Protective workwear saves bricklayer's legs

A bricklayer's steel-capped boots have been lauded as saving his legs, after a 10-ton passenger bus drove over them.

Robert Phillips was walking home when the single-decker bus struck him as he stood by a pelican crossing. Knocking him to the ground, the bus also ran over both his feet and his left leg.

The 27-year-old suffered a broken fibula and tibia in his left leg and his left ankle crumpled, turning over 180 degrees.

Doctors later told Phillips that if it had not been for his boots, an essential part of his site safety workwear, it is likely he would have lost the ability to walk.

Thanks to the steel capping, both were completely undamaged.

Phillips explained:

“The doctors say I’m very lucky to have my feet. If I hadn’t been wearing steel toe-capped boots I would have lost them for sure. Thankfully they withstood the weight of the bus.”

The father of a two-year-old son went on to explain how he was never without his boots when working, saying:

“My feet don’t have a mark on them. I always wear proper work boots. I pay extra to get good ones.”

Phillips said he has since written to the firm who made the boots to tell them about the incident, and thank them for saving his feet.

He has since received a reply from the firm, which is sending him a new pair free or charge, ensuring he can continue to work in safety when back on the job.