injuries.
“I can’t remember much, just falling fast — it was quick and over within seconds,” Rowley told The Mirror.
The fall left him immobilized at the base of the stairs with extensive trauma, including a fractured skull, broken neck, two spinal fractures, and nine broken ribs — several of which were fractured in multiple places. Medical responders later compared his injuries to those seen in major car crashes.
Hours of Isolation and Pain
Rowley’s wife, Jackie, a children’s care worker, was away on a night shift at the time of the incident. With a dead phone and no ability to move, Rowley lay injured for nearly 14 hours until Jackie returned the next morning.
“When I opened the door and heard him screaming, I saw the blood and knew it was bad,” she said. Emergency services arrived within minutes after she called for help.
Rowley was rushed by paramedics to a trauma center, where he was treated for the extensive injuries he had sustained. He remains oxygen-dependent and is being observed for possible seizures and internal bleeding.
A Long Path to Recovery
Doctors estimate that Rowley’s recovery could take between six months and a year. “I won’t be great for another 12 months, I’d have thought,” he said. “They’re still deciding if they need to drain blood from my lungs.”
This condition has deprived Rowley of the ability to perform or tour, thus constituting a serious loss of income. Friends have set up a GoFundMe campaign to help and support the couple through Rowley's recovery.
Despite everything, Rowley still very much loves his cat. “The cat’s adorable, and he’s only young,” he said. “I don’t take any umbrage to that — it could have happened anyway.”
Expert Perspective on Pet-Related Household Accidents
Based on statistics from the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), thousands of falls caused by pets are experienced in UK households annually. Stairways should be kept clear, proper lighting used, and attention paid to pets' movement — particularly in multi-storey homes, suggests experts.
“Cats are naturally curious and unpredictable. It’s easy for playful behavior to result in a fall, especially on stairs,” said a RoSPA spokesperson.
FAQs
- For how long was he stuck before help came?
Rowley was stranded for about 14 hours until his wife came back home and called emergency. - How is the recovery going?
He is currently under medical care while on oxygen support and may take up to the entire year for a full recovery. - His cat- has it been harmed by the accident or rehomed?
The cat was unharmed and still now stays with Rowley, who harbors no ill feelings whatsoever toward the animal.