A COUPLE’s dream wedding turned into a nightmare when the groom went sleepwalking on the eve of their big day and toppled out of a window.

Jacky Winter and Dave Turver should be honeymooning in the south of France. Instead Mr Turver is recovering after falling 15ft.

The pair, who have been dating for four years, spent thousands on what should have been the perfect day.

Jacky, who lives in Cuxton, near Rochester, and Dave, from Aylesford, were due to marry at the Archbishops’ Palace in Maidstone, followed by a lavish reception at the Maidstone's Russell Hotel.

But their dreams were shattered in the early hours of their wedding day when Mr Turver, who was staying at his brother Paul’s house in Paddock Wood, went sleepwalking. He climbed out of a tiny window and fell onto a concrete patio.

Wide awake and in agony, Mr Turver, 46, had to crawl to the front of the house and knock on the door to rouse his brother. He was taken to the Kent and Sussex Hospital, in Tunbridge Wells, where doctors feared he had serious head and internal injuries.

After various scans, it was discovered he had escaped with severe bruising to his left side and broken ribs - but he wasn’t going to make his wedding.

Mr Turver's brother broke the news to Jacky at 7.30am. She said: “I just couldn’t believe it. I was crying and numb and went straight to see him.”

Meanwhile, more than 50 people were on their way to the ceremony with another 130 travelling from all over the country for the reception.

Mr Turver told Jacky to carry on with the party. He said: “It would have an impossible task to ring round everyone and tell them what had happened, so I told Jacky to carry on with the celebration.”

Jacky, 40, went home and as she arrived so did the florist along with the hairdresser.

She said: “I had to cancel the wedding car, but went to join the guests at the reception. I was still in shock and just went through the motions. Staff at the hotel were wonderful and everyone, including my guests, rallied round to make the best of the day.

“Dave is originally from Ireland and as a surprise for him I’d booked some Irish dancers. I’d forgot all about them coming, but they were good about it and offered me a refund.”

Jacky said she has changed her mind about being superstitious. “I’ve never been superstitious, but I am now. We didn’t give a second thought to getting hitched on Friday the 13th.

“We will never be able have a wedding like this again and as yet don’t know when we will be able to get married. I just wanted to do it right. It will never be the same, but I have to think that Dave could have died, so I’m extremely lucky in that respect.”

Mr Turver spent six days in hospital. He is now home, but on lots of medication for the pain. He has no recollection of the fall.

Jacky said: “Now Dave is out of hospital, we hope to be able to travel to the south of France to enjoy what would have been the last week of our honeymoon.”