Shropshire farmer: Impaled by 12-inch spike but I survived

Prongs attached to the tractor pierced his abdomen, going into one side of his body and out the other.

But he remained conscious and today says he can remember every detail of his ordeal.

Incredibly Mr Heatley suffered no serious injuries and just two weeks after his ordeal is at home recovering.

Mr Heatley, 52, believes he did not apply the tractor's handbrake properly allowing it to roll forward and pin him to the bails of hay.

He said: "I had picked up some hay and had placed it on the floor to cut the wrap and I don't think I applied the handbrake properly on the tractor because I then began to feel the fork going into me.

"I looked around and could see the tractor had come forward. There is only a slight slope, the tractor hadn't moved very far.

"I could feel the metal going through me and there was nothing I could do about it. I just had to let it go through, that was it.

"I could actually feel the prong go through my back and then into the hay so I was trapped. It was then I shouted and luckily the neighbours were outside and they heard me."

Mr Heatley, who lives at Grange Farm in Lyneal, near Ellesmere, said his neighbours called the emergency services.

Within minutes he was at the centre of a major rescue operation involving the air ambulance, land paramedics, police and the fire brigade.

"We had everyone here," he said "The air ambulance, the fire, the police, and the ambulance everyone seemed to be here. I can remember everything really well which is funny because the women in the air ambulance said you probably won't remember any of this."

It took more than an hour to free the farmer and eventually firefighters dismantled the prong and he was airlifted to the University Hospital of North Staffordshire with it still in his body.

Mr Heatley: "I have been very lucky and it wasn't until I was sat in hospital thinking about it that I realised how lucky I had been.

"It could have been a lot worse. When I went in for surgery the surgeon said they did not know how long it would take because the prong would have to be removed slowly and they did not know if it had gone through any organs and what they would have to do when it was out.

"Luckily it did not go through any major organs. I'm just thankful it was the Thursday and not the Wednesday because it was really windy on the Wednesday and the air ambulance may not have been flying. I still don't think it's all sunk in what's happened but I'm not too bad I am doing quite well."

Mr Heatley, who is at home being looked after by his mother Mary while he recovers from the accident on February 13, today praised the emergency services and hospital staff for helping him get home as soon as possible.

He said: "I was in for six days. I went in on the Thursday and came out the following Wednesday. I was surprised at how quickly I was out.

"I didn't think I'd be home within a week but the surgeon was pleased.

"Now I look fine, I can't do anything outside and the neighbours have been great and are helping on the farm.

"I just try and go for walks to get some exercise. It's just rest and recuperation now."