A man is seeking compensation after his skull was crushed by a truck in an accident at work three years ago.

Simon Mason, of Romford, says his life has been turned upside down after the incident in West Horndon.

He said: “I’m lucky to be alive. After the accident, I couldn’t eat, speak or walk.It was terrifying.”

The 24-year-old had been working at Tuffnells’ parcel depot for six months when his head was crushed against a wall while waiting to unload an articulated 45ft HGV trailer.

Before unloading began, Simon had noticed that the delivery truck was improperly parked in its bay.

He asked the driver to move it into the correct position for unloading.

But unknown to him, the lorry was stuck in a pothole and, as it reversed, the trailer overshot the bay, crushing Simon.

He only noticed he was hurt when he saw blood coming from his ears.

“It was the manager who told me that he needed to call an ambulance,” he said.

“I didn’t believe him until I wiped my head and saw blood.”

Simon was taken to Basildon Hospital. He was then transferred to Queen’s Hospital, where he underwent a seven and a half-hour operation to remove a clot from his brain and prevent further bleeding.

At Chelmsford Crown Court, Tuffnells pleaded guilty to breaching section 2 (1) of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.

The Health and Safety Executive investigation found that Tuffnells had not assessed, controlled or properly managed the risks arising from vehicle and equipment movements at its West Horndon depot.

The firm was fined £150,000 and ordered to pay costs of £19,000.

A year after the incident, Simon was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

He has also been told that he will suffer from migraines and headaches for the rest of his life.

Specialist brain injury lawyer Damian Horan, of Moore Blatch Resolve, is leading Simon’s claim for compensation.

He said: “Before the accident, Simon was an ordinary young man in employment.

“After the accident, he suffered significant brain injury and has not been able to hold down employment. So he needs help so that he can have some kind of a future.

“Brain injury is not like a broken leg. People look the same but they are having to deal with lots of challenges and many of them are completely different to how they were before.