A man who lost his arm in a seaside tragedy nearly 50 years ago wants to find and thank everyone who saved his life.
Back in July 1975, Darren Peel and his family – who were living in Bolton – had taken a trip to Southport to visit the beach. But the visit turned into tragedy when Darren, then aged five, ran into the propeller of a day-trip aeroplane, which left his left arm severed.
Years ago, the plane would operate 15 minute "flips" for day trippers to see the resort by air. At the time of the incident, the plane was stationary, but back then health and safety regulations were not what we know them to be today.
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Darren, now 53, said he remembers the "shock overcoming the pain" and his dad saying "for Christ sake don't fall asleep" when he rushed to his side to help. Now living in Darwen, Darren told the ECHO: "We'd gone out for a day trip and wanted to go on the pleasure trip, on the plane.
"I remember being excited as a five-year-old and my dad and my sister and another friend had already boarded the aircraft. I held the pilot's hand and let go and went round from the back of the aeroplane to the front and that’s when it got my arm.
"The shock overcame the pain to be honest with you. I remember my dad jumped out the aircraft and obviously came to me and he rammed his body into mine to try and stop the flow of blood. I remember him saying "for Christ sake don't fall asleep."
Darren remembers being taken to Southport Infirmary for a blood transfusion and later being escorted by police to Broadgreen Hospital for further care. After two operations, there had been hope his left arm could be reattached, but the treatment was unsuccessful.
Darren, who worked for Royal Mail, said: "Unfortunately it didn’t take. I think at that time reattachment of limbs was pretty much in its infancy, they'd never tried it before.
"I think there’s a quote somewhere of it not being tried before. And ok it didn't and to be honest I'm very positive, I'm a very positive person.
"It didn't happen and I've lived with that for all this time and I have no regrets on that, none at all. I've always managed all these years, it’s been 47 years. I just adapted. After the accident occurred I saw a helicopter on the beach and the ironic thing is I've got a real interest in helicopters and photography. I love going to the Southport Air Show."
At the time, Darren's story was widely covered in the newspapers and over the years, he's shared updates on his life. In 1977, damages were also awarded to Darren.
Darren said: "I do have an artificial limb and my colleagues at Royal Mail helped raised funds for a new prosthetic arm. They raised over £20,000.
"I don't think the NHS was investing much money into the prosthetics until my colleagues raised those funds and highlighted the situation. However, I managed to get it on the NHS and the money they raised at work went to two charities, one was Bolton Hospice and the other one was Derian House."
Nearly 50 years on, Darren wants to thank all those at Broadgreen Hospital and other members of the emergency services for saving his life. He would also like to hear from family members of anyone who helped him if they remember his story and their loved ones are now deceased.
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Darren said: "If those people are still alive today, I would love to thank them and anyone else who was involved, anyone on the intensive care unit, any of the nurses who were on the men's wards at that time. All the people who were involved in my care.
"They saved my life at the end of the day and the police officers involved back then, getting me to Broadgreen."
If you were involved in Darren's care – or know someone who was – and would like to get in touch, email the Liverpool ECHO on news@liverpool.com or contact us on our social media accounts.
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