It started as an embarrassing joke. Shane Barnbrook accidentally swallowed a chicken bone while eating dinner and knew it had to come out.

While waiting for the bone to emerge, his family called him a "pain in the bum". His wife Sarah was 40 weeks pregnant, so she wanted him to be well for their third child's arrival.

Shane Barnbrook, with wife Sarah, is suing two hospitals for negligent care that left him a quadriplegic. Credit:Justin McManus

Shane, a social worker, thought about going to the doctor but figured he'd be okay. Eventually, half a wishbone arrived. It was painful but not enough for him to think it would make him a quadriplegic.

But over the next few days, Shane felt tired and had indigestion. He planned to go to his GP, then his chest tightened up. He thought he was having a heart attack. Sarah called an ambulance. When paramedics arrived, he had pain radiating down one arm and felt anxious. He told them about the chicken bone he'd swallowed and said he had pain in his rectum.