BARNSTAPLE MAN RECOVERING AFTER FREAK ACCIDENT

Mr David Machin is making a miraculous recovery from a severe head injury that almost killed him last November.  He was working at the South Molton premises of South West Metals Ltd when he was hit on the back of the head by a bolt that had sheared off from the jib of a grabber crane, which a fellow worker had accidentally swung into a metal post.

The force of the impact was so great that the bolt went right through the plastic strapping of his safety helmet, fractured his skull and penetrated his brain.  He was rushed by air ambulance to Derriford, where he had emergency surgery to remove bone fragments from his brain and relieve pressure caused by bleeding.

His case is being handled by Mike Clarke, injury partner at Slee Blackwell in Bideford, who said:-
“This was a really unusual accident and David was extraordinarily lucky not to have been killed outright.  The degree of damage and the force involved was similar to him being shot.  He suffered two seizures while under observation at hospital in Barnstaple and one of the greatest concerns in a head injury case like this is the victim developing epilepsy.  Fortunately, David has had no further episodes, which is very promising. 

The insurers for South West Metals admitted liability very promptly and have just paid David some interim compensation.  He is recovering so well that he is now allowed to drive again, and is back at work.

It remains to be seen what the long-term effects of the injury might be and we are obtaining various expert medical opinions to help us assess those effects and how they will be reflected in the compensation David will receive.”