A BINMAN blinded in an horrific accident is aiming to walk five miles for charity despite suffering major life-changing injuries.

Andrew Sedman, from Norton, incredibly escaped being crushed last November when the bin lorry he was working on reversed into him.

But the impact punctured both of the 54-year-old’s lungs, caved in the right side of his chest breaking ribs, a collar bone and shoulder blade as well as damaging his liver and spleen.

He also lost so much blood that the lack of oxygen to his optic nerves left the father-of-two blind in both eyes.

“I work in recycling doing various different jobs and that day I was on the bins in Malton,” said Ryedale District Council worker Mr Sedman.

“I don’t really remember much about the actual accident, but I was at the rear of the wagon when the driver reversed into me and I fell underneath.

“The next thing I remember was a week-and-a-half later in hospital.”

Mr Sedman was flown by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance to the specialist trauma centre at The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

“If it was not for the air ambulance I don’t think I would be here today,” he said.

“I had life-threatening injuries and I’m pretty sure I would not have made it if I had gone by road ambulance.”

Mr Sedman now has 10 metal plates holding the right side of his chest together, and spent nearly five weeks in the James Cook hospital, before being transferred to York Hospital.

To thank the rapid response emergency charity Mr Sedman, his two daughters and other family members and friends are planning a five-mile sponsored walk next month in Dalby Forest.

Mr Sedman said: “The accident has just completely changed my life.

“I’m lucky that one of my daughters lives at home with me and I’m coping the best I can, but it’s hard.

“I try not to think about all that I have lost with my sight.

“I’m doing as much as I can for myself and am on the waiting list for a guide dog, which will help.”

His devastated daughters, Suzanne, 24, and 22-year-old Erica are also coming to terms with the accident and with their father’s blindness.

Suzanne, from Malton, said: “We did not realise dad had lost his sight until he was moved from the hospital’s intensive care to the hospital’s high-dependency unit.

“It was a huge shock for us all. Dad has been amazing, but it’s so hard for him and for us.

“I watch all the television’s medical programmes, including Helicopter Heroes about the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, but I never thought that one day we would actually have need of their services.

“If they had not been there then my dad would not have made it to hospital alive where the amazing doctors and nursing staff have done so much.

“That’s why we all wanted to do something to say thank you.”

To support Mr Sedman’s sponsored walk go to justgiving.com/Suzanne-Sedman/