Dad shares agony of forklift accident which severed leg and helicopter rescue
A Hessle dad of four has recounted the moment his life was saved by Yorkshire Air Ambulance after a tragic forklift truck accident saw him lose his leg. Rob Smith, 37, had his life turned upside down last April when he was pinned against a wall by a forklift truck while delivering chipboard to a company in Batley. Rob’s leg was severed as the corner of the rig went through his right knee.
The dad recalled the moment he thought his life was over but with some quick-thinking, he managed to work to limit the bleeding while the air ambulance team arrived. The horrific accident features on this week’s episode of Helicopter ER – the reality TV series featuring the work of the rapid response emergency service. Read more: Health boss insists Hull school is safe after suspected Strep A outbreak
Rob said: “I had managed to jump out the way but my leg was caught between the back of the forklift and the corner of the wall. When the truck pulled back and I looked down I knew it was bad. “I was laid on the floor and put my head back and even though there was lots of noise around everything went quiet and black and all I could see like a little candlelight.
That scared me and that was when I woke myself up and looking again I knew I had to do something to stop the bleeding. I was losing so much.” Rob, who is first aid trained, did what he could to stem the blood flow himself and asked his horrified co-workers to get him a tourniquet before the emergency services arrived including Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Rob’s efforts and those of the medics saved his life but could not save his leg, which was amputated just above the knee.
Rob Smith from Hessle whose leg was amputated after a forklift truck accident with two of his children, Poppy and Ollie. (Image: Yorkshire Air Ambulance)
After nine days in hospital and intensive occupational and physiotherapy, he has learnt to walk with a mechanical leg. Rob has returned to an office-based role as head of transport and health and safety for Yorkshire Plywood and is now planning to fundraise for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. Rob continued: “I know it is me who has experienced this but it really has hit my family big time and it’s not been until the last couple of months that I’ve realised just how much.
I wanted to get back some kind of normality as soon as possible. “It has been a challenge, and there’s still a long way to go but the main thing is I’m just so grateful to be here, that the kids still have their Dad. I can’t thank the air ambulance enough.
“You don’t realise just how much amazing work they do until you need them yourself and I would really like to do something to raise some money for them in the New Year.” The rapid response air emergency service needs to raise GBP19,000 every day to keep its two helicopters flying. To find out more, go to www.yorkshireairambulance.org.uk
Rob’s story is featured on Helicopter ER which can be seen on REALLY and is repeated on Friday and Saturday this week.
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