A young north-east fisherman has revealed how lucky he is to be alive after a freak accident ripped off his leg at sea.
Paul Buchan was airlifted from a fishing vessel in the North Sea two weeks ago after a rope wrapped around his shin and “snapped” his right leg in two.
Surgeons in Aberdeen battled to save it, but the damage was so severe they had no choice but to amputate the limb to the knee.
Two days later, the 22-year-old had to go through another gruelling operation to cut his leg to the thigh when doctors realised there was not enough tissue and muscle left to mend the wound.
The devastating injury has left Mr Buchan in a wheelchair as he battles back to health, and he faces months in hospital as he gets used to his new and “unexpected” life as an amputee.
But despite the tragic accident – the “worst thing” that could have possibly happened to him – he says he is so grateful to still be alive and that he is thankful he will be able to see his little boy, Thomas, grow up.
He hopes to get out of hospital next week to celebrate his son’s first birthday at his home in Peterhead with his partner, Jan.
Mr Buchan said he will forever be in debt to the crew mates who saved his life that day as, without their quick thinking, doctors said he would not have survived.
And his family – who have been left “heartbroken” by what happened – have also thanked those who helped save his life, from the coast guards who winched him to safety to the nurses and medics who are helping him recuperate at Aberdeen Royal Infirmary (ARI).
“It still feels like a dream. I keep on expecting to wake up from it,” said Mr Buchan.
“I’ve never even broken a bone before, and now the worst possible thing has happened.
“I just have to be thankful I’m still here.”
Mr Buchan had been working on the Banff-registered Fruitful Vine vessel around 50 miles south-east off the coast of Peterhead on the morning of Saturday, June 13, when the accident happened.
As he passed a rope from his fishing boat to another, he “accidently” stood on it and it wrapped around his leg.
The vessels started to pull away from each other suddenly, and he heard a “snap” and felt a surge of pain.
“My leg got hauled up,” he said.
“I heard a crack – a snap – and I froze.”
On realising the leg had been severed, the vessel’s cook, Charlie McDonald, quickly tied it tight to cut off the circulation and stop any more blood loss.
Meanwhile, skipper John Nichol, phoned the coastguard for help and let his family know what had happened.
Doctors advised them against giving Mr Buchan any painkillers while they waited for the coastguard to arrive, which took around an hour.
All he could do was lie there and wait.
“I tried to block the pain out. I don’t know how I managed,” he said.
“I knew my leg was bleeding, but I didn’t know it had snapped off. I didn’t look down.
“Charlie and John were trying to make me happy, to take my mind off it. They were in more shock than me.”
Mr Buchan was flown to ARI, where he was taken straight to surgery.
His family and girlfriend had arrived at hospital by then, but had to wait until early evening to see him.
His father, Andrew, said doctors asked him and his wife, Kathleen, who also live in Peterhead, who they wanted to break the devastating news to their son that his leg was gone.
“I said the doctor could, and we would be there for support. I don’t know where you start breaking news like that,” said Mr Munro senior.
Mr Buchan had followed in the footsteps of his great-grandfather, his grandfather and his father to become a fisherman, and started life at sea when he left school at 16.
His father said that it was all his son had ever wanted to do, and that they are all “devastated” that dream is now over.
But despite the horrific situation he has found himself in, Mr Buchan remains incredibly positive – cracking jokes with the staff and making light of the situation when he can – as he tries to make sure his family stay positive too.
Occupational therapists are currently waiting until the swelling on his leg has subsided before they explore the possibility of a prosthetic leg.
Mr Buchan said one of the worst things is the “phantom pain” he feels all the time in the leg that is no longer there.
“There have been good days and bad days, but you just have to be positive,” he said.
“It’s tough to think that I won’t be able to play football with Thomas when he’s older, and it’s hard holding him when he visits as he’s so active.
“But I’m trying to be as brave as possible for my family.”
Young family now need to find a new home
With just a week to go until her son’s first birthday, Mr Buchan’s partner, Jan Bruce, should be focusing on nothing else but planning the special occasion.
Instead, the 20-year-old spent yesterday with an occupational therapist, finding out if the couple’s home will be suitable for Mr Buchan when he eventually gets home.
“They don’t think it will be suitable, so it looks like we’ll have to find somewhere else,” she said.
Mr Buchan had set sail for sea on June 11, which was also his girlfriend’s birthday.
The next time she saw him, he was lying in a hospital bed.
But despite the ordeal he had just been through, she said her partner was still making jokes, asking if anyone had found his leg yet.
“I’m trying to be brave for him too,” she said.
Miss Bruce has been at her partner’s side at hospital almost every day, and takes her son, Thomas, to visit his dad as much as possible.
Next week, on his first birthday, she will take a cake and his presents to hospital so his dad can be a big part of the day.
“He’ll be out for his party in Peterhead that weekend,” she said.
“It’s hard as Thomas is such an active child, and he can’t be running around the hospital.”
Miss Bruce said that above all, she was incredibly grateful for the help of Steve Murray at The Fishermen’s Mission, who is helping the couple get through these hard few months.
“I can’t thank everyone enough for what they’ve done for us,” she said.