Bradford dad searches for M6 crash rescuers

A Bradford dad who nearly died in a horrific motorway smash is hoping to find the motorists who stopped to saved him, his son and their pet dog two years ago.

Gary Fordham, 43, says he owes his life and that of his son, Hayden, and their dog Buster, to a handful of people who stopped on the M6 motorway on 31 December 2018, after a terrifying accident.

Single dad Gary, a chemical dosing engineer, suffered a seizure while driving home to Bradford following a Christmas visit to his parents in Swindon. Hayden, who was next to his dad in the van, was just 11 at the time.

Gary said: “I woke up at 9pm on New Year’s Eve 2018 in Royal Stoke University Hospital, with no idea where I was or what had happened. My ex-wife, Gemma, and my son Hayden were at my bedside and I was told my parents were on their way.”

At around 2pm that day, Gary lost control of the Mercedes van as he travelled north between junctions 15 and 16 of the M6, near Stoke-on-Trent in North Staffordshire. The van, veered off the northbound carriageway and up a verge, after Gary blacked out at the wheel.

It turned and flipped on its side, ending up facing the oncoming traffic on the hard shoulder. Brave Hayden, who was stuck underneath Gary, managed to find his dad’s mobile phone in the footwell and called 999.

Gary added: “The call handler asked him whereabouts we were but of course he had no idea. I was unconscious and not responding. I don’t really remember any of it.

“We were so lucky that several motorists stopped to help and managed to get Hayden and Buster out of the van and let the emergency services know our location.

"One of the passers-by opened the back of the vehicle and took out a saw, which he used to get the window open to get them out.

"I owe so much both to the members of the public who rescued Hayden and Buster and the emergency services who came to our aid. "

Gary was freed from the van by Staffordshire Fire and Rescue Service, with the help of West Midlands Ambulance Service. Remarkably, he, Hayden and Buster escaped with only minor injuries. However, shortly after waking up in hospital, Gary was told doctors had discovered a tumour in his brain.

He said: “I was in complete disbelief and it took a few days for it to really sink in. My main concern, as a single parent, was that I didn’t want Hayden to lose his dad.”

Gary had been suffering from severe headaches for 15 years or so. He had been to the doctors several times but was always told they were ‘just migraines’.

The father and son duo are now raising money for Brain Tumour Research.

Hayden said: ''If they hadn’t have stopped, things could’ve been very different. It's so important to us to find them so we can thank them for their help.

''Now I just want to raise as much money as possible for Brain Tumour Research, to help prevent other families going through such a scary experience as we did.”

Matthew Price, community fundraising manager for Brain Tumour Research, said: “Gary and Hayden’s story is absolutely incredible and we are so pleased that they and Buster escaped their dreadful accident with only minor injuries.

"Approximately 16,000 people each year are diagnosed with a brain tumour and unlike most other cancers, incidences of and deaths from brain tumours are rising.

“We wish Hayden and Gary the best of luck with the search for their rescuers and thank them both sincerely for supporting our vital work to find a cure for this devastating disease.”

To donate to Hayden’s Appeal, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/haydensappeal