AFTER surviving a horrific crash in which his truck turned into a fireball and then 11 months in hospital, accident victim Daniel Holmes today feels like he has been left on the scrapheap.

AFTER surviving a horrific crash in which his truck turned into a fireball and then 11 months in hospital, accident victim Daniel Holmes today feels like he has been left on the scrapheap.

Mr Holmes was lucky to escape with his life after the crash on the A14, which left him with third degree burns covering 40 per cent of both legs, burns on his arms, a broken leg and a broken shoulder blade.

Now, after a series of operations, including the amputation of his right leg, he is still waiting to get his life back on track - because no-one will give him a job.

Mr Holmes - who is set to marry his fiancée Clare Bower in New Zealand in March - has sent his CV out to 80 companies and organisations, but had few replies and only a couple of interviews.

He has a false leg now but can drive, though he will not able to return to his life as a trucker because he could not operate the controls of a lorry and he has been left with tunnel vision in one eye.

Mr Holmes, 40, of Arwela Road, Felixstowe, said: “I just want a job - something to get up each day and look forward to doing, somewhere I can feel involved rather than just being home all the time.

“I am willing to look at any jobs, a complete change of career and to re-train.

“It is so frustrating. I am always honest in my letters and tell companies of my disability, but this is not a disability which is going to stop me working.”

He had nothing but praise for his former employers, haulage company Hanbury Davies, who were helpful and supportive and gave him a trial in their office to help him back into work.

“They even tried to see if I would be able to drive a fork-lift, but unfortunately that didn't work out because of the pedal controls,” said Mr Holmes, who spent 12 years in the army and also worked on computers at BT before becoming a truck driver.

He said: “I know I need to look for something new and I just want to get back on with my life. I want to put what I went through behind me and start again.”

Miss Bower, 33, said: “It's so frustrating because he wants to work so badly, but it is as if he has been thrown on the scrapheap and no-one will employ him.

“We just believe there must be someone out there who could offer him a chance - a New Year, a new start.”

Could you offer Daniel Holmes a job? Call him on 01394 284070 if you can help.

What do you feel about Daniel's situation? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk