February 8, 2018 2.50 pm This story is over 73 months old

‘I’m lucky to be alive’: Market Rasen crash victim reunited with lifesavers

He swerved his 26-tonne lorry to miss a deer in the road.
Pete's lorry following the accident.

A lorry driver has been reunited with the ambulance, fire and coastguard crews who saved his life after he crashed and became trapped in his 26-tonne lorry for over four hours.

Pete Bennett, 57, from Beverley, was transporting frozen chicken in his long goods vehicle through Market Rasen in the early hours of April 20, 2016 when he was suddenly faced with a deer in the road.

After swerving to miss the animal, Pete’s lorry ended up in a ditch before colliding with a tree.

Listen to the 999 call Pete made to emergency services:

Minutes after emergency services were called, paramedic Chris Cole got to the scene, followed by paramedic Paul Harding-Hubbard, LIVES Doctor Simon Topham, Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue and HM Coastguard.

All crews worked together for over four hours to release Pete from the vehicle as safely as possible after Dr Topham advised Pete’s condition could have taken a sudden turn for the worse.

Dr Topham said: “I remember thinking that Pete could go into cardiac arrest at any minute and we needed to get him out as quickly as possible.”

Pete’s lorry following the accident.

Pete was taken to Hull Royal Infirmary Hospital by HM Coastguard’s helicopter, where he later received surgery for his injuries, including fractures in his ribs, leg and foot.

As a thank you to the organisations that saved his life, Pete and his wife Beverley presented them with a donation.

Pete told Lincolnshire Reporter: “My main concern at the time was my chest, my ribs hurt and I had difficulty breathing.

“I didn’t realise how bad the accident was and I am lucky to be here today and meeting the people who saved my life.”