SURVIVOR of a nightmare accident in Hereford earlier this year, Gordon Barrington has met the “hero” whose split-second actions saved his life.

The 56-year-old Hereford man had been wedged beneath the axle of a lorry in busy traffic in the city centre when Danny Thomas last saw him.

Thanks to his quick thinking, Mr Barrington is now recovering from the ordeal after months in hospital, and has been able to shake hands with 30-year-old Mr Thomas Back in March, the professional wood carver was returning home to Three Cocks, near Hay-on-Wye, when he spotted what he thought was a “red rag or pillow” beneath a lorry’s front wheels on Newmarket Street.

While waiting for the traffic lights to turn green, he realised with horror that a man was stuck beneath the lorry. He frantically beeped his car horn and jumped out to bang on the lorry’s windscreen.

This week Mr Barrington, limping with the aid of a walking stick, thanked his own ‘Danny, Champion of the World’ on behalf of himself and his sister, Carol in a touching moment for both.

Mr Thomas was delighted to see Mr Barrington on his feet and back at Herefordshire Growing Point, a local charity where he has been a regular member for over 15 years.

Though his fiancee, Meg Durrell is “very proud” of him, he remains modest, joking that friends have suggested he should acquire a Superman-type cape.

A smiling Mr Barrington told him: “I want to thank you on behalf of myself and my sister.”

He calmly recalled the incident: “There were two fire engines there and an ambulance and I remember being in the helicopter. I was two months in hospital, and for the first eight days I had to lie flat.”

He still bears the wounds and bruises from being dragged beneath the lorry.

“My feet were badly injured and I’ve had skin grafts,” he explained.

“I’d been crossing the road to meet my sister in the cafe at Waitrose for a cup of tea and a toastie,” he said.

But Carol was alerted by police to her brother’s plight.

Said Mr Thomas: “I can’t imagine what was going through Gordon’s head, he was squeezed under the axle and still clutching two carrier bags of shopping.”

He watched as Mr Barrington was removed to safety.

“His T-shirt had been cut so that you could see the bolt imprints in his skin from the bottom of the lorry,” he added.

It is believed Gordon was dragged beneath the lorry for around 80 yards as his shoes were found back towards the Widemarsh Street junction.

Mr Thomas felt the lorry driver was blameless. “I think it was a freak accident,” he said, claiming the lorry seemed to be driven “very well”.

He continued: “Gordon was really lucky, if the lights had been on green, the lorry would have gone.”

Mr Barrington has now resumed shopping trips, though travels by taxi for the moment.