A MAN run over trying to stop his 4x4 being stolen has spoken publicly for the first time about how it nearly cost him his life.

Philip Stead, 50, was left in a coma when he tried to stop his Mitsubishi pick-up being driven off from his home in Felcourt Drive, Holme Wood, in April this year.

He also suffered a smashed pelvis, broken ribs, a punctured lung and terrible cuts when he was dragged under the wheels of his vehicle and into the road before the thief sped off leaving him for dead.

Mr Stead, a married grandfather, remains confined to a wheelchair with cage still supporting his shattered pelvis and needing to wear a neckbrace.

Recalling the incident, he said: "I got up at 3.45am like I have done every morning for the last 17 years, came downstairs, put the kettle on, put the keys in the car and started up the engine and went back and got my coffee and brought it the front door; this has been my routine for the last 12 years.

"I noticed my car was creeping forward really slowly, I thought the handbrake had loosened or wasn't on properly, so I went round to the front to stop it rolling, and that was when I saw someone sat in the driver's seat.

"He just put his foot down and went over me, dragging me across the road.

"We ended up on a grass verge, I got trapped against the kerb and the back wheel went completely over me - that's what smashed my pelvis.

"I couldn't breathe because I had a punctured lung, and the next thing I knew I was in the ambulance."

Luckily for him, one of his neighbours heard the commotion and rang for an ambulance, which he maintains probably saved his life.

While in Leeds General Infirmary, Mr Stead, who works for works for Shipley-based Associated Waste Management, was placed in an induced coma and had emergency surgery, and was given a tracheotomy to aid his breathing.

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"I had a smashed pelvis, which is being held together by wire and a cage, a punctured lung, broken ribs, I still have lots of dressings on my ankles where it went down to the bone, stitches in the back of my head, and stitches in my buttocks, which are in an L-shape and looks a bit like a catflap.

"I had an operation on my neck and I'm currently on eight tablets four times a day for the pain.

"Going forward hopefully I will get a full recovery, I don't like sitting still for very long and I just want to get back to work.

During his recovery, Mr Stead has had his family by his side at all times, particularly his wife Lorraine.

Mrs Stead said when she first saw her injured husband it was the worst day of her life.

She said: "It was heart-breaking, I can't describe how I felt when I first saw him, it was horrendous.

"All of the family have come together and have been really supportive; we are a really close family, which has helped us all get through it.

"I just don't know how people can just someone over and drive off, it's sick."

Mr Stead said: "My wife has been absolutely fantastic, she is absolutely knackered and has put herself out so much.

"My daughter is the only person other than me in my family who drives, and she was visiting two times a day, bringing the whole family backwards and forwards to see me."

He also thanked the staff who cared for him at both the Leeds General Infirmary and the Bradford Royal Infirmary.

"All the staff at the Leeds General Infirmary and in Bradford were fantastic, without them I would not be here.

"The doctors, nurses and surgeons were absolutely brilliant; they went above and beyond, even cleaning my teeth."

"Thanks to them there is a light at the end of the tunnel, and every day is a bonus as it could have all turned out a lot different.

"My boss at work has also looked after me, he visited me in hospital twice and I cannot thank him enough.

"He told me to to just take my time and get myself right, which is great to hear from your boss."

Mr Stead's truck was found abandoned one and a half miles away in Bell House Avenue, Bierley, hours after it was stolen.

"If the lad who did it had seen me and got out of the car and just run off, I would have just reversed it back on to the drive and forgotten all about it, but unfortunately he didn't do that," Mr Stead said.

"I can only put it down to panic, but even that is not worth nearly killing someone.

"I just hope it's not one of the 18 or 19-year-olds from around here, because I know a lot of them because they used to knock around with my kids, so I'll be really disappointed if it's one of them."

A West Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "Inquiries into the incident are ongoing, and an 18-year-old man remains on bail.

"Anyone with any information should contact Bradford CID on 101 quoting the crime reference number 13160155453, or anonymously via Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."