Michael Hayes is reaching out for memories of his dad, Mark, who survived a horrific crash on the M53 in 1989, hoping to honor his legacy.
Mark was in a flatbed truck when a big lorry crashed into it. It was a nightmare. Two long pieces of wood went right into the truck, leaving Mark seriously injured.
Emergency services got there fast, but it took a while to get him out. He had to have a long surgery to fix his injuries. The driver of the lorry was found guilty of reckless driving and got a short prison sentence.
Mark fought hard to recover. He even shared his story on BBC’s 999 show. He remembered waking up in the wreck and seeing the wood sticking out of him. It was terrifying.
At that time, his daughter Ashleigh was just a baby. Mark thought about her and his wife, Sue, while he was in shock. He had a near-death experience, but he made it through.
Despite doctors’ fears, he went on to have another child, Michael. Mark asked the paramedic who saved him to be Michael’s godfather. They became great friends.
Sadly, Mark passed away from cancer in 2004. Michael cherishes the time they had together. Now, he’s looking for stories about his dad to share with his own son.
He posted in a local Facebook group and was amazed by the response. People shared their memories, and it made him feel connected to his dad’s past.
Michael wants to know more about Mark’s life before he became a dad. He remembers the packed church at his father’s funeral and wishes to learn more about the man he lost too soon.
