A gran who was rushed to hospital after falling over was slapped with a £155 fine for leaving her car at Morrisons while in A&E.
Rose Sharman, 70, suffered head injuries which left her unable to open her left eye for two days when she tripped over uneven cobblestones while doing her weekly shop.
The pensioner was then rushed to Kettering General Hospital and treated for severe bruising, grazing and was kept overnight with suspected concussion.
Despite her granddaughter Amy Garrett, 31, appealing to have the fine withdrawn by Euro Car Parks; she says that the company has failed to show compassion and have treated the 70-year-old ‘appallingly’.
Amy said: "It's an appalling way to treat my gran. She's only recently lost her husband and now she's got this to deal with. She can barely afford things at the moment anyway and now she's been hit with a £155 fine.
"I just wish the company would show some compassion but we've had none. You can't even call someone to speak to a human being. When they wrote to us they said gran should have told them about her medical emergency before the time ran out on the car but she was in hospital with head injuries.
"She was hardly in a fit state to explain why she couldn't drive."
Rose says she “didn’t think about the car” after the “awful” experience of collapsing in the multi-storey car park.
The pensioner said: “I usually park in the multi-storey car park but I wanted some fuel so I parked in Morrisons.I went into town to get some bits and pieces.
"I remember coming up the steps and out of the Swansgate Shopping Centre. The next thing I knew I was on the floor, there was this woman saying 'are you alright?' It was awful.
"I didn't know I was on the floor. I didn't realise I had hit my head. I just wanted to go home.
"I really didn't think about the car. About two or three months later, I got a letter and now the bill has risen to £155.
"I had been two hours 10 minutes over the limit. I didn't intend to do this. I went into Morrisons but they said the car park doesn't belong to them."
Euro Car Parks rejected the appeal and said Rose should have informed them of the emergency.
They said: "Any medical problems you were experiencing at site on the above date were not reported so no provision could be made, therefore parking charge notice was issued correctly and remains payable."
Rose has been told her case has now been passed to a debt recovery service.
The gran-of-nine said: "It's another slap in the face. I'm on a pension. I have to be so careful.
"I can't afford this money, I don't see why I should have to pay this money. I didn't do this intentionally. It's making me feel depressed."
A North Northamptonshire Council spokesman said: "Work has been carried out by Highways to repair paving at this location."
