'I will never forget being crushed by hay bales'

Image source, Christopher Rolfe

Image caption, Christopher Rolfe suffered the injuries when hay bales fell on him
  • Author, Emily Coady-Stemp
  • Role, 大象传媒 News, South East

A farm worker and young dad who was trapped by falling hay bales said he was 鈥渁lways reminded鈥 of the injuries he suffered.

Christopher Rolfe, from Horsham in West Sussex, was checking stock in a barn in Great Bookham, Surrey, in April 2022, when he was crushed by the falling bales.

He had to be airlifted to hospital and credits air ambulance aftercare staff with helping him 鈥済et his head鈥 around the injuries he suffered.

His son William is now an ambassador for the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex.

Image source, KSS

Image caption, Christopher Rolfe's son William is now an ambassador for the air ambulance charity

He told 大象传媒 Radio Sussex: 鈥淵ou grab a bacon roll and a coffee in the morning, and you get to work having gone to the agricultural merchant.

鈥淏efore you know it you鈥檙e getting airlifted to Tooting.鈥

Mr Rolfe, who was 26 at the time of the accident, suffered fractures to his pelvis and ankle as well as his ribs.

He described the moment he moved some pallets while collecting hay for a customer.

Having 鈥渂lacked out鈥 after he was 鈥渉it over the back of the head with a big bale鈥, Mr Rolfe said he then came to in the barn and had to shout for help until a nearby dog walker heard him.

鈥淚'm trapped from the waist down, underneath a bale looking up at the barn roof, not entirely sure what鈥檚 going on or how I ended up there,鈥 he added.

Mr Rolfe said those who really 鈥渇elt the blow鈥 of the accident were those closest to him.

鈥淚t was my wife, it was my son, my mum and my dad and my in-laws who had to pick up all those pieces all of a sudden,鈥 he said.

While he is still doing farm work, Mr Rolfe said he needs to be 鈥渃areful鈥, and he focuses more now on paperwork.

Still suffering pain with certain movements, Mr Rolfe said: 鈥淚t鈥檚 always a reminder it鈥檚 still there."

Dr Duncan Bootland, medical director at Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, said: 鈥淐hris and his family are valued members of Team KSS, and we really appreciate the contribution that his son William has made as one of our Young Ambassadors.鈥

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