A young Chiswick man left fighting for his life after suffering these shocking injuries is now battling benefits bosses over access to financial support.

Rob Wynn, of Wellesley Road, was in a coma for several days after falling 20ft headfirst onto concrete from a tree last October.

The former freelance promotions representative has been unable to work ever since and this week hit out over his long wait for benefits.

"This awful unprofessional behaviour is absolutely disgusting," Mr Wynn told the Chronicle.

The 26-year-old, who admitted climbing the tree when drunk as he celebrated the Rugby World Cup final last year, suffered traumatic brain injuries and had three inches cut out of his skull.

"It doesn't seem to matter that a person cannot work because they have had their skull cut out and their brain is only covered by their skin - they are simply not incapacitated enough to receive incapacity benefits," he added.

"It is totally disgraceful treatment."

Mr Wynn spent nearly three months in hospital after the fall on October 21 before being released in January.

He immediately tried to claim incapacity benefit and income support through JobCentre Plus but was told he was ineligible for both.

"I have personally paid taxes and National Insurance (NI) contributions since I left college in 2002 but they have denied me the right to claim incapacity benefits because my wage slips do not have enough NI contributions on them," said Mr Wynn.

Officials eventually agreed housing and council tax benefits from Hounslow Council would begin on April 28, but he says they have been wrongly back-dated to January 28 instead of October.

Revenue bosses also altered the amount Mr Wynn would receive to around £100 because he split from his partner - although he claims she never paid bills.

The final straw came when the first regular backdated payment failed to materialise last week.

The stress of the situation is now taking its toll as the 26-year-old struggles to piece his life back together.

"I'm recovering from a serious accident that I could have lost my life from, but they have made it the toughest ordeal possible," he said.

"Why are they doing this - do they realise how much stress they are causing me?"

A DWP spokesperson refused to comment on individual cases.

She added: "If there is no entitlement to incapacity benefit, customers are advised in writing and invited to make a claim to income support which would be subject to the usual conditions of claiming that benefit."

A spokesman for Hounslow council claimed it did not receive the request until last month.

He added: "We are sorry that Mr Wynn feels disappointed with our service.

"We can confirm we received an application from Mr Wynn on April 11, which has been processed, and housing and council tax benefits have been paid into his bank account."