Farmer crushed by cattle praises Yorkshire Air Ambulance

A farmer has praised Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) after he was rushed to hospital when his cattle crushed him in a market ring.

Stephen Potter, from Topcliffe, North Yorkshire was exhibiting at the Thirsk Auction Mart in May last year when the cow and a calf he was leading into the sales ring bolted, crushing him against iron railings and breaking nine of his ribs.

A community first responder who was running first aid classes next door ran to help the farmer and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance were dispatched.

See also: Farm safety campaign focuses on livestock handling

Mr Potter was flown to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough. He spent four days recuperating on the high dependency ward but made a full recovery.

The farmer praised the YAA, which carries out more than 1,500 missions every year.

“They did a marvellous job; we couldn’t do without them.

“I just remember being in the ring with the cow and a calf and then all of a sudden she turned on me and crushed me against the iron railings around the ring.

 “I’ve never had a problem with the cows before, I think it was the different environment that triggered them,” Mr Potter said.

The incident will appear on Helicopter ER, the reality television show about the YAA, on Monday 1 June.