A FATHER-of-four today spoke of the terrifying moment he felt his leg being crushed during a hit-and-run accident in Ipswich.Graham Sharpling has been left with excruciating injuries and faces spending Christmas in hospital and the next six months off work.

A FATHER-of-four today spoke of the terrifying moment he felt his leg being crushed during a hit-and-run accident in Ipswich.

Graham Sharpling has been left with excruciating injuries and faces spending Christmas in hospital and the next six months off work.

Speaking from his hospital bed with his leg in plaster, Graham Sharpling told of his anger towards the callous driver who left him lying in the road, and urged him to give himself up.

He said: “I saw a car in front of me and I slammed my breaks on, but even then I knew I was going to hit it.

“I went into its right hand side and my leg took nearly all of the impact, I could feel it crushing.

“I was dazed but I knew straight away that my knee was messed up.

“Someone pulled over, put their car in front of me to protect me from traffic, and called an ambulance.

“But the driver I had collided with just stopped further up the road, turned around to look at the scene and then drove off into Cavendish Street.”

He added: “I hope the driver will come forward and face what has happened instead of running away.”

Mr Sharpling, a long-distance lorry driver from Burghley Close, Ipswich, was travelling down Ipswich's Bishops Hill on his red 125 scooter when he collided with an Audi TT sportscar, which was coming from Myrtle Road, at around 9pm on Thursday.

He broke three bones in his left knee and one in his leg.

Mr Sharpling was taken to Ipswich Hospital but because his injuries were so serious he was forced to wait until today to have an operation conducted by a surgeon who specialises in knees.

After that he will have to stay in Ipswich Hospital for about three weeks and he will not be able to return to work for up to six months.

His wife, Kelli , 29, said: “He lives for his work and now he can't go back. I don't know how he'll cope.

“He is the grafter of the family and although we've never had to claim benefits we are going to need some help now.”

Mrs Sharpling, who will now have to work extra shifts at St Felix Home for the Blind in Felixstowe, where she works as a senior carer, said that when she heard the extent of her husband's injuries she turned white and started shaking.

She said she was unable to stop crying during most of the ordeal.

She added: “The children are very upset. My daughter is really clingy to him, she is missing him lots.

“He will fight to be out by Christmas, but if he can't be then we will spend the day in the hospital with him.”

She tried to remain positive however and said: “He normally works from Sunday until Friday so we might actually get to see more of him now!”

Mr Sharpling is still suffering severe pain from his injuries and he said he was devastated his independence had been taken away from him but he added: “My situation could have been a lot worse.”

Police are hunting for the driver of the Audi. They say the car may have suffered damage in the incident and are urging anyone with information to contact them on 01473 613 500.