‘I was struck by an unrepentant driver in a hit and run and lost my leg’

[TrueBlueTerrier]

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale ... t-30111556

Stephen Malarby is now learning to live with a prosthetic limb after his right leg was amputated following a hit and run

Until August 5, 2022, Stephen Malarby's life was straightforward. He often cycled around his home city of Cardiff and enjoyed spending time with his family and working at the Royal Mail sorting office – a role he had held for almost five decades. But while getting some fresh air on his dinner break his life was changed forever when he was the victim of a hit and run.

The now 62-year-old was on his bicycle nearby his workplace in Penarth Road when he was hit by 27-year-old Savannah Roberts. Instead of stopping to help Stephen she then fled the scene, leaving him seriously injured on the roadside. His injuries were so severe that he eventually had to have his leg amputated.

Not only did Roberts leave Stephen helpless but she then attempted to cover her tracks by selling her car. It was only when the car was seen driving through a red light weeks later that Roberts was linked to the case and arrested.

While she has been jailed for jailed for three years and nine months for causing serious injury by careless driving and perverting the course of justice Stephen has now been left to rebuild his life – including learning to walk again and live with a prosthetic leg. Stephen says that more than two years on since the crash, and while he is still "shocked that this has happened", he is "determined" to get as much of his previous life back as possible.

"I had been working at the Royal Mail for nearly 50 years – it got a bit stuffy in the posting office sometimes during the summer so I decided to go out for a ride on my bike during meal break. I decided to go for a cycle ride just up the road for a bit of air. The car came behind me and hit me off. She did initially stop and asked me a question but then she drove off."

Stephen said another employee witnessed the incident and rushed to inform managers and call the emergency services. "There was one man who was an employee driving around and he got to me really quickly and he contacted the managers who came out with other people," he said. "There was a lot of rushing around.

"Some people sometimes park outside the office on their meal break and they said even though they didn't see it they heard the collision. I was in shock – I didn't know where the heck I was. The police were asking me questions and I couldn't get my act together."

Stephen was rushed to the University Hospital of Wales where doctors tried to treat his injuries. After a few days he was transferred to Morriston Hospital in Swansea to see specialist consultants. Join our WhatsApp news community here for the latest breaking news.

Despite weeks there he was eventually given the devastating news that his right leg would need to be amputated. "I saw the specialists there and they talked about the chance of the operation being a success. Over the period of weeks they tried and tried and tried to save my leg – I had skin grafts, muscle taken away, I even had the leech treatment, but they weren't able to save it.


"I was really upset when they told me. When the amputation eventually went ahead I was just hoping and praying they would find someone who did this. I don't get upset about it now like I used to."

Now Stephen requires carers twice a day to help him cope. He has been undergoing physiotherapy and counselling and is learning to walk again with a prosthetic leg. He will soon be getting an even more advanced leg specially made which will hopefully continue to aid his recovery.

He said: "When I was discharged I was glad to be back home. But then I had to go back for another amputation of a tiny bone that was sticking out a bit but that was tiny compared to the last one. And then I had a skin infection – I was very very unlucky.

"But the neighbours around here have been lovely. I've had counselling. I've been discharged from the Heath [hospital] now – I am a different person compared to what I was just before I got discharged.

"It has been a big thing. My recovery has been fantastic. I go out with the Guardian Angels [home care service] – they saved my life and certainly my mental health. Detective constable Beth Yarwood and her team at South Wales Police were great too.

"My life has changed so much now but I've come on very well. I've had to learn how to get out of bed, getting onto my chair, getting my walking stick – all of that. But I'm determined to get there. I'm determined to get on an exercise bike again, walk again, get on a bus again, get a train again. I used to go down the road picking up litter and people used to beep their horns at me cheering me on."

Sadly Stephen has had to leave his job at the Royal Mail as a result of his injuries and while he hoped he would have continued working "for a few more years" he is now "enjoying" his retirement. "I am still shocked that this has happened to me – it should never have happened. There's a long way to go until I am able to walk again but I am determined to get there and I am enjoying my retirement and it's time to move on and focus on that."

[NWpostie]

I hope he got a large compensation from the insurers and from the driver personally too.

Just driving off is callous and a woman too.

[matthew68]

I hope he got a large compensation from the insurers and from the driver personally too.

Just driving off is callous and a woman too.

What difference does it matter that it’s a woman? She should have get 10 years, let’s hope he can live a decent life despite his injuries,

[dilsan77]

I hope he got a large compensation from the insurers and from the driver personally too.

Just driving off is callous and a woman too.

What difference does it matter that it’s a woman? She should have get 10 years, let’s hope he can live a decent life despite his injuries,

The results of someone's conduct shouldn't be impacted by their gender. Whatever your gender, accountability is essential, and a major crime merits a just punishment. Despite the difficulties brought on by the injuries, I hope the sufferer may get better and start afresh.