Man impaled in fishing accident

Donald Williams: "It happened so fast"

A fisherman is recovering in hospital after being impaled on a three-foot aluminium pole.

Donald Williams, of Beeston, Nottinghamshire was on holiday when he toppled into a lake and fell on top of his fishing gear.

The handle of his landing net sliced through his body, narrowly missing all his internal organs, leaving just six inches sticking out.

The surgeon who removed the pole said Mr Williams was lucky to be alive.

It missed every single organ. I was lucky, very lucky

Donald Williams

The accident happened mid-way through a family holiday at Lowfields Country Holiday Fishing Retreat at North Scarle, Lincolnshire.

Mr Williams had been fishing after lunch with his family when he fell into the lake and onto the pole.

It pierced his right groin and travelled almost all the way through his body.

Mr Williams said: "It happened so fast that I did not realise I was impaled on the telescopic landing net pole.

The x-ray shows the pole inside Mr Williams

"I was in water up to my chin, could not get a foothold and thought I could go under the water.

"I shouted for help. I didn't know I had pierced myself.

"I didn't realise until they got me to the bank that it had pierced me.

"The first I knew was when my son said 'steady on, you've got a pole sticking through you'.

"When they pulled me out I thought I was dying. It missed every single organ. I was lucky, very lucky. Even the surgeon said that."

Mr Williams is now recovering in hospital from his ordeal.