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It pays not to be squeamish when working for a personal injury solicitor. With nausea-inducing regularity the accident at work accounts are gut wrenching; both in physical terms and in an emotional context, when the full understanding of tragedy' is played out in vowels and consonants in front of your eyes. I am sad to say, even as a personal injury writer, the cases to report on are always apparent; day-in day-out there are stories about accidents that should never have happened.
Today, I read about an acrobat who suffered the most horrific injuries after plunging six metres to the concrete floor of the Millennium Dome as she was performing a complex aerial display in 2000. She had been suspended from a helium balloon, when supporting pins of the harness, holding her aloft, gave way and she dropped instantaneously to the floor.
Six metres does not sound far, but when you realise the woman dropped straight down, like a stone, onto the balls of her feet, you are delivered a wholly devastating image. The article went into graphic detail of the accident, including description of how the woman heard her pelvis break.
The injuries almost ended her life; her left foot was totally shattered, her right foot sustained significant damage, her pelvis was smashed and she broke her back in several places. She was rushed to A & E for X-rays and MRI scans and there, health practitioners warned her to expect at least two months of hospital treatment. Once transferred to St. Thomas's hospital in central London, she received specialist treatment in an attempt to repair her shattered feet. A foot contains 26 bones, the acrobat had 19 breaks in her left foot.
Finally out of hospital her social life was cut to virtually nothing; her once active, sporty life was now an existence of pain, frustration and tiredness. She described the feelings of guilt, frustration, anger and lack of confidence that became her life instead of the performing path she had planned and that appeared to be fully on track. She suffered constant pain for three years.
It took regular physiotherapy and 10 sessions of hydrotherapy to get her left foot mobile and able to bear weight. She commenced Pilates sessions, started swimming and joined a gym; she was determined to get strong again.
The faulty welding on the harness that caused the fall was grounds for accident at work litigation to secure a compensation claim award of £510,000. This amount, the largest to a UK performer in personal injury claim history, funds her ongoing medical costs.
Today, the 40-year-old woman is a Pilates teacher who helps other trauma victims in their rehabilitation from major injuries. Her positive attitude provides inspiration for others at the beginning of their recuperation, and although she still suffers joint pain and is worried about her future prognosis, this woman, who suffered a career ending accident at work, has rebuilt her life and embarked on a new vocation. She has swapped the gasps of the crowd, as she swooped through the air, for the life-affirming ability to help people heal.
