A COUPLE tied the knot during a ceremony in hospital after the groom suffered a life-changing motorcycle accident.

Paul and Deb Hamilton were married in the garden next to James Cook University Hospital’s spinal unit.

Mr Hamilton is undergoing treatment there after being involved in a motorcycle crash which left him unable to move from the neck down.

Staff at Our Hospitals Charity, the charitable arm of South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, were determined to make sure the couple, who have been together for 12 years, were able to wed.

Mr Hamilton said: “Having the accident give me a different outlook on life, you really don’t know what could happen at any time so live your life to the fullest and be grateful for what you have, it could be snatched away from you at any time.

“Our Hospitals Charity has been amazing helping us create our wedding day and making it as special as it could be in the current circumstances, we can’t thank them enough.

“We would also like to thank all the nurses and physios who have provided me with care and continue to do so.”

The couple had moved to Northumberland just prior to the accident.

Mrs Hamilton walked down the garden isle to ‘I Will Follow Him’ from the movie Sister Act.

She said: “The words summed up perfectly how I feel about loving Paul, who I wanted to marry through better or for worse and in sickness and in health.

“The day was perfect from beginning to end. Our Hospitals Charity made what could have been a very sad day into something very special and something neither Paul nor I will ever forget.”

Ben Murphy, head of Our Hospitals Charity, said: “Thanks to the support we received from local businesses we were able to transform the garden into a stunning setting for Paul and Deb’s wedding.

“It was really heart-warming to watch them tie the knot and on behalf of everyone at the trust I would like to wish them a lifetime of happiness.

“We would also like to say a special thank you to Steven McDonald Photography for helping capture the special day, Two Friends Events for styling the garden, Oliver’s Treats for creating a fabulous cake and Crop Florists for creating a beautiful bouquet and headpiece.”

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated Teesside Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054