Alison Smith left unable to work after severe injuries from Isle of Wight pothole

Alison Smith, a 48‑year‑old café owner from Ventnor on the Isle of Wight, suffered life‑changing injuries after tripping on a three‑inch deep pothole on Shore Road in January 2025. The fall caused her to smash her face, lose seven front teeth and sustain bruising, while a hand injury left her unable to lift herself with her left hand. Smith was walking to meet her daughter in the dark when the accident occurred; she was taken to A&E and, although no bones were broken, she has required ongoing physiotherapy and remains signed off sick.

The injuries forced Smith to quit her café job, halt charitable fundraising that had raised £400,000 for a food‑box initiative, and stop singing with two local bands. She has been seeking compensation from Island Roads, the body responsible for road maintenance, but the council filled the pothole and declined to pay, prompting public criticism of the council’s response. Smith’s daughter, who witnessed the fall, described the scene as “blood everywhere” and said it was a traumatic experience for both of them.