Screams of Brit holiday paralysed after breaking neck falling off bucking bull ride
BRUCE Ford, 49, rushed to hospital on first night of mates holiday and twice told he would die
A SHOCKED pal of rodeo ride plunge victim Bruce Ford last night revealed the horrifying moment he realised he was paralysed.
Staff at the bar where Bruce flew off a mechanical bucking “Bully” tried to lift him up after he crashed on to a mattress — but he toppled over and cried: “I can’t move my legs.”
He was rushed to hospital with a broken neck after the 4am accident on the first night of an annual mates holiday in Portugal.
His friend described how their visit to Matt’s Bar in beach resort Albufeira went horribly wrong.
He said: “Bruce decided to have a go on the bull and was helped by members of staff operating the ride.
“As he was getting on, he went straight over the bull and landed on the mattress.
“I didn’t see him land as he was on the other side of the bull — but I could see he wasn’t moving.
“Two members of staff dragged him off the mattress and I noticed it was being dragged with him — it didn’t appear to be fully inflated.”
The friend said staff tried to prop Bruce on a bench but he fell and smashed his head off a table.
He added: “He didn’t appear to lose consciousness, but he didn’t move at all.
“I asked him if he was able to move — he just said he couldn’t move his legs.”
Lloyds bank project manager Bruce, 49, was rushed to a local hospital where doctors twice told him he would die. His left arm is also paralysed and he is on a ventilator to help him breathe.
His anguished partner Louise Nicholls, 40, is at his bedside after jetting out as soon as his pals told her of the freak accident.
Louise said: “At first he didn’t want the guys to worry me. But when they realised how serious it was they got in touch.
“It’s been a massive shock. Our lives are going to change completely. But we are a strong family unit. I just need to get him home.”
The couple, from Airdrie, hope he will be flown by air ambulance to a Glasgow spinal unit tomorrow after weeks of wrangling with his travel insurer.
related articles
Legal & General have now agreed to pay for the flight after Louise complained about the delay.
She added: “He needs specialised treatment here. Getting him home is the most important thing to me.”
Her dad Tony added: “It’s life-changing. Everyone is in pieces.”
Legal & General said: “Arrangements are being made to bring Mr Ford back by air ambulance. We are in constant contact with him and his family at this difficult time.”
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368