Farmer crushed by bales vows to walk unaided again

A farmer who was crushed beneath three hay bales said he was determined to walk without a frame again after doctors warned he may never do so.

Will Dickinson was working alone on his land at West End Farm, near Harpenden, Hertfordshire, on 20 June when his trailer became unbalanced and the hay bales, weighing a combined 1,500kg (1.5 tonnes), fell on him.

The farmer suffered 12 broken ribs, eight spinal fractures and a fractured pelvis, but managed to reach his mobile phone and call for help.

"I was told at the hospital there was a 75% chance I would never walk again, which was a huge shock," he said.

Dickinson was flown to the Royal London Hospital, where he spent six weeks receiving treatment and underwent two operations.

Two metal rods were inserted into his back to support it and he now uses a frame to walk.

He said: "The thought of not being able to walk or care for myself for the rest of my life was devastating.

"I've given myself a target of March next year to be back to how I was before the accident. I'm confident I will get there."

The National Farmers' Union (NFU), for which Dickinson previously served as East Anglia regional board chairman, said it was pleased to see him recovering.

It said Health and Safety Executive (HSE) figures showed farm-related deaths rose to 29 in the year to March, adding that it was working to improve safety across the industry.

About 8,000 farm workers suffer non-fatal injuries in Britain every year, with many serious and some life-changing, the HSE added.

Freya Samuel-Smith, NFU Hertfordshire's county adviser, said: "I thank Will and his family for sharing their story and helping the NFU to highlight the importance of farm safety.

"We encourage everyone to take the time to assess the risks of any job they are doing and remove those risks where they can."

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