'Hero saved my husband's life' (From Witney Gazette)

'Hero saved my husband's life'

8:24am Thursday 31st July 2008 in Witney By Thom Airs

The wife of a 64-year-old man who lost a leg after his tractor toppled over yesterday hailed a colleague as a hero for saving his life.

Alastair McKnight, of Chipping Norton, was working on the Great Tew estate on Monday when he attempted to fix a fault on his tractor and mower unit and ended up with it tipping over.

He suffered critical injuries, including to his head, and was taken to the John Radcliffe Hospital, in Oxford, by the air ambulance service.

Patrick Stanley, 58, who was working nearby, rushed to his friend's aid.

He directed emergency services to the scene while chatting to Mr McKnight to keep him conscious.

Mr McKnight remains in a stable but serious condition at the John Radcliffe.

His wife, Angela, said: "Patrick was the hero of the moment. He was doing a different job but working not far away when he realised something had gone wrong.

"He went and got the emergency services and recommended the helicopter and stayed to talk to Alastair, who was still conscious.

"He was the hero of the hour. The paramedics saved his life later on, but Patrick being on the scene made the difference between life and death."

Originally a forestry worker, father-of-one Mr McKnight had diversified into landscaping and had been working with a number of other self-employed gardeners to tidy the Great Tew estate over the past three or four years.

After being taken to hospital, his left leg was amputated and he yesterday underwent surgery to his left hand and arm.

A blood donor himself, Mr McKnight needed 18 units of blood on Tuesday.

It led Mrs McKnight and her daughter Stephanie, 36, to appeal for people to give blood and also to make donations to the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance if they wanted to help.

Mrs McKnight said: "Alastair is still in a very serious condition, and will require multiple surgeries, but he is stable and conscious.

"He has had to have his left leg amputated, and there is serious damage to his left hand and arm, but the surgeons at the John Radcliffe are doing all they can to help him.

"If you would like to help in your own way, please consider donating blood, as Alastair's surgeries have so far required massive transfusions of blood.

"You may also consider making a donation to the Thames Valley & Chiltern Air Ambulance Trust. This essential service can only continue with your charitable donations."

Family friend Graham Anderson said: "He is a very strong man and we hope he will respond well to the surgery he is undergoing."

Jane Newton, donor-relations coordinator for the National Blood Service in the southern region, said: "We currently have 48,000 units in stock. We like to keep 45,000 units available at one time.

"However, we tend to struggle around Bank Holidays and there is one coming up at the end of August."