A young man from Chatham has described how he was crushed under a 13-ton digger - on his second day of a new job.

Peter Barton survived the horrific accident, but has been left with catastrophic injuries and is now seeking compensation.

The 22-year-old, of Magpie Hall Road, had just been employed to clear litter at a plant hire depot when he was hit.

At home and still recovering nine months later, he said: "My life just changed in a split second. I had no idea it was coming towards me.

"I just picked up a crisp packet and before I knew it the digger had taken my leg and slammed me to the floor. It stamped on my knee and carried on up to my pelvis. It was awful.

"All I could do was lay there and listen to my legs and pelvis snapping. One person saw it happen and he was screaming, shouting and being sick."

Conscious and trapped underneath the vehicle, Mr Barton then had to watch as it was driven back off his body.

"The whole thing was on top of me with its metal tracks and then it drove back over me to get off.

"I was conscious throughout and I didn't even cry. It was the shock that overtook. I had nightmares afterwards and I kept on waking up crying."

Mr Barton, who had been working for John Dillon Plant Hire at Detling Aerodrome in January, spent three months in hospital.

"I have to go back every three weeks now. I've had over 40 operations since and I've still got more to go."

Mr Barton, who lives with his girlfriend, said he has had to undergo operations on his bowel and now has a colostomy bag.

He had a nine-hour operation to reconstruct his pelvis, skin grafts on his left leg, a rod in his shin and a pin and plate in his ankle. He has also been left with one leg shorter than the other and foot problems.

He added: "My life is a misery. I used to do everything I could.

"I played all sports. I played football, rode a motorbike. I used to ride a push bike everyday, ice skating, roller blading, swimming, everything.

"All I could do was lay there and listen to my legs and pelvis snapping. One person saw it happen and he was screaming, shouting and being sick..."

"It was a big part of my life. I worked, I was never indoors. Now my life is just playing PlayStation inside every day. I'm improving slowly though, but I can't walk on my own."

Doctors have told him he could make a reasonable recovery in a year and now his attentions are turning to getting compensation to help him get his life back.

He added: "I don't care about the money I just want to be me again. I am in constant pain 24/7. If I could have it all over now I would. I just want my life back."

Kent Police confirmed they were called to the industrial site in January and spoke to representatives of the company.

The incident was passed to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), which confirmed it is aware of the incident and inquiries are being made.

On the day of the incident, the HSE issued an immediate prohibition notice to the company, which said: "Appropriate mirrors and reversing aids are not in place. You are not ensuring the health and safety so far as reasonably practicable of your employees by segregating pedestrian/manual 'totters' from vehicle movements."

Attempts to contact the company were unsuccessful.

Stories you might have missed

Man charged with 11 sex attacks

Toddler taken to hospital with burns

Ebbsfleet owners back Paramount Park

Sacked for selling legal high to heart attack teen