A man who was crushed by a forklift says he will be "forever grateful" to the ambulance crew who saved him. Brave Matt Kinghorn, 44, met with Christopher Pettitt and Stuart Richardson at their base at Aberdeen Central Station to offer his gratitude in person.
According to Aberdeen Live, the father of two became trapped under a forklift after an accident occurred on Abbey Road in Aberdeen in February 2022. Ambulance Technician Christopher Pettitt and Paramedic Team Leader Stuart Richardson arrived on the scene to offer aid and Matt was later taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary.
They helped to keep Matt calm and assessed and then treated his injuries as he was freed by the fire service. Matt has now been raising money for the Scottish Ambulance Service through his poetry readings and has donated over £800 to the Service's endowment fund.
Matt said: "I was so very lucky and glad that the Scottish Ambulance Service arrived on the scene to save me and safeguard my passage to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. I'm forever grateful to the guys for making the time to meet me.
"They were so very lovely and incredibly humble about saving me. It was a joy to chat and to learn that they love doing what they do and I will always be thankful for that. They are a couple of real-life heroes that got me home to my girls. I will continue to think of them every day."
Stuart said: "It was great to meet Matt in person as we don't often find out what happens to our patients. I think it was also very cathartic for him to meet us. We are very thankful for the funds he has raised, as well as the fantastic poem he presented us with."
Matt has now made a full recovery from the incident and has been holding a poetry show, "9…9…Lines," in venues around Aberdeen as a way of showing his appreciation and raising money for the Service.
Matt said: "I felt I had to do something to help in return. I decided to put on some live poetry shows in the city and shire to help raise funds for the people that helped me so, The NHS, The Fire Brigade and, of course, the Scottish Ambulance Service. After nine shows over nine days at 9am, I have managed to raise £2359, which I'm splitting between the three services."
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