A CROWDFUNDING campaign has been launched to raise money for a popular Aberystwyth dad who was left with a fractured skull after falling down a stairway on New Year’s Eve.

It was reported in the Cambrian News last month that Daemon Smith, known as ‘Big D’ to friends, had been moved out of intensive care at North Staffordshire University Hospital, Stoke-on-Trent, after the fall left him requiring emergency surgery due to a fractured skull.

Mr Smith, 40, is a staff member at Cambrian Printers, Aberystwyth, and has an eight-year-old daughter Felicity.

A friend, Andrew Carree, has now launched a crowdfunding web page called ‘We're raising £10,000 to Big D Rehabilitation Fund’, aimed at raising £10,000 to support Mr Smith and his family financially, and aid his recovery.

At the time of writing, the fund had raised £855 since it was launched just two hours earlier.

Mr Carree wrote: “As you may be aware, our friend and doting father Daemon ‘Big D’ Smith had a terrible accident on new years eve.

“Whilst at a relatives house in Congleton, Big D fell down a flight of stairs and sustained a complex fracture to his skull.

“He was immediately rushed to Stoke Royal Hospital where he was operated on as they needed to remove part of his skull due to a bleed on the brain.

“After that he was placed in an induced coma for several days as we awaited the consequences of his injury. There was a good chance that we may have lost him that night.

“One month on, Daemon is now out of the coma and is making good progress on a daily basis, which is excellent news, but his rehabilitation is going to be an extremely lengthy process, with many, many hurdles to cross.

“Daemon will be requiring in-patient NHS care for the foreseeable future.

“All proceeds from this page will go towards Daemons rehabilitation, and help to lighten the burden of day to day life financially whilst he is unable to work and provide for his family.

“The popular footballer from Penparcau has a beautiful eight-year-old daughter called Felicity who misses her father greatly.

£With the support of a strong family, a large network of friends and great NHS care we want to get them re-united again.

“We are asking you to dig deep and give generously, no matter how large or small, as every donation counts towards our target and would be greatly appreciated.”