Dramatic Perthshire rescue features on TV

DUMPER-TRUCK ACCIDENT: Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance hailed

The efforts to save a Perthshire man who had been pinned beneath a dumper truck have been recreated for TV.

Kevin McNab thought he was going to die as he lay beneath the massive vehicle on the shore of Loch Tay.

But thinking of his children gave him the “superhuman” strength he needed to pull himself out and call 999.

The 43-year-old was airlifted to hospital by Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA).

Now Kevin, from Strathtay, has agreed to relive his ordeal for BBC One’s daytime show Close Calls – On Camera.

The programme, which is presented by Nick Knowles, focuses on the splitsecond moments when everyday events are transformed into disasters, and meets the people who lived to tell the tale.

The episode featuring Kevin’s rescue will be broadcast tomorrow at 11.45am.

The landscape gardener had tried to jump clear when his dumper truck toppled down a slope.

Landing on soft ground, he looked back to see the vehicle crash down on top of him, the roll bar crushing his chest and the body of the truck smashing his leg.

“I really thought I was going to die under my own dumper truck,” he said.

“I then thought about my kids and that gave me the strength to make a superhuman effort to pull myself free. “I think adrenaline took over.” Because he was so badly crushed, Kevin was only able to drag himself into a sitting position, against the overturned truck.

“I was then able to reach my mobile phone and dial 999,” he said.

“My workmate was breaking rocks on the other side of the property and couldn’t hear my shouts above the engine, but luckily I had the phone and the ambulance controller kept me on the line talking and reassuring me that help was on the way.”

His friend eventually realised something was wrong and came to find him.

He did what he could to make Kevin comfortable while they waited for the experts to take over. “The pain across my chest and in my leg was horrendous and I prayed for help to come quickly,” Kevin recalled.

A team from Perth Airport-based SCAA quickly arrived on the scene, alongside an ambulance crew, community first responders and local farmers.

Kevin was signed off work for four months while he recovered.

He said he would always be grateful to the people who came to his aid.

“SCAA is an absolutely tremendous service,” he said.

“They got me out of a remote area and into hospital within 18 minutes. The same journey would have taken at least 90 minutes by road.

“The care, professionalism and speed they bring is second to none, and I’m glad they were there when things went horribly wrong for me.

“Scotland is lucky to have such a dedicated service and, although you never think you will need them, we should all be grateful they’re there.”

I thought about my kids and that gave me the strength to make a superhuman effort to pull myself free. KEVIN McNAB

Kevin McNab from Strathtay was rescued by SCAA after being crushed under a dumper truck on the shores of Loch Tay. He has relived his ordeal for BBC One’s daytime show Close Calls – On Camera, which is being screened tomorrow.