After ‘dying’ in front of his wife following a fall that broke his back in five places, Chris Dark wants to help people find more light through music.
The 41-year-old from Weston, who only three years ago survived a double heart attack, appealed on social media for people who might want to play music with him last week as he continues to recover from falling through the roof of a shed adjoining his bungalow.
He received so much interests he’s now set up AIMP (The All Included Music Project).
“The aim is to get a group of people together to play, talk and raise awareness of disability and mental health,” said Chris. “Coming to terms with being disabled has been difficult and I’ve lost confidence.
“I would like to perform with people that are the same.”
The fall came at the end of last November with Chris’s wife Chloe learning of the incident from 11-year-old daughter Phoebe’s screams after she witnessed his fall.
Chloe was the first person to give her husband CPR.
Firecrews were called to help move Chris safely, but he went into shock in the ambulance and was revived with an adrenaline shot to the heart.
“I was just fixing a leak on the roof where I’ve been there hundreds of times,” says Chris, a stay at home dad. “It’s all a bit of a blur but, my injuries are worse because I landed on a metal cart, the corner of which went straight into my back.
“The broken bones were pushed on to the nerves in my spine and if they’d gone in any further I’d have been in an even worse position now.
“I’ve had six screws and what looks like a cage put in which holds it all together.”
Chris discharged himself after two-and-a-half ‘horrendous’ weeks in hospital in Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre.
“It was when I came home that my situation hit,” he continued. “Every day is battle.
“It’s been horrible. It’s not the pain side of things as there’s medication for that or I can lie down, but the mental side. It’s the trauma and the grieving of not being able to do things I used to do.”
After his double heart attack in 2022 Chris took up running to improve his health and to help his singing as a regular in numerous choirs.
“I had got very fit and could quite happily run 26 miles every other day,” he continued. “Now walking is a real struggle.
“My wife has had it worse. She’s had to witness me go through this.”
Chris had completely forgotten the last time he appeared in The Voice when he was magnet fishing in Spalding’s Coronation Channel and pulled out a live grenade.
“I guess I could have died then too,” he laughs. He’s also a member of Weston Community Speed Watch, a former parish councillor and coach of South Lincs Swifts U12s football team which Phoebe plays for, but he’s currently doing a more administrative role.
Music is something the family enjoy doing together with Adam (10) playing drums, Phoebe singing and even four-year-old Dorothy getting involved with percussion.
“It’s been hard on the kids,” Chloe said. “But playing music together has helped them see that there’s a lot of life still around the corner.
“It’s going to take time, but we’re taking every positive.”
As well as a baritone singer Chris describes himself as a bassist and rhythm guitarist. He has also been learning more musical theory recently to play more lead guitar.
He used to live near Camden, London, and was a regular in bands and on the music scene in that area. It led to the social media posts asking if anyone might be interested in playing music together.
“I’ve been overwhelmed with the response,” Chris continued. I’ve had 30 to 40 people get in touch so I’ve set up the AIMP group to bring people together and work something.
“It’s surprising the amount of people who have got in contact who are musicians who have got in touch and want to play but haven’t because of a disability or if they’re suffering from anxiety or depression.
“There are people who are my age, and up to 65 getting in contact.
“Initially I’d like it just to be a safe space where people can come along, chat and play if they want to.
“I have never thought of doing anything like this before.
“I really hope it comes to something.”
