George drives home through the pain barrier

A FORRES councillor, who drove 85 miles without realising he had broken his leg, says it’s "business as usual" in his constituency.

George Alexander (63) has been advised to keep the weight off of his broken right leg for a week but he is determined to carry on as best he can, using the telephone and internet from his home at Waterford.

"The break has curtailed my activities somewhat," said Councillor Alexander. "I’m not totally out of action though – I’m still capable of phone calls and emails."

Mr Alexander was attending a funeral at Portlethen, just south of Aberdeen, at the weekend when he had an accident. He was leaving the church and took a short-cut down a grassy slope. Unfortunately, the grass was wet and his foot slid from beneath him, causing him to put all of his weight on the other leg, which twisted and buckled. Although he was in a fair amount of pain, he managed to drive home.

"I didn’t go to A&E for 24 hours because I thought it was it was just a sprained ankle," he said. "It was a wee bit sore at the time, but the following morning the swelling was that bad that I thought I better have it X-rayed. They told me I have a broken fibula (calf bone)."

He has been told he will be in plaster for six weeks, must use crutches and cannot drive during that period.

"I’m looking forward to getting the plaster off," he said. "I don’t take kindly to being stuck in the house ... and neither does my wife."

Mr Alexander said he was getting used to his crutches, but it was hard work, and he realised how lucky he was to be generally physically able.

"It gives you a real appreciation for those people who are less able-bodied," he said.