A Perth woman whose father survived the world’s worst offshore disaster is helping him through another difficult chapter in his life.
Vince Swales, who lost 167 friends and workmates in the Piper Alpha tragedy 30 years ago, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s.
After attending a memorial service for fellow survivors in Aberdeen, Vince said he refuses to be beaten by the condition.
And he praised daughter Katie for raising thousands of pounds for charity Parkinson’s UK, which will support its search for a cure, while helping other families cope with the devastating diagnosis.
Katie has so far made £3,000 for the cause with a nerve-racking abseil down the Forth Rail Bridge.
The 33-year-old said she wanted to help raise awareness about Parkinson’s and support her father.
“I may not be able to control what is happening to him, but I felt that I had to do something,” she said. “Although going up on the Forth Rail Bridge absolutely terrified me, I did it for him.”
Vince was diagnosed with Parkinson’s six years ago but was aware there was something wrong long before that, she said.
“As a family we were devastated, but we were also very much in the dark, as we didn’t know what was ahead and we certainly didn’t have any proper knowledge about the condition or what it could mean for dad, and for us as a family.”
Assistant chiropractor Katie said: “Dad has already overcome so much after surviving Piper Alpha. He was one of 61 survivors who went home to their families, so for another battle to present itself in the form of Parkinson’s to someone who had already experienced so much heartache was more difficult than I describe.
“The past few years have been tough. Parkinson’s affects not just your physical health but your mental health too. It tries to strip you of your identity and life as you know it.”
She said her father’s confidence gets knocked when, if he is refused entry to public places, he has to produce a Parkinson’s card to prove he is not drunk.
“Watching dad refuse to give in is heartbreaking,” she said. “But on the other hand, the courage and willpower he shows is testament to his character and makes us all so proud of him.”
Vince, who works for Balfour Beatty, was working as a foreman linesman on pylons when he was diagnosed.
“I am now considering my future as things have progressed,” he said. “I no longer climb pylons for a living and have ground-based responsibilities instead.”
He said his family were “in the dark” about the condition when was diagnosed. “That’s why things like Katie’s abseil are so important, because it raises awareness and helps fund Parkinson’s UK’s effort in finding a cure.”
