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EXCLUSIVE: Birthday joy turns to holiday hell for Tameside footballer

BACK HOME: Shaniece and Ellis recover after the holiday ordeal.

Footballer Ellis Allen is recovering after being mowed down by a taxi on his 21st birthday just six hours into his Portuguese holiday.

Ellis had been out for a celebratory evening meal shortly after arriving at the resort of Vilamoura with his girlfriend Shaniece Sneddon.

But as they walked back to their hotel both were struck by the taxi - a minibus - although Ellis with considerably more force.

He was knocked unconscious by the impact and suffered serious head injuries and a broken foot, leaving him for a time in intensive care.

Shaniece suffered a broken nose in three places.

Ellis can remember nothing about the collision and says the next thing he recalled was waking up in hospital.


Ellis's facial injuries 

Shaniece, who was left with blood streaming from her nose wound after being hit by the taxi, said: “We were walking back and I remember the sound of tyres screeching. After being hit I don’t know how I managed to get up, but I got up and saw Ellis and I just thought he was gone. 

“His eyes had gone back and there was blood from his nose, mouth and head.”

The taxi driver stopped at the scene and Shaniece said a crowd quickly gathered with the police and ambulance arriving around half an hour later.

“The only reason I knew Ellis was coming round was because I squeezed his hand and told him to keep squeezing mine if he could hear me,” she said.

Shaniece was able to phone Ellis’ family at home in Droylsden from the scene of the crash and they immediately made arrangements to fly to Portugal, arriving within just eight hours.

However, Ellis’ mother Janine said they were unable to visit Ellis in hospital at first as he remained in intensive care while his injuries were assessed.

Ellis had 14 staples in a head wound and had also broken his fifth metatarsal. He has also been left with a haematoma and requires injections of blood thinning agents.


Ellis needed 14 staples in a head wound 

Despite the nature of his injuries, Ellis was discharged from the Portuguese hospital just one day later and, wheelchair-bound, was flying home just four days after the collision.

The couple had not completed their travel insurance forms upon arrival at the hotel and know this would have made a big difference to the care Ellis received.

Ellis said: “We do normally take out insurance before we go abroad but this time thought we’d do it at the hotel when we arrived.”

Ellis would have received private medical care for free rather than the equivalent of Portuguese NHS care - which saw him essentially being patched up and sent back to his hotel - although for free.

Both stressed the importance to everybody travelling abroad on holiday to take out insurance.

Shaniece, whose 22nd birthday was just a few days after Ellis’ birthday,  added: “It was a birthday holiday so we didn’t expect anything and had organised it just a few weeks before going.”

Janine said she had to buy a boot for Ellis’ foot and crutches and even clean his cuts back at the hotel.

She explained: “For care you pretty much pay as you go so I had to get the hotel manager to drive me to a pharmacy to buy dressings and iodine to clean his cuts and we had to care for him in the hotel room.”

However, she praised the hotel and Jet 2 staff and their holiday rep especially.

“They were with us all the way and we really can’t thank them enough,” said Janine, who works with Tameside Council.

“The flight was delayed for half an hour as the crew were concerned about his head wound, but eventually he was allowed on.”


The taxi which mowed down Ellis 

When they arrived back in Manchester a paramedic was waiting at the airport to check Ellis who advised they should go straight to the nearest hospital.

However, their ordeal did not end there. Janine said they then waited for nine hours at Manchester Royal Infirmary before she took the decision to take Ellis to Wythenshawe Hospital instead.

“His haematoma was getting bigger but they said it would be a 15 hour wait before he would be seen so I took the decision to remove him and go to Wythenshawe Hospital.”

Ellis was treated more quickly at the hospital and has been receiving care there for his injuries over the last few weeks.

However, his footballing career is very much on hold as he recovers and it is possible he will be out for the rest of the season.

Ellis plays for 1874 Northwich FC and was able to watch his team compete against Glossop last weekend from the sidelines, receiving well wishes from fans.

He has thanked the club and fans for their support, but anticipates it will be three to four months before he is able to get up and about to even start getting fit again.

The former Audenshaw School student has made the columns of this paper before, having been with Oldham Athletic before moving to join Cypriot side APEA Akrotiri when he was 18 as their goalkeeper.

He returned to play a full season with Whitchurch last year and joined 1874 some three months ago, and hopes ultimately to further his footballing career.

Ellis, who began playing football as a child with Medlock Rangers, also featured for Curzon Ashton and Bolton Wanderers as a junior.


Ellis currently plays for 1874 Northwich FC

Families appeal for help in bid to bring driver to justice

Ellis and Shaniece’s families are appealing for help as they look to bring the taxi driver to justice following their holiday nightmare ordeal.

The taxi driver admitted liability, but the families now face the problem of how to pursue legal action, plus the possibility of a hefty legal bill to do so.

Janine said they will face lawyer fees but they have struggled to find any legal representation in this country who will take the case on.

She said she had contacted a number of solicitors in Portugal while there, but they have yet to get back in touch with the family.

“We are really stuck at this moment in time and unsure what we can do and would welcome advice if anyone legally can help or guide us,” said Janine.

She said they have been told it could take three to four years to bring the taxi driver to justice, but says she has all of the statements and declarations they had to make following the collision.

This includes results showing that neither Ellis or Shaniece had been drinking at the time of the incident, with police immediately taking test results at the scene.

“We have been in touch with Healthy Young Minds too as Shaniece especially will need therapy after what they have been through - but she kept our son alive,” said Janine.

“You read about things like this happening, but never think it is going to happen to you.”

• Anyone who can provide the family with legal advice can contact our newsdesk on 0161 379 0254 and we will be happy to pass details on.

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