YOU couldn't make it up.

Accident-prone North Yorkshire farmer Jonathan Patrick has twice tangled with a farmyard animal in an identical spot outside a barn - and ended up breaking the same wrist bone.

Jonathan, 24, who also works as a youth worker in Acomb, York, fractured the bone, known as the scaphoid bone, earlier this year when a cow kicked him as it came out of a gate on its way to be slaughtered.

Lightning struck twice last week when he fell over a stray cat as he walked through the gate, breaking the identical hand bone. Now he will be in plaster for weeks.

Clumsy Jonathan, who helps at his family's farm at North Duffield, near Selby, fractured his foot last year when a one-ton mower landed on it.

He also narrowly escaped with his life when he miscalculated the chopping down of a 30-foot willow tree and had to dive for cover before it landed on him.

"He's not safe to be let loose!" said Jonathan's mother, Maureen. "He always been accident-prone since he was a boy - he acts first and thinks later."

Jonathan said: "Clearly the cow wasn't happy about being taken to the abattoir!

"I can't believe it was the same bone. I guess it's just one of those things.

"I need to be more careful."

Have you got a story to tell about being accident prone? If so contact reporter Matthew Woodcock on 01904 653051 ext 305 or e-mail matthew.woodcock@ycp.co.uk

Updated: 11:42 Tuesday, October 29, 2002