Darlington dad tells how he survived pole horror

Nov 15 2009 by Rob Pattinson, Sunday Sun

Jason had been facing the end of the pole when it punctured him. He was lifted out of the seat and his feet were taken off the pedals, but the momentum of the truck slid him along the barrier.

Jason’s slow speed meant that as the pole entered him, it took the “easiest route”, pushing his lung to one side.

The vehicle came to a stop after 20 yards, with the skewered driver left pinned against the back of the cab, and the heavy concrete base of the barrier weighing down the end.

“You just give yourself over to dying,” Jason said.

“But I didn’t pass out. Then for the first time I thought maybe I’ll be OK and survive.

“My phone was on the dash board so I grabbed it and rang my work. I said, ‘I’ve had a bit of an accident,’ or ‘I’m in a spot of bother’.

“I don’t think they understood, but something must have clicked because they called me back and told them, ‘I’m not messing about I’m dying’.

“My boss raced around to me. He was gobsmacked. It was just out of this world.”

As Jason’s work pals comforted him emergency services raced to the scene.

“I don’t know if it was shock, but I still didn’t feel any pain,” Jason said.

“Everyone seemed to know exactly what to do. The firemen cut the roof off then started cutting the pole.

That was the worst bit. When they clamped the jaws of the cutters on the pole it started turning inside me. It was strange when I saw it turning, but by that stage I just wanted to get out of there.

“Even when they put me in the helicopter there was still about four feet of pole going through me.

“It was when I heard the Air Ambulance, that’s when I thought, I’m nearly there.”

The minutes left in Jason’s “critical hour” were running low.

Forklift truck drivers at the scene of the accident moved parked cars so the helicopter could get close and airlift him to James Cook Hospital, on Teesside.

Within minutes he was in the hands of a team of waiting surgeons.

“Someone said to me, ’don’t worry, we’re going to get you sorted’,” Jason said.

“When I woke up the pole had gone.”

The pole meant Jason would not fit into a scanner. He was induced into a 24-hour coma while skilled surgeons cut into his ribs and slid the barrier out from the side, under his arm.

“I woke up and the pole had gone,” Jason said.

“I felt awful, but it was fantastic. It was amazing to see my family.”

Jason has suffered lasting injuries from the trauma, but was back at work within months and counts himself lucky to be alive.

“It makes you appreciate what you’ve got. It’s clear to me without the Great North Air Ambulance I would have died. If they aren’t there, people will die.

“I will be indebted to them forever. It took more than an hour to get me out of the truck. Without the helicopter I don’t think I’d have survived the trip to hospital. I can’t thank the GNAA, the doctors and the rescue team enough. They are all truly amazing.

“Please do what you can for the Air Angel campaign. It really will help save lives.”

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