Postman 'loses leg' after collision with his van

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.thetelegraphandargus.co.uk/n ... h_his_van/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

A postman is thought to have had a leg amputated after his own van rolled into him and crushed him in Bradford.

The 48-year-old had just delivered a parcel to Four Seasons Cafe on Little Horton Lane, Wibsey, when his Royal Mail vehicle pinned him against the cafe’s wall.

Mark Fairhead, owner of the cafe, said representatives of the Post Office visited him yesterday and said the postman had lost a leg.

The collision happened at 11.41am on Saturday, at Little Horton Lane’s junction with Frimley Drive.


Police said it is believed the van’s handbrake had not been put on. Mr Fairhead said the van rolled about 50 feet, from the direction of St Enoch’s Road and Lemon Street, past a bus-stop before swinging in a semi-circle direction backwards towards the cafe and pinning the postman against the wall.

Mr Fairhead, 48, said the postman had left a parcel on his counter moments before the incident.

“He left the shop and was looking down at his parcels,” said Mr Fairhead. “He didn’t see the van coming.

“The van hit the kerb and then hit him and pinned him against the wall.”

He added: “There was a lot of blood.”

Mr Fairhead was among “four or five” people who helped push the van off the trapped postman, who has been named locally as Colin. A bus driver is believed to have been one of the people who helped.

Mr Fairhead said: “We pushed the van off him and he fell to the floor. The handbrake wasn’t on and we were having to hold the van. I smashed a side window with a hammer to get in and put the handbrake on.”

The postman was pinned to the wall between the cafe’s main door and the window looking out onto Little Horton Lane. Police said he was taken to Leeds General Infirmary with head and leg injuries that were not deemed to be life-threatening.

Mr Fairhead continued: “I heard it as it hit the shop and I heard his scream.

“It was terrible. If the van had gone a foot either way he would have been OK. But his life has changed just like that.

“I hope the poor guy is OK.”

Mr Fairhead added: “He has been delivering parcels round here for ages. He is a lovely guy, a cheery postman.”

Royal Mail spokesman Felicity MacFarlane said: “Royal Mail can confirm that a postman sustained significant injuries on Saturday in an incident involving his van. We are currently investigating the circumstances. He is in hospital and we are doing all we can to support him and his family at this difficult time.”

[Red Robbo]

Words can't describe what he's going through and how it will affect him long term at least he will have a few thousand pounds to help soften the blow.

[daveyeff]

they will deem him responsible or blameworthy for the accident though, because that is the very nature of this company now. he will be ill health retired and royal mail will turn the page. best wishes for the future mate. hope you get well soon.

[k979aaa]

they will deem him responsible or blameworthy for the accident though, because that is the very nature of this company now. he will be ill health retired and royal mail will turn the page. best wishes for the future mate. hope you get well soon.

He needs to get an independent inspection of the van done before it is returned to royal mail but I suspect it is the least thing on his mind All the best mate! hope his union rep can do this for him though and these vans are not serviced like a car would be.

[Red Robbo]

Everyone is insured by Royal Mail against injury & fatality, our member if indeed he is one will be covered under this scheme, this scheme is not blameworthy.

[k979aaa]

Everyone is insured by Royal Mail against injury & fatality, our member if indeed he is one will be covered under this scheme, this scheme is not blameworthy.

You do not live in the real world of royalmail then do you.

[ganda]

I parked a vauxhall combo van last year, put the handbrake on and got out to deliver a pkt. I actually heard the hand brake slam back down from outside the van. Luckily it was on the flat and didn't move but just goes to show just, because the handbrake is off, does not mean it was off when you got out of the van.

Good luck and speedy recovery mate.

[NWpostie]

I parked a vauxhall combo van last year, put the handbrake on and got out to deliver a pkt. I actually heard the hand brake slam back down from outside the van. Luckily it was on the flat and didn't move but just goes to show just, because the handbrake is off, does not mean it was off when you got out of the van.

Good luck and speedy recovery mate.

Its a habit of mine to put the handbrake on and leave it in gear in the opposite direction if its a hill turning the wheel to the kerb just in case of something like this.

Hindsight is a terrible thing, hope the guy recovers and get some compo.

[Thunderthighs]

Yep,Ive had handbrakes slip too, after putting them on correctly. Seems that the constant usage 6 days per week subjects them to premature wear/tear.

But, Im sure RM will see it differently...from personal experience.

[stokes11eg]

Poor, poor man. Al the best mate.

[Shambles]

He will be deemed blameworthy, no question, RM will do absolutely anything to wriggle out of culpability!

It feels wrong to say good luck to a decent hard working man, whose life now will never be the same as before, I just pray he has good family, friends, because he is really going to need them to dig deep to get him through this, his health is far more important, and I'm not just talking about the physical side, but the mental impact too!

My heart goes out to him, I wish him all good things for his future, and pray RM live up to the line they give

"I'm Sorry that you are off sick, blah blah....your welfare is of our uppermost concern.....


We will see!

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Everyone is insured by Royal Mail against injury & fatality, our member if indeed he is one will be covered under this scheme, this scheme is not blameworthy.

You do not live in the real world of royalmail then do you.

Sorry but I think you need to re-read Red Robbo's post.

You appear to have taken his mention of "not blamewothy" as that RM won't blame the injured person. Actually I think he meant that the scheme he mentioned pays out whether the injured person was to blame or not.

[TrueBlueTerrier]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SLyeF8WxQm0&nomobile=1" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

I hope this brings him some consolation.

[Shambles]

what a great article, an amazing man, thank you for sharing

[k979aaa]

Everyone is insured by Royal Mail against injury & fatality, our member if indeed he is one will be covered under this scheme, this scheme is not blameworthy.

You do not live in the real world of royalmail then do you.

Sorry but I think you need to re-read Red Robbo's post.

You appear to have taken his mention of "not blamewothy" as that RM won't blame the injured person. Actually I think he meant that the scheme he mentioned pays out whether the injured person was to blame or not.

Sure royalmails insurance is not with out doubt but royalmail managers investigate these things (incident/accidents) it may affect his attendance record and their by his employment was the ill maintained van at fault or his safety training but royalmail do cover things up you know!.