Fundraiser set up for woman after horror fall in Sheffield city centre

Leah Beresford, 21, was walking through the Peace Gardens with a friend at around 2pm on Friday, July 10 after visiting the city to see family in Handsworth when she tripped on a step and fell face-first into a lamp post. The fall caused her to bite through her lip and knocked half of one of her front teeth out.

The recent psychology graduate, who previously volunteered at Sheffield charity We Are With You, said: “I was totally sober. I thought I was OK but I blacked out and was suddenly on the floor bleeding.

"The moment I noticed my tooth had gone I just started screaming, then I had a panic attack.”

After being helped by Street Wardens and passers-by she was taken to Charles Clifford Dental Hospital for emergency dental surgery but has since been told the remaining half of her tooth will die away and she will need an implant. As NHS dentists are currently only performing emergency dentistry procedures, Leah may have to wait until next year before she can get treatment.

She said: “I can’t put my career on hold for that long. I am a recent graduate looking for work and I now have no confidence to sell myself in an interview.

"My teeth were my one source of constant confidence. My one solid piece of confidence has been wrecked.”

She added: "I don’t want to do anything, usually I’m really active.”

Leah is now trying to raise £1000 to help pay some of the cost of private dental treatment, which will be around £2400. As of Wednesday (July 15), £450 had been raised for her.

She said: “It’s been wonderful. I would even go as far as life-saving. I was so down and helpless but peoples willingness has really got me out of the state I was in.

"Before that I was bawling every few hours uncontrollably.”

You can donate to Leah’s fundraiser here.