A WHEELCHAIR user had a seizure after bad parking on her street left her stranded in a ditch for half an hour.

Hope Harfield, who has cerebral palsy and arthritis, was trying to manoeuvre her electric wheelchair around a truck blocking the path to her flat.

She said the frightening episode came as a result of bad parking practices that are commonplace on Country Park Way in Royal Wootton Bassett.

The 22-year-old said: “I didn’t realise there was a ditch there and as I went around the car I tipped out of my chair.

“I was stuck there for half an hour before I managed to reach my phone and call my mum and then an ambulance.

“I thought it might be a one-off, it was an accident, but other people park in the same spot and I’ve had enough of it.

“The owner didn’t even offer an apology, he just got into the car and drove off.”

To make matters worse, once Hope was taken to A&E she had even more problems.

“Because of the head injury I had suffered I had a 15-minute seizure," said Hope.

“The doctor said the incident had rattled my brain and medical staff had to intervene to help me breathe.”

Hope has had enough and wants visitors to her street to respect those living there.

“It’s inconsiderate, people are not realising it can cause issues,” she added. “It does matter and there could be serious consequences.”

“Don’t park on a public footpath. That is the only safe point of access to get into my flat.

“I’ve only lived in the area since March and I’ve seen four or five different cars park there.

“If it continues I’ll have to contact the highways department.”

Hope is worried about how this could affect her daily life.

She said: “I try to go outside everyday if I can, it could definitely hinder me in the future.

“If it keeps happening I’ll get so worried that it might stop me from going out and I don’t want that.”