Landscaper's 'superhuman strength' saved his life after he got stuck under a dumper truck

A landscaper crushed under a two-and-a-half-ton dumper truck managed to free himself with “superhuman strength” after fearing he was going to die.

Kevin McNab got stuck under the heavy machinery when it toppled over, leaving him with a broken leg and broken ribs.

But despite his injuries, the 42-year-old landscape gardener – fearing he would die under the truck – managed to pull himself free.

The father-of-two said: “I knew my colleague who was working nearby couldn’t hear me shouting help, so I knew I had to get myself out.

“I thought about my kids and that gave me the strength to make a superhuman effort to pull myself free. I think adrenaline took over. I really thought I was going to die under my own dumper truck.”

Kevin, from Strathtay, Perthshire, was working on steep banking when his truck started to topple over.

“Normally they topple quite slowly, but my waterproofs got stuck on one of the handles and I couldn’t jump free,” he said.

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“I saw my welly up at my thigh and I thought it had come off my foot but it was my leg, it had snapped all the way down my fibula. And my good leg was trapped so I had to use my broken one to get free.”

The severity of Kevin’s injuries meant he was only able to drag himself into a sitting position against the still-running vehicle on the shore of Loch Tay.

Kevin’s colleague was breaking rocks at the other side of the property and couldn’t hear my shouts above the engine but eventually realised something was wrong and came to find him.

Luckily, Kevin had his phone and had managed to also call for help.

He was stretchered to a nearby helicopter and airlifted to Ninewells Hospital in Dundee, Angus where he spent nearly two weeks undergoing surgery including skin grafts and treatment for a badly smashed shin and ankle, several broken ribs and his leg.

He paid tribute to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA), saying: “The care, professionalism and speed they bring is second-to-none and I’m so glad they were there when things went horribly wrong for me.

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

Kevin’s story was featured in BBC One’s Close Calls – On Camera.