There have been times when, as the passenger in a car, I have seen some other traveller lurking miserably on the hard shoulder, waiting to be rescued. And I’ve usually said out loud “Poor thing. I’m glad that isn’t me.”
If you travel by car there is always a chance that something will go wrong, in fact your car may still be parked in front of your home when a problem becomes apparent. If you are really unlucky it will happen on a bank holiday, miles from home and in the worst weather.
It happened to us at this time of year, Boxing Day to be precise, crammed into the car with two other people on a visit to relatives. It was maddening, we were almost there when it became clear that something was wrong and my partner pulled over as soon as he could just as the engine gave out. The rest of us sat there while he disappeared into the pouring rain to call for help (this was before mobile phones became widely available), gritting our teeth as every passing car left our own rocking in their wake. Woomph. Woomph woomph. It was more than a little frightening.
After what seemed like an age he squelched back, chilled to the bone and not particularly happy. We had a long wait ahead of us. Along with thousands of other people we had chosen to visit someone else by car and a sizeable proportion of us were in the same situation, waiting to be rescued. All the breakdown services were stretched. It became noticeable that some drivers weren’t put off speeding by the atrocious weather .We felt very vulnerable but there was nowhere else to wait. We were extremely lucky that one mechanic broke off from the job he was tasked with to tow us to a nearby petrol station which was of course closed. There was a pub nearby otherwise things could have become even more unpleasant. The edible goodies that were intended as gifts were consumed and we ran out of things to talk about.
By the time another mechanic arrived to tow us back home we were feeling really desperate. Decorum prevented us from planting big wet kisses on his face and hugging his knees but he could probably tell we were pleased to see him. That tired man had become a knight in shining armour and his truck a white horse.
Since that experience I have become aware of just how big a risk those who repair vehicles at the side of the road really take. That vulnerability applies to anyone who has to rely on one of those glowing jackets and the common sense of passing drivers for their safety - the jackets are usually more apparent than the common sense. A moment’s inattention by a passing motorist or poor travel conditions can leave them injured and fighting for life.
This is what happened to Tyrone Williams in 2000 as he worked on a car parked on the hard shoulder, only it was a lorry that hit the car he was working on. The accident left him with multiple fractures and a number of injuries that were not identified at the time. He is unable to work. Today Ty is trapped at home, missing out on the normal everyday activities that we take for granted.
I have some idea of what that is like as illness has left me stranded indoors and reliant on other people for long periods of time. The chores that others find tedious become the sort of thing you long to do. The weekly shop, the trip to the post office, collecting your kids from school. Miss out on these and you are missing out on life and community. The isolation begins to have a debilitating effect that is a powerful as the physical one of the original injuries.
Ty has used mobility scooters but the severity of his injuries have left his spine in such a delicate state that he is left in agony in spite of pain relief medication. What he really needs is a wheelchair with the degree of suspension that will protect his spine but allow him access to daily life. You won’t be surprised to hear that this is going to be expensive - £3,395 expensive to be precise. Fortunately Ty has an old friend and fellow mechanic to help him out. Corporal Randall-Eyre, known as Bear, has set up a fund in the hope that anyone who has ever been rescued by someone like Ty will remember it and make a donation.
If you travel by car there is always a chance that something will go wrong, in fact your car may still be parked in front of your home when a problem becomes apparent. If you are really unlucky it will happen on a bank holiday, miles from home and in the worst weather.
It happened to us at this time of year, Boxing Day to be precise, crammed into the car with two other people on a visit to relatives. It was maddening, we were almost there when it became clear that something was wrong and my partner pulled over as soon as he could just as the engine gave out. The rest of us sat there while he disappeared into the pouring rain to call for help (this was before mobile phones became widely available), gritting our teeth as every passing car left our own rocking in their wake. Woomph. Woomph woomph. It was more than a little frightening.
After what seemed like an age he squelched back, chilled to the bone and not particularly happy. We had a long wait ahead of us. Along with thousands of other people we had chosen to visit someone else by car and a sizeable proportion of us were in the same situation, waiting to be rescued. All the breakdown services were stretched. It became noticeable that some drivers weren’t put off speeding by the atrocious weather .We felt very vulnerable but there was nowhere else to wait. We were extremely lucky that one mechanic broke off from the job he was tasked with to tow us to a nearby petrol station which was of course closed. There was a pub nearby otherwise things could have become even more unpleasant. The edible goodies that were intended as gifts were consumed and we ran out of things to talk about.
By the time another mechanic arrived to tow us back home we were feeling really desperate. Decorum prevented us from planting big wet kisses on his face and hugging his knees but he could probably tell we were pleased to see him. That tired man had become a knight in shining armour and his truck a white horse.
Since that experience I have become aware of just how big a risk those who repair vehicles at the side of the road really take. That vulnerability applies to anyone who has to rely on one of those glowing jackets and the common sense of passing drivers for their safety - the jackets are usually more apparent than the common sense. A moment’s inattention by a passing motorist or poor travel conditions can leave them injured and fighting for life.
This is what happened to Tyrone Williams in 2000 as he worked on a car parked on the hard shoulder, only it was a lorry that hit the car he was working on. The accident left him with multiple fractures and a number of injuries that were not identified at the time. He is unable to work. Today Ty is trapped at home, missing out on the normal everyday activities that we take for granted.
I have some idea of what that is like as illness has left me stranded indoors and reliant on other people for long periods of time. The chores that others find tedious become the sort of thing you long to do. The weekly shop, the trip to the post office, collecting your kids from school. Miss out on these and you are missing out on life and community. The isolation begins to have a debilitating effect that is a powerful as the physical one of the original injuries.
Ty has used mobility scooters but the severity of his injuries have left his spine in such a delicate state that he is left in agony in spite of pain relief medication. What he really needs is a wheelchair with the degree of suspension that will protect his spine but allow him access to daily life. You won’t be surprised to hear that this is going to be expensive - £3,395 expensive to be precise. Fortunately Ty has an old friend and fellow mechanic to help him out. Corporal Randall-Eyre, known as Bear, has set up a fund in the hope that anyone who has ever been rescued by someone like Ty will remember it and make a donation.
UPDATE: PLEASE NOTE THAT THE MONEY HAS NOW BEEN RAISED AND TY HAS HIS SCOOTER - WELL DONE TO BEAR FOR HIS EFFORTS.
As I write this there are a great many people stranded in cars waiting to be rescued. It may be for mechanical reasons or because of the heavy snow. The person who reaches them will do it on spite of feeling tired and hungry because he is prepared, quite literally, to go the extra mile to keep someone safe. It isn’t just about fixing an engine and getting paid for it. The man who towed us to the petrol station years ago didn’t have to do it but he could see that we were in a precarious situation and he dealt with it. When you curl up under the duvet tonight spare a thought for all those who are just about to go to work in the cold and dark, to get you home for Christmas.
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