A FORMER mayor has paid tribute to the emergency services after her husband was cut free from his car following a three-vehicle crash.

Traffic on the A590 drew to a halt after three vehicles collided at the Cross-a-Moor junction, at Swarthmoor, on Friday afternoon.

Ulverston town councillor Helen Irving said she was “terrified” when she received a call to say her husband and son had been involved in the accident and hurried to the scene where her husband, Thomas, was being cut out of the car.

She said: “It was terrifying. This van just hit them in the back and then shunted them into the car in front.

“They were at the traffic lights and Thomas was talking to my son, Nicholas, and looked across at him when the van just shunted them from behind.”

Thomas, 58, said he could remember very little about the accident, apart from the pain.

He said: "All I can remember is a sudden bang then straight away I got this pain in my neck and I couldn't feel my arms.

"I just couldn't move. I couldn't feel my legs. There was no pain in the lower part of my body at all.

"All I could think was "just get me out".

"I wasn't thinking the worst; I just wanted to get out but the services were absolutely brilliant."

Mr Irving was then airlifted to Royal Preston Hospital where he was treated over the weekend before returning home late last night.

The couple's son, 30-year-old Nicholas, is also recovering at home from severe muscle damage and whiplash.

Despite the pain and concern the incident has created, the whole family has been impressed by the efficiency of the emergency services and applauded the work they carry out on a day-to-day basis.

After seeing this work first hand, the former Ulverston mayor is eager to thank the men and women who worked so hard for her family.

She said: “From myself and on behalf of Thomas and Nicholas, I would just like to thank all the emergency services who helped on Friday.

“They were excellent in giving my husband so much care and reassuring both Thomas and Nicholas - as well as myself and my daughter-in-law - that everything was going to be OK.

“The air ambulance was fabulous and all the neighbours were absolutely brilliant as well, bringing us cups of tea.

“Everyone was fantastic and I want to say thank you because they were all just so kind.”

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