A MUM who was left unable to walk or talk after she was crushed by a massive tree has told of how she’s learning to live again.
Caroline Leafe, 70, and her husband Ken were on a leisurely stroll with dog Monty while on holiday in East Sussex when horror unfolded.
Without warning a 15-metre tree came crashing down, sending Ken “flying” and trapping Caroline – leaving her laying unconscious in the middle of Ashdown Forest.
He told The Sun: “It still fills me with horror now.”
Now, speaking slowly as a result of her brain injury, the mum-of-three has told of her near-fatal experience that happened in January last year.
She’s also opened up about the painstaking recovery that’s followed.
And while Caroline’s memory is hazy, Ken still constantly replays the moment over in his head.
The couple, who have been married more than 40 years, say there were no warning signs to tell them trees were being felled in the forest at the time.
He said: “It’s unfathomable how no precautions were taken by Ashdown Forest where members of the public were walking.
“We were happy as Larry, it was a bright blue winter’s day.
“Afterwards, when I pulled myself together, there was my dear wife unconscious under a massive tree.
“Initially I thought she’d been killed – it’s just outrageous.”
The Ashdown Forest Trust, which owns the forest, is probing the incident and says its “thoughts continue to be with Mrs and Mr Leafe and their family”.
Caroline continued: “I never saw it (the tree) – I was unconscious for a few minutes.”
She had instantly knocked out as the tree came down, and was pinned down under one of its whopping branches.
Ken said those who had been working in the forest rushed to help them, and the ambulance arrived quickly toracethem to Redhill Hospital.
The 73-year-old was given the all-clear – bar some bruises and scratches – so told the doctor: “I’ll just go pick up my wife then.”
But, to his shock, his wife had been transferred to St George’s Hospital – and told him she wouldn’t be released anytime soon.
Ken recalls: “That’s when alarm bells started ringing.”
Caroline was left with a bleed on her brain, three fractured vertebrae, several fractured ribs, and a dislocated shoulder.
She said: “My first four days in hospital, I don’t have much memory.”
The mum couldn’t walk or talk, spent six weeks in hospital and has spent the last year learning how to function.
Even today, she battles with pain in her shoulder, can’t drive, has moments of confusion, and has what seems like endless specialist appointments ahead of her.
Ken said: “I just want my wife to get better, but she still has quite a long way to go.”
The pair are now taking action against the trust, and are being represented by personal injury specialists Osbornes Law.
Ken said: “It’s been an incredibly tough year and, although Caroline is now speaking again, she still occasionally struggles to find the right words and is at times forgetful.
“Despite prescription medication she continues to suffer pain and discomfort, particularly at night.
“Sadly, this means she has been unable to return to her beloved job, working part-time as a nurse for children with special needs and is still unable to drive, which she is most upset about as we live in a rural area, and she feels very isolated.”
He continued: “We are just lucky Caroline wasn’t more seriously injured.
“When the incident occurred there was a whole group of children on a school trip just a few yards away and it doesn’t bear thinking about what might have happened if they had been underneath that tree.”
The Conservators of Ashdown Forest told The Sun: “There is still an ongoing process with the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) after a member of the public was struck by a falling tree on the 25th January last year.
“Our thoughts continue to be with Mrs and Mr Leafe and their family and friends who were impacted by this incident, and we send everyone affected our best wishes.
“Solicitors have been instructed by our insurers to address the civil claim brought forward on behalf of the family. These claims are being dealt with amicably through the solicitors.
“Due to the ongoing HSE investigation, we are not able to make any further comment at this time.”
Laura Swaine, representing the family, said: “This is a shocking case of negligence that led to my client suffering extensive and life-changing injuries.
“There was clearly a total failure to discharge a duty of care and put simple health and safety measures in place which would have prevented this accident.
“While we appreciate the Trust’s early agreement to cover some of Caroline’s rehabilitation costs, we hope there will be no challenge to accepting full liability.
“Ultimately, Ashdown Forest Trust need to provide adequate compensation to my client to cover the damages caused and the psychological trauma Mr and Mrs Leafe have both suffered due to this negligence.”
