28 years ago, my dad's face graced the newspaper's front page.
The bold headline proclaimed: 'Superhero saves lives'.
But the reality is, since that fateful day, he hasn't been able to work, and he still relies on a psychological therapist to help him cope with the severe PTSD that haunts him.
Here's the story behind the headline:
Dad was supposed to have the weekend off, but when the other site manager called in sick, he was asked to cover the shift.
Little did he know, that decision would change his life forever.
As he walked through the warehouse, a forklift truck driver accidentally reversed into a steel girder, causing the entire roof to collapse on my dad and two other women.
Trapped beneath the rubble, Dad couldn't feel his back, but he could see that one of the women was pinned down, and split electric wires had sparked a fire right where she was trapped, burning her.
In moments of crisis, people often tap into a hidden strength they never knew they possessed.
And that's exactly what my dad did.
Despite his own injuries, he managed to pull himself out of the debris and rush to the woman's aid.
The details of what he saw are too horrific to recount, but with an incredible display of courage, he dragged her to safety, saving her life.
Then, without hesitation, he went back for the second trapped woman, who was also badly injured. He managed to pull her out too, but tragically, she suffered permanent disabilities from the incident.
Every couple of months, dad comes to visit me, and we always have the most best time together.
I often think about how different his life might have been if he hadn't been burdened with severe PTSD and the need for maximum-dose medication every single day.
But seeing the joy on his face as I show him around the countryside and watching him eagerly help with lambing just last night makes me happy.
The newspaper may have briefly portrayed him as a superhero, but 28 years later, he's still paying the price for his bravery.
Yet, through it all, he always makes me and Emma laugh whenever he comes to visit.
In my eyes, he is a true superhero.
Not just for saving those two lives on that fateful day, but for his unwavering resilience in the face of adversity, even 28 years later. 💪
