'A hero's feat of selfless bravery'
By Debbie Schipp A SPLIT-SECOND decision cost him his legs and several months in hospital. But regret, resentment, negativity and navel-gazing don't interest David McArdle. Mr McArdle, 26, was critically injured in an accident on the M4 motorway in March. He saved the life of a woman who had crashed, by getting her off the road to safety. However, he was hit by several vehicles and pinned by the legs after going to turn the hazard lights on in her car. A fortnight ago, doctors amputated his lower right leg only six weeks after they'd had to do the same to his left. Relieved he'd only lost a bit of each, below the knee, Mr McArdle is now focused on walking down the aisle to marry fiancee Jenni Sharp in November. "This second leg's set me back a bit, I just want to get moving," he said. "I'll dance, I'll walk down the aisle. No wheelchairs, no crutches, just my new legs ... bits of legs." Mr McArdle's bravery in getting the woman out of harm'sway has led to his nomination for a Pride Of Australia medal. He's stopped counting the number of operations he's had since that fateful day in March. It was 5.30am, pitch black, and he was driving to work when he saw car headlights whip around in front of him and thought, That can't be good. Stopping, he saw a car had speared off the road, bouncing off high-tensile wires between the two freeway lanes -- and back onto the road. "She was out of the car, crying, shaking," he said. "I was like, Love, are you OK? Let's get you off the road. Someone suggested turning on the hazard lights in the woman's car. I put my bum down in the driver's seat, with my legs hanging out of the door and was feeling around for the hazards," Mr McArdle said. "Next thing, someone yells: Look out! and then there is this massive impact, the car's spinning around, and then it's hit again, and again, and finally it stops. I'm feeling around my head, my arms, my chest and thinking, Everything's working -- there's no blood or anything. I try to get out and think, My bottom half's not working too well' -- but still there's no pain, no pain at all. Someone opens the passenger door and says, Don't move: your legs are pinned in the door.' And then, just pain -- indescribable pain." Mercifully, he remembers little of the 40 minutes it took to cut him from the wreckage. He woke in Westmead Hospital after emergency procedures to save his life and mangled legs. A fortnight later, infection set in and his lower left leg had to be amputated. He bears no malice towards the woman he saved. She has been to see him and is distraught by what has happened to her saviour. "We had to coax her into the room," Mr McArdle said. "I said, 'Come here and hold my hand' and, well, there were waterworks. She feels guilty. But, look, it was an accident -- I would do it again." Those who have encountered Mr McArdle are bowled over by his positive attitude, but he knows no other way to live. "Negativity's a waste of time," he said. "Lying in a bed, moping -- where's that going to get you? Nowhere!" He still shies away from the word hero. Certainly, he is an inspiration. * Mr McArdle has captured the hearts of his workmates, his employers Star Track Express, and the public. Donations from workmates to help his recovery have been matched by the company. Star Track Express has established a trust account for public donations. They can be made to the Star Track Express 'David McArdle Trust Account' at any National Australia Bank. |