| It emerged today that Mr Kinmond used his mobile to ask a work colleague to shut off the power supply after getting his feet caught in the machine.
His quick thinking, despite the pain he was suffering, is thought to have saved his right leg.
He also phoned his wife Lilian to tell her what had happened before he was taken to hospital.
The horrific incident occurred just after 3pm yesterday at Pauls Malt Ltd, Sidlaw Grain Stores, Mid Gallowhill, Burrelton.
Firefighters, working in conjunction with the trauma team from Dundee’s Ninewells Hospital, used cutting equipment to release Mr Kinmond.
He was conscious throughout his ordeal.
Mr Kinmond, an electrician, went into surgery around 6.30pm to have his left leg amputated below the knee and have a steel plate inserted in his right leg, where the shin bone was broken in two places.
It took over six hours to piece his right leg back together.
Lilian and daughters Gemma (22) and Amy (19) were by his side today.
His condition is described as stable.
Mr Kinmond’s sister-in-law Anne Horsfall described yesterday’s traumatic events.
“He was trapped, but had the presence of mind to make a call to somebody on the staff to turn the machine off, or it could have been a lot worse,” she said.
“If he hadn’t done that, God knows what might have happened. He also managed to phone Lilian before he went to hospital.
“Firefighters cut him out and he was taken to Ninewells. His legs were quite mangled, and he’d lost a lot of blood.
“He’s had to have his left leg amputated from below his knee. The shin bone on his right leg was broken in two places. He’s had a steel plate inserted in his right leg.
“Derek went into surgery about 6.30 last night and got out at 12.50am today. He was in there a long time because there was a lot of work to be done.”
She said the family were understandably upset by what happened, but were taking some comfort from the fact that Mr Kinmond’s quick thinking saved his right leg, and possibly even his life.
Anne said Mr Kinmond was told he would have to have his left leg amputated. Before going into surgery he told his family he was determined to bounce back.
Anne added, “He even said he was still going to drive and play golf after surgery.”
The premises at Burrelton are used as a grain-drying unit. Pauls Malt Ltd also owns Glenesk Malting in Hillside, near Montrose. |
