Mountain Biker's Leg Amputated
Mike Vandeman
Mike
http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Mum39s-agony-after-son39s-leg.5925687.jp
Mum's agony after son's leg amputated
19 December 2009
By Mark Thompson
A MAN who spent two hours trapped in a 3ft pothole with multiple
fractures has been left devastated after doctors were forced to
amputate part of his leg.
Michael Casey had to endure excruciating pain in freezing conditions
after he came off his bike in the pitch dark at the former Steetley
chemical site.
He was eventually rescued and flown to hospital – but medics had to
remove part of his left leg despite desperate efforts to save it.
Today his mum, Lorraine, 51, of Warren Road, Hartlepool, said: "He is
distraught.
"He just keeps saying he can't look down at what is left of his leg.
"He has taken it badly, but who wouldn't? He has cried about it and is
finding it hard to cope.
"I'm past myself. He will have to spend Christmas in hospital, but
I'll be there by his side."
Michael, who is unemployed, underwent an eight-hour operation straight
after the incident at 4.30pm on Sunday as medics battled to save his
severely fractured leg.
But their attempts failed and he took the decision on Tuesday to have
his leg amputated above the knee after doctors told him they could do
no more.
The Mail reported on Monday how Michael, who has a brother and sister,
was mountain biking on a dirt track near the Brus Tunnel when he fell
down the pothole.
He lay in agony in a ditch for two hours as paramedics struggled to
treat him due to his location.
He was eventually airlifted by the police helicopter to hospital.
The Mail has continuously called for the sprawling Steetley site to be
cleaned up, and launched the Sort Out Steetley campaign to make the
area safer two years ago.
Fire and police chiefs have also repeatedly called on people to stay
away of the site that is full of deep holes, sharp metal and rubble.
Lorraine said: "I want to warn people to stay away from the site.
Michael has proven how dangerous it is and he has suffered for it.
"It should be fenced off, but people should still keep away even
without the fences.
"Michael was down a ditch in agony for two hours and has had 15 hours
of operations.
"He has had a lot of pain both physically and mentally.
"Hopefully in the new year he will get a prosthetic leg and walk
again. But we've been told he will be in hospital for months to come."