JUST six months ago, the family of lollipop man Muhammad Ismail feared the worse after a car ploughed into him causing terrible injuries.
The 73-year-old was helping children cross Bradford Road at Fartown when he was struck down by a hit-and-run driver.
He suffered multiple fractures and endured weeks of hospital treatment, but despite his injuries the determined grandfather vowed he would return to work.
And he’s kept his promise as tomorrow sees his first day back on the job.
It’s superb news to the many children who sent well-wishing messages to Mr Ismail, and his colleagues at Kirklees Council who have praised him as inspirational.
And he said he was delighted to be returning at last.
He said: “I am very happy to be going back to work.
“I love my job and getting out and meeting people and I hope the children and their families will be as happy to see me as I will be to see them.”
The accident happened on November 7 last year, just minutes after Mr Ismail started his morning shift.
He was on a traffic island in the middle of Bradford Road when a car came out of nearby Flint Street, crashing into a car travelling on Bradford Road and sending it careering into Mr Ismail.
The first car then sped off and the driver has never been found.
The force of the impact sent Mr Ismail crashing on to his back, a move so painful that at first he feared he had broken his back.
Mr Ismail said: “I had just started on patrol and was looking out for the children, then I heard this noise and I saw the car coming towards me.
“I tried to move out of the way, but I couldn’t save myself from being hit.
“It was very painful and I found it very hard to breathe. Then lots of people came running and were very kind helping me.
“I was concerned about the safety of the children and the last thing I remember was telling them to let someone know that I couldn’t complete my shift and to pass on my crossing stick.
“It was very scary. I looked in a very bad way and my wife, Allahrakhi, and family were very upset when they saw me.”
The former shop owner, of Birkby, suffered multiple fractures, including a broken leg and fractures from his elbow down to his wrist, which needed a metal plate putting in.
He was in hospital for four weeks and a further three weeks after he caught an infection.
Despite his horrific ordeal, the father-of-five, who has nine grandchildren, recovered quickly and was able to greet his many visitors and open the scores of cards and messages sent in by children and members of the public.
Mr Ismail was presented with a Service Ambassador Award to mark his courage and dedication to his job of three-and-a-half years.
But rather than retire for good, he was determined to return to the job he loved
He said: “I’m feeling as well as I felt before so I thought why not go back to work? I would have been back sooner but I had to have checks to make sure I was ok.
“I’m certainly not scared about going back, there’s no point thinking that way – I’m just looking forward to getting back out there doing the job I love.”
Council leader Mehboob Khan described Mr Ismail as inspirational.
He said: “Many people in a similar position would have been put off coming back to work, but not Mr Ismail.
“His determination and courage not to let this terrible thing that happened to him spoil his life is absolutely inspirational.”
