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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| East Mersea steam engine bus crash driver 'thought he would die' | East Mersea steam engine bus crash driver 'thought he would die' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| A bus driver who was seriously injured in an accident when a traction engine fell off a low-loader into his cabin has told how he thought he "would die". | A bus driver who was seriously injured in an accident when a traction engine fell off a low-loader into his cabin has told how he thought he "would die". |
| Michael Birch, 44, was one of 23 people injured in the East Mersea accident near Colchester, in September. | Michael Birch, 44, was one of 23 people injured in the East Mersea accident near Colchester, in September. |
| He had to be cut free from his cabin by firefighters and was airlifted to hospital having sustained deep lacerations in his abdomen. | He had to be cut free from his cabin by firefighters and was airlifted to hospital having sustained deep lacerations in his abdomen. |
| After seven operations, Mr Birch has returned home to continue his recovery. | After seven operations, Mr Birch has returned home to continue his recovery. |
| The father of four has no memory of the four days after the crash when he underwent stomach surgery , two shoulder operations, skin grafts and the reconstruction of a hand. | The father of four has no memory of the four days after the crash when he underwent stomach surgery , two shoulder operations, skin grafts and the reconstruction of a hand. |
| Recalling the moment of impact on 23 September, he said: "I was driving along and just bang, just felt this shunt sensation. | Recalling the moment of impact on 23 September, he said: "I was driving along and just bang, just felt this shunt sensation. |
| "I woke up and the bus is a wreck around me, passengers are screaming and I'm sitting in the seat and holding onto my stomach contents, which had just burst out. | "I woke up and the bus is a wreck around me, passengers are screaming and I'm sitting in the seat and holding onto my stomach contents, which had just burst out. |
| "A low-loader had come past, but the traction engine that was on the back had fallen off and smashed into the bus - literally just made a massive, massive mess." | "A low-loader had come past, but the traction engine that was on the back had fallen off and smashed into the bus - literally just made a massive, massive mess." |
| 'Screaming' | 'Screaming' |
| He described feeling helpless as he was unable to move to help any passengers. | He described feeling helpless as he was unable to move to help any passengers. |
| He said: "I was worried that with the stomach, the way it was, I just thought I was going to die. People were screaming. It was horrible." | He said: "I was worried that with the stomach, the way it was, I just thought I was going to die. People were screaming. It was horrible." |
| By his hospital bedside was his wife Gemma, who was shocked to see him so ill. | By his hospital bedside was his wife Gemma, who was shocked to see him so ill. |
| She said: "When the police turned up telling me that he was alive. We just had to go, it was scary. | She said: "When the police turned up telling me that he was alive. We just had to go, it was scary. |
| "He had tubes and wires, monitors kept bleeping, just telling me he was really poorly." | "He had tubes and wires, monitors kept bleeping, just telling me he was really poorly." |
| Mr Birch said they had received great support from their friends and family, and had one message for those who have helped. | Mr Birch said they had received great support from their friends and family, and had one message for those who have helped. |
| He said: "To everybody that supported me and who has asked about me and has helped raise money to help us and stuff, I just want to say thank you. It just restores your faith in humanity." | He said: "To everybody that supported me and who has asked about me and has helped raise money to help us and stuff, I just want to say thank you. It just restores your faith in humanity." |
| A 51-year-old Great Yarmouth man arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving has been released on police bail until 3 January. | A 51-year-old Great Yarmouth man arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving has been released on police bail until 3 January. |
| For the full interview, listen back to BBC Essex's breakfast show from 06:00. |