Damian Davies, 30, Marks & Spencer, Broadmead, Bristol
"I was in a car crash in 2006 and smashed my head in. I died three times"
I’m not long out of hospital so I just do a few hours a day on my pitch, enough to make some money. I nearly died after an operation and I was in hospital for a month but I’m getting better now. Before I went in I had a pitch on the other side of town, at Pero’s Bridge, but the customers here are nice too.
My work background is removals and labouring, and that’s what I’m trying to get back into but I’m waiting till my leg’s fixed up. I’m on a jobs programme so they can help me out with qualifications, like a CSCS card, so I can go back on a building site. I want physical work, the kind that knackers you out.
I’ve been on this pitch for four weeks and I’m enjoying it. It gets me out meeting the public and having a laugh with people. The staff are really good – they’re helping me get a bank account and a passport. I struggle a lot because I didn’t do much school, so forms are difficult.
was on the streets for six or seven years but now I’m living in a hostel. I’m still not used to being inside
Mine was a bad start in life. I got involved in drugs and from there I had problems with work and housing. Then I had a car crash in 2006 and smashed my head in. I died three times. I woke up with no memory and they thought I’d be a cabbage for the rest of my life. I couldn’t talk and just watched kids’ TV – but I’m doing pretty well for a cabbage now.
I was on the streets for six or seven years but now I’m living in a hostel. It’s lovely, really posh. The people are lovely too but I don’t see much of them. I’m not used to being inside so I don’t spend that much time there.
My daughter is my life. She’s 12 and lives with her mum in Bath so I haven’t seen her since I moved to Bristol three-and-a-half years ago. I used to have money, so I could afford to look after her. Now I’m trying to start afresh but it’s a lot harder when you’re on the right side of the law. I’ll be seeing her soon though. She hasn’t got the confidence up, so I don’t know when exactly, but when it happens I’ll take her out and spoil her as always. It’s something to look forward to and focus on.
These days I’m behaving myself, selling The Big Issue and trying to sort myself out. I’ve died too many times for my liking and I’d just like a quiet life now.
Where in the world… I’ve never been abroad, I’ve never even been on holiday. I’m trying to get a passport – I’d like to find out what the rest of the world is like.
If I won the lottery… I’d look after all the people who have looked after me. There are so many people and charities in my life who have helped me out.
On my pitch… I’m at M&S, Broadmead, from 9am to 2pm, and sometimes I do a few hours at Pero’s Bridge in the evening
Marks & Spencer Bristol, Broadmead, Bristol, United Kingdom