AN EXPAT teacher has described how he broke his neck in a freak accident involving an old pair of sandals weeks before he was due to return to the North-East for a family visit.

Steve Robinson, who hails from Sacriston, County Durham, tripped and hit his head on the pavement when the sole of one of his sandals flipped over as he ran for a bus in Jinju, South Korea.

A scan revealed a fractured piece of sharp bone came dangerously close to puncturing a blood vessel, which could have had catastrophic results, and ended in him spending weeks on his back in hospital.

The 49-year-old said he was stunned by the generosity of people who sent him cash following an online appeal for help in paying his hospital bills.

Mr Robinson, who has lived and worked in South Korea for six years, spoke to The Northern Echo following his discharge from hospital.

He must remain on his back for at least another month and will have to wear a neck brace for at least six months.

“It’s been an awful couple of weeks, but the main thing is I am out of danger and I'm beginning my rehabilitation, which is going to be a long road ahead," he said.

“It could have been worse and I could have been paralysed, so I am counting my blessings.”

“I've also had to cancel my plane ticket back home next week. I was desperately looking forward to seeing my parents, daughter and friends.

“One of the things that has helped me through the last few weeks is the kindness and generosity of people. It kept my spirits up hugely.”

Recalling his accident, he said: “I was wearing an old pair of sandals and was running to catch the bus when the sole of the sandals, which had come loose, flipped over a little and I keeled over.

“I went home thinking I had just suffered a crack on the head , but gradually what felt an ache down shoulder into arms and had serious muscle spasms.

“When it got worse I went to hospital and had x-rays and a CT scan and was sent away with pain killers."

But his pain grew worse and he returned in agony to hospital, where a further examination revealed he had broken his neck.

A keen amateur landscape photographer, Mr Robinson has has exhibited in Korea and appeared on television. Once he makes a full recovery he hopes to return to the North-East to spend a full year doing landscape photography.

He said: "The prognosis is there is a good chance I will make a full recovery, but the process will be very slow!"