Shropshire farmer impaled on spike praises rescuers
A Shropshire farmer today said he cannot praise emergency services enough after his leg was impaled on a tractor spike.
Brian Morgan, 81, of Coton near, Whitchurch thanked fire crews, police and paramedics after the drama.
Mr Morgan was trapped during an accident on the farm that left his leg impaled on a tractor bailing spike just below the knee.
He said: "It was an accident and I managed to get hold of one of my neighbours Chris Mayer and he rang the ambulance service.
"They were here very quickly - it was about three or four minutes only.
"Then Prees fire service was here, they weren't far behind the paramedics.
"They had to call Wellington fire station because they are the only ones in Shropshire with this special Stihl saw."
Mr Morgan said he hadn't initially realised what had happened during the accident.
He added: "I didn't actually feel that it had gone into my leg at first.
"The fire crews all worked together trying different things and they cut through the tine.
"Then they quickly transferred me onto the stretcher and to the air ambulance."
Mr Morgan was airlifted to to Royal Stoke University Hospital for treatment and to have part of the spike removed from his leg following the accident last Thursday.
He said: "I cannot praise that air ambulance enough.
"I hate flying, but I didn't have an option obviously.
"It took us only 10 minutes to get to Stoke – they were just excellent."
Mr Morgan, who is president of the Wem and Prees Agricultural Society said he had only last month presented a cheque to the air ambulance of £1,200 on behalf of the society.
He said: "And here I am using it just a month later!"
Mr Morgan was in the hospital until Saturday and was pleased to find he was recovering quickly, walking around the ward.
He said: "They were fantastic on the ward.
"Hospitals get a lot of criticism but they really were brilliant to me.
"I was up and walking round the next morning by 11am."
Mr Morgan, who still farms at his home in Coton said he is an active person who regularly plays bowls and tends to the garden.
He said: "I'm not someone to not do things so I was pleased to be up and walking.
"I just really hope that people can see how good the air ambulance is and they might want to donate and fundraise for the charity."
Mr Morgan's accident was the second involving a tractor spike in Shropshire.
Midlands Air Ambulance was awarded a Chief Officer Commendation for outstanding work in saving 52-year-old Graham Heatley's life when he was injured at his farm The Grange at Lyneal, near Ellesmere, in February last year.
Mr Heatley was impaled by a 45-centimetre long tractor fork , which went straight through the right side of his lower back and came out through his stomach.
