A DAD-OF-TWO was left wheelchair-bound for nearly three months after injuring himself at his son’s school sports day.

Simon Fletcher, from Barrowford, tore both his patellar tendons after taking part in a dad’s race at Fence’s Wheatley Lane Methodist Voluntary Aided Primary School in June.

During the run the 40-year-old felt a ‘pop’ before falling to the floor in ‘searing pain’.

Mr Fletcher was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital where he was told that he could not bend or bear any weight on his knees.

The production manager, who was supposed to celebrate his 16th wedding anniversary on the day of the accident, said: “The dad’s race is notoriously competitive but I’ve never known someone to be taken away in an ambulance before.

“All I remember is running fast then stopping suddenly, hearing a ‘pop’, feeling searing pain and then falling to the floor. I don’t even know, to this day, if I won.”

He underwent a three-hour operation to reconnect the torn tendons and his legs were put in braces.

Mr Fletcher couldn’t use stairs because of his injury and had to move in with his parents, who have a bungalow.

He also had to take time off work and was unable to help his wife, Jane, 42, with chores.

Following the accident, the Barrowford dad set himself a target of walking again by the end of October - in time for the family’s holiday to Disneyland in Florida, where he would celebrate his 40th birthday.

He visited CrossFit Pendle almost every day to build up his muscles and improve his mobility.

Mr Fletcher said: “I knew I had to get myself back on my feet for our family holiday with our two children Amelia and James.”

The dad-of-two stopped using his wheelchair after about 11 weeks and started using a walking frame and crutches.

He began to learn to walk unaided from October 2 - just three weeks before jetting off for the family’s 10-day trip to the USA.

Mr Fletcher succeeded in his objective and took his wheelchair on holiday only as back-up, but only used it in the airport and when his legs were tired.

Speaking about his current health, he said: “I’m not there yet, but am certainly well on the road to recovery. I think I might ask if we can do an egg and spoon race next year. What could possibly go wrong?”