A VET has told how he was left partially paralysed after being attacked by a bull he was treating.
Chris Cundall, 63, was called to a farm close to his Scarborough practice to look at a bull that was lame.
The animal first crushed him against one wall before spinning around and pounding him again into the back wall of the enclosure.
Chris, a vet with 40 years’ experience, suffered a spinal fracture which impinged on his spinal cord, leaving him partially paralysed from the waist down.
“I don’t really remember the accident itself but, as I was on the ground waiting for the bull to come at me again, I do remember thinking well, this is probably it,” he said.
“I wasn’t frightened. I’ve had a very good life, but the animal never came at me again. At that time my ribs hurt more than my back but when I could not feel my legs I knew I was buggered.”
Chris was airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the accident, which happened a year ago, has left him in a wheelchair, although he still plans to do a sponsored walk on a Zimmer frame.
His accident features in the first episode of a new series of Helicopter ER, the award-winning UKTV programme which follows the life-saving work of the rapid response emergency charity. The programme airs at 9pm on Monday on the channel Really.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here