DIY SOS got emotional as overwhelmed father Jan Collins was reduced to tears at the sight of his family's home transformed by the BBC team, united with scores of local tradespeople. Collins erupted with emotion as he stepped out from his revamped dwelling, alongside his loved ones, to the applause of over 100 volunteers who had contributed their services without charge.
The welcoming committee included Nick Knowles, Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen and the DIY SOS crew, celebrating the completion with a well-deserved bar and multiple barrels of beer brought to the site.
Parents Jan and Lucy Collins, who have triplets, face a heart-wrenching challenge as two of their children, Daisy and Amber, battle a terminal kidney condition necessitating regular dialysis trips to Bristol. The show's brigade revolutionised their garage into a home-based dialysis unit, enabling treatment within the comfort of their residence.
Confronted with a sea of dedicated workers outside for the grand unveil, an overtly moved Jan addressed them: "This is the bit where we have to say something."
Emotion coursed through him as he confessed: "I've never been so lost for words in all my life.", reports Devon Live.
And with fervent gratitude, he marvelled: "What you guys have achieved here in just a few days is absolutely breathtaking."
The DIY SOS group have committed themselves at the periphery of Barnstaple starting last Monday, working incessantly to accomplish this enterprising endeavour, the full extent of which will remain confidential until the episode broadcasts on BBC.
Over 100 local craftsmen rallied to support the initiative, providing a range of services from scaffolding and waste disposal to intricate trade skills such as carpentry, plastering, electrical work, painting, groundwork, bricklaying, bathroom installation, and tiling.
Neighbour Sam Raymont of Switched On Electrical, residing mere steps from the property, was among the volunteers.
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Sam remarked: "I live a stone's throw away from the customers and know Lucy and Yann well."
He added with compassion: "It's really sad about the girls and I just wanted to help really."
The team faced the additional challenge of sweltering heat during the renovation, which proved taxing for the labourers.
DIY SOS's lead Mark Millar commented on the unexpected weather conditions: "We weren't expecting it to be this hot - it's lovely, I'm not complaining, but it's absolutely exhausting for everybody."
He humorously noted the impact of the heatwave: "We all thought 'ah yeah, the sun's out, it's gonna be fantastic' - but people are dropping like flies."
Mark also described how the crew coped: "They're working for an hour and then they're hitting the shade and trying to cool down a wee bit."
Thankfully, two community food businesses ensured the workers were replenished with ice creams and beverages.
