Pensioner trapped under trailer

Frank McSorley is recovering in hospital

A County Londonderry pensioner has described his six-hour ordeal after he became trapped under the wheel of a trailer in the Sperrin Mountains.

Frank McSorley, 71, says he owes his life to a man who found him after he slipped and fell under the trailer while cutting turf in the Sperrin Mountains.

The accident happened on Wednesday at lunchtime when Mr McSorley was cutting turf at Tornoge Hill near Plumbridge.

He was still trapped six hours later.

Speaking from his hospital bed, Mr McSorley said: "I thought I could wriggle out of it.

"But nothing would move and I was nearly crying.

The inhospitable terrain of the Sperrin Mountains

"As the day wore on, I started praying that I would die because of the pain of it - isn't that mad? "

Mr McSorley was found by local man Brendan O'Neill shortly after 1830 BST.

Mr McSorley added: "Right enough - that man saved my life."

The police and paramedics gave first aid to the injured man at the scene.

An RAF helicopter then airlifted Mr McSorley to Altnagelvin Hospital in Londonderry.

RUC constable Jonathan Anderson paid tribute to everyone who helped Mr McSorley.

He said: "Only for the quick actions of the police, the ambulance and the military on this occasion, and also for the vigilance of the gentleman out walking on the hillside, I fear what the consequences would have been."

Mr McSorley should be discharged from hospital in the next few days.