A personal trainer from Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, claims acting as a Good Samaritan may cost her £10,000 after she was kicked in the face while saving a teenager's life. Ruth Forbes, 43, was walking down the high street on April 21 when she noticed a teenager about to run across a busy road.
Forbes grabbed hold of the teenager, who was not watching traffic and appeared to be drunk. She claims the girl lashed out and kicked her in the face, causing her to fall backwards and land awkwardly on her knee.
Injury and diagnosis
Forbes limped back to her car and iced her sore knee at home before going to her GP a month later. She was referred to a physiotherapist but still experienced sharp pains and could not bend or fully extend her leg, leaving her unable to demonstrate safe exercises to clients.
An x-ray revealed the fall caused painful 'bone-on-bone' arthritis in the outer part of her knee, which is so painful she is unable to work out. Doctors reportedly told her the fall wore away the cartilage on her knee, allowing the bare thigh bone and shin bone to rub directly against each other.
Impact on work and life
Forbes said she will need a partial knee replacement surgery that she will have to pay for privately due to NHS waiting times, costing her up to £10,000. Despite the pain and disruption to her fit lifestyle, she said she does not regret helping out as she 'wouldn't walk past someone in need'.
She said: "[She] was either drunk or on something. I just wanted to help so she didn't get hit by a car. She chinned me and I fell back [...] she didn't mean it. I started to walk off and realised my left knee was quite sore, I thought I just twisted it. I stood up and couldn't put my weight on that leg, I couldn't straighten my leg, I limped to my car. I iced it and thought it was going to be okay, but my knee never got better. It's this constant pain, I don't have a day now when I'm not in pain."
Future surgery and fundraising
Forbes, who is self-employed, said she can still work some hours with regular clients but cannot take on new clients as she is unable to safely demonstrate exercises. She was meant to compete in November but can no longer do so.
She said: "I saw the consultant and a partial knee replacement is my only option. I can't straighten it or bend it properly and need an MRI scan to see what is going on internally." A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Forbes get surgery and with living costs.
