Latest news with #DanielFlemen
BBC News
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- BBC News
Son to finally return home after 'unbelievable' DIY SOS rebuild
The family of a disabled teenager who can finally leave hospital after his home in Lancashire was transformed by the BBC's DIY SOS team has said the end result was "unbelievable". Daniel Flemen has been living in hospital in Manchester for nearly three years after a life-saving operation to remove a brain tumour left him severely eight days of working, the house in Freckleton has been renovated by the team at DIY SOS, who will feature the 16-year-old's story in full in a programme in 2026."It's an emotional day for everyone," his uncle Mark Rigby said, after hundreds of tradespeople, suppliers and volunteers worked on the family home in Lancashire. He said the bungalow is "100% changed, it's like night and day" and "now it's totally functional for Daniel to come home".Speaking just before the finished project was unveiled, he said there will be "a lot of tears".Mr Rigby said: "Every single room's been affected with everyone working until four o'clock in the morning."It's unbelievable what's happened." The DIY SOS team said a record number of people turned up to work on the first day of the rebuild eight days designer, Gaby Blackman, said: "It was an impossible job, it wasn't really achievable on paper, and they've done it."Daniel is coming home all because of these guys and their talent, hard work and commitment, I'm so proud of everyone."What a week and what absolute heroes, every single one of them." Paul Taylor, from Burnley, has been camping overnight to work on the house."I've been fine in a caravan," he said, "but there's other blokes in tents who've not been so good, with soggy boots and socks at the end of the tent."He said he has done "loads of lifting and shifting" so that "whatever the trades have needed, we've brought to them and whatever they didn't need, we've taken away". Bricklayer Ian McDonald travelled down to help from Lytham St Annes, and said he got involved because "it's nice to give something back". "A lot of people have put a lot of work in behind the scenes that you don't see, like lads on diggers putting in footings, or teams of people just forming lines and passing stuff, it's been great."As the project ended he said he was feeling "emotional and proud". "Having your family all together is a massive thing," he said. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
22-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
'I'm happy to see DIY SOS team help my neighbour'
A woman who lives next door to the BBC's DIY SOS big build house has said while it can be difficult to move around with hundreds of people milling about on the street, getting a family back together "is what it's all about".Tradespeople, suppliers and volunteers are helping to transform the home of the Flemen family in Freckleton, Lancashire, so their 16 year-old-son Daniel can come has been in hospital in Manchester for nearly three years after a life-saving operation to remove a brain tumour left him severely disabled."It's so important to get Danny home," next door neighbour Dorothy Hodgetts said. She said she is more than happy to put up with a week of inconvenience as she "just wants to help".So much so that her front garden has been taken over by a huge tent the volunteers are using to have a rest or get snacks and drinks."We actually had two weeks away, but that was pre-booked, it wasn't because I knew this was going to happen," she said. "But we came back last week and I've been helping on-site ever since." Presenter Nick Knowles said the show's team were "looking at doing about eight months work in eight days" and looking to finish on Hodgetts said: "At the end of the day, what is a week of things going on and it being busy, and maybe not always easy to get about?"The family have got to get home and get Danny home and that's what it's all about."So the little bit of help we can do, we're more than happy to do it."Interior designer Gaby Blackman has said a record number of volunteers working at the site were "smashing it". Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
BBC News
16-07-2025
- Health
- BBC News
DIY SOS starts work to end disabled teen's three-year hospital stay
Efforts by the BBC's DIY SOS to help a severely disabled teenager finally return home to his family after three years in hospital get underway Flemen had a life-saving operation to remove a brain tumour when he was 13, but it left him needing round-the clock ventilation in hospital in DIY SOS team plan to make adaptions to his home in Freckleton in Lancashire so Daniel, who is slowly recovering, can be reunited with his family. His father Nigel Flemen said his son had "not stopped smiling" since he heard that Nick Knowles and his team are coming to help him move back home. DIY SOS is a long-running TV series that features a team of builders and volunteers coming together to help families in need by renovating their homes. Daniel father said welcoming his son home would "mean the world" to the family, which has been travelling to and from Manchester for years. Daniel, now 16, went to a GP in October 2022 with flu-like symptoms and a sore throat, and he was later sent to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for tests, including a CT family were told Daniel had a mass on his brain that was probably a tumour, a diagnosis that was later confirmed at the Royal Manchester Children's had a stroke during a 12-hour emergency operation to save his life, which left him unresponsive and in intensive care for three months. Mr Flemen said the DIY SOS team will have a "huge job" converting the house for his return. He said: "Extensions are required, more accommodation for the family, landscaping to make the drive, the front and the rear of the house accessible. Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
BBC News
24-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
DIY SOS to help teenage boy finally return home after years in hospital
A severely disabled teenager who has been in hospital for nearly three years "hasn't stopped smiling" after hearing the BBC's DIY SOS team are coming to help him move back home, his father Flemen had a life-saving operation to remove a brain tumour when he was 13, but it left him severely disabled and unable to return home to Freckleton in SOS host Nick Knowles and his team are aiming to make the adaptations at the family's property so Daniel can father Nigel Flemen, said welcoming his son home would "mean the world because we've been so fractured for so long". Daniel went to the doctor in October 2022 with flu-like symptoms and a sore throat, and he was later sent to Blackpool Victoria Hospital for tests, including a CT family were told that Daniel had a mass on his brain that was probably a tumour, a diagnosis that was later confirmed at the Royal Manchester Children's had a stroke during a 12-hour emergency operation to save his life, which left him unresponsive and in intensive care for three months. Daniel, now 16, is currently on a respiratory ward at the Manchester hospital as he requires non-invasive ventilation at Flemen said he and his wife Julie had been "living separate lives" for the past three years as he works while she goes to see their son. He told BBC Radio Lancashire: "The travelling to and from Manchester - 50-odd miles each way every week, several times a week - it takes a toll on you. Daniel, who needs hoists and help with all aspects of his personal care, and is fed via a naso-gastric tube, has been making small improvements in recent SOS is a long-running TV series that features a team of builders and volunteers coming together to help families in need by renovating their homes. Mr Flemen said the DIY SOS team have a "huge job" converting the house for his return. He said: "Extensions are required, more accommodation for the family, landscaping to make the drive, the front and the rear of the house accessible."These are all things that you never really think about until you've got a wheelchair and a member of the family in that position who needs that additional space and help."Mr Flemen said his son had "started to move his arm and he's been playing Connect Four very badly"."And he's now started to say the odd word. The first words he said to his mum were 'I love you'." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Lancashire on Sounds and follow BBC Lancashire on Facebook, X and Instagram. You can also send story ideas via Whatsapp to 0808 100 2230.
