Amputee appeals for help getting his car adapted (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Man needs automatic so he can get out and about

12:00pm Saturday 6th October 2012 in News By Dolores Cowburn, Bradford Chief Reporter

A man who had his left leg amputated is pleading for a mechanic’s help to adapt his car and give him back his independence.

Former biker Wayne Bell, who lives in Belmont Avenue, Low Moor, Bradford, was confined to a wheelchair after a horrific road accident in 2003 when he lost seven pints of blood as he lay seriously injured in the road after a stolen car ploughed into his motorbike.

As if that was not traumatic enough, last November Mr Bell took the decision to have his leg removed because of the unbearable pain he was enduring from his injuries.

But it now means his car needs to be adapted to allow him to drive it automatically. At the moment he is virtually housebound because he cannot operate the car with its manual gearbox. He has an automatic gearbox which needs fitting and is open to any other suggestions on how his car can be adapted to allow him to drive it.

Father-of-two Mr Bell, 42, said: “My only transport at the moment is a Kit car which has a normal gearbox and it needs an automatic gearbox which I have already bought. I just need it fitting and it would cost about £500 if I had to pay for it.

“It will get me back on the road and out and about if it is fixed. I have been unable to work since the accident and since the amputation have lost my independence and can’t drive my car. They had to amputate my left leg above the knee which is my clutch leg.

“I am virtually housebound and having my car means absolutely everything to me. It will mean I can do my hobbies such as racing radio- controlled cars and going to classic car shows.

“I love to go out and share my passion for vintage cars with other people and it would mean so much to start driving again.

“I am a very outgoing person and the amputation was a very, very difficult decision to make. I never realised how much it would ground me.

“If anyone out there can come up with suggestions on how to adapt the car they would be welcomed.”

It was only because of the legion of blood donors across the county that Mr Bell initially survived his accident.

He has had numerous operations over the years to try to relieve the constant pain he suffers.

Anyone who can help Mr Bell should contact him on (01274) 416693.