Man ‘begged doctors not to amputate leg’ after horror 30ft mountain fall

2022-11-30

A man was left pleading with doctors not to amputate his leg after a 30ft fall left him with numerous serious injuries.

Jamie Hardesty, 31, went on holiday with wife Sammy to North Wales earlier this year and embarked on a solo hike up Mount Tryfan in Snowdonia.

But the trek ended in tragedy when, while trying to clamber down a ledge, the Newcastle-upon-Tyne native fell 30ft down the mountain and landed on his back, LiverpoolEcho reports.

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He was airlifted to a major trauma centre at Aintree University Hospital in collaboration with The Walton Centre and medical staff determined that he had sustained several serious injuries in the fall – he had broken his chest, ribcage and his back in three places and had collapsed both of his lungs.

Jamie said he could feel pain in his legs and begged doctors not to remove them.

He recalled: “I knew I was in a bad way, but I didn’t know to what extent.

"I couldn’t move my legs, so I thought that I’d badly broken them.

"I was confused when I got to A&E because I was pleading with them not to amputate my legs, not knowing that it was referred pain from the damage done to my spine.”

Consultant Spinal Surgeon Miss Maggie Lee performed an initial assessment on Jamie before carrying out a complex surgery on his spine. the complex spinal surgery he needed.

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"Miss Lee was amazing at calming me down in those initial conversations," Jamie said.

"I was in surgery for a long time while she was reinforcing my spine.

"When I woke up I had no sensation below my hips, the damage was that extensive."

Jamie, who likes to keep active and has run half-marathons, was horrified when he lost the feeling in his legs and feared the idea that he might never walk again.

"I remember being very upset after the surgery because of the lack of feeling in my legs," he said.

"I’m a very active person, I’ve run half-marathons in the past, I love walking and hiking.

"So facing the prospect of never being able to walk again hit me very hard.

"But Miss Lee and the staff on Horsley ICU were excellent in looking after me and keeping my spirits up."

It was discovered he had sustained Thoracic-level spinal damage, which can cause a lack of sensation in the lower body and legs and affects mobility.

However, there was a glimmer of hope as his injury was classed as an "incomplete spinal cord injury" – meaning he could potentially recover from the fall.

Jamie has since been undergoing intensive physiotherapy to help him recover from his injury and is now able to walk with a zimmer frame.

"Progress is slow and I’m using a wheelchair mainly for the moment, but considering the extent of the damage I’m grateful to be this far along," Jamie said.

"I’m determined to carry on my rehabilitation and walk unassisted again. Next step – walking with crutches!"

Miss Lee said: "Jamie had a great positive attitude, which plays an important part in his rehabilitation.

"He is surrounded by his supportive family and a great team of therapists. I only played a small part in his journey; he is an inspiration to other patients with spinal cord injuries.

"I am so pleased to see how far he’s come in six months. I hope he continues to recover well."

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