Paralysed woman uses Morse code

A 79-year-old woman who was almost completely paralysed after a fall has learned to talk to her son by tapping out Morse code with her thumb.

Sylvia Jones, 79, from Swansea, suffered brain damage five years ago.

But thanks to her schoolgirl knowledge of Morse code, she has broken her silence using sounded dots and dashes.

Her communication skills were developed with her son Alan, an ex-BBC technician who rigged up a system using an old margarine tub and shower curtain ring.

He had worked out how they could communicate again after sitting by her bedside for 16 weeks as she recovered from a life-saving operation.

Mrs Jones's injury has left her unable to move, speak or feed herself but her understanding is unimpaired.

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• Our thanks to PW Editor Rob Mannion G3XFD for alerting us to this item