A Lewisham man whose leg was amputated on a train station platform after a “horrific freak accident” says his life is like a “constant punishment.”
Cerrone Clarke, 39, a former decorator, was en route to an appointment at a specialist pain clinic when he accidentally fell in front of a train at a South London station leaving doctors no choice but to amputate his left leg then and there.
Now living in a Travelodge while his Lewisham flat remains empty, Cerrone says he feels like he’s lost all sense of purpose and is crowdfunding money to pay for a new leg.
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Prior to the accident, Cerrone had experienced months of chronic pain in his back, which had been broken on three separate occasions.
“I had seen doctors countless times,” he told My London. “People told me it was in my head. It clearly wasn’t.”
Cerrone has been in a Travelodge ever since the accident, while his Lewisham flat remains empty
Prior to the accident, Cerrone had experienced months of chronic pain in his back, which had been broken on three separate occasions.
“I had seen doctors countless times,” he told My London. “People told me it was in my head. It clearly wasn’t.”
In June this year, the 39-year-old was due to attend an appointment at a specialist pain clinic and was about to board a train when his legs were crushed.
“I don’t remember exactly what happened but there was a massive crush issue,” he said. “The last thing I remember was reaching for my mask.
“They removed my leg at the train platform. There was no saving it.”
His right leg was also injured and remains in a boot while it heals, although he has pleaded with doctors to amputate it also.
“I cried to the doctors yesterday for them to cut it off,” he said. “It’s constant punishment.”
Cerrone is now living in a hotel room and has had to give up his two cats – “my girls” – while his Lewisham flat remains empty. He hopes some of the crowdfund money will allow him to move his things out of his flat.
Only this week has Cerrone been visited by a social worker, where he said he had his “first meltdown”. He has been trying to hide his sadness from his family.
“I’ve been trying not to get depressed but there’s only so much my family can take,” he said. “I’m not getting the help I should be getting. I don’t know what to do.
“I was always the happy one. Always the one dancing. Now everything’s just fallen apart. I’ve got no sense of purpose at the moment.”
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Cerrone has only recently been fitted for a prosthetic leg but the boot is expected to remain on for another year, which will delay any further appointments.
Together with his friend Kevin, Cerrone is hoping to raise enough money to help with his rehabilitation.
“Throughout this terrible tragedy, Cerrone is still the mischievous, cheerful, radiant light he always has been, said Kevin.
“While Cerrone is out of the hospital now, he still has many months of rehabilitation to go: the search for appropriate accommodation to support his needs is underway and we’re all beginning to adjust to this new way of life.”
Cerrone’s career as a decorator has been made impossible by his injuries and he now hopes to design knitwear for animals using a sewing machine bought for him by his aunt.
“I want to get back out into the community,” he said. “But I’m not mentally there yet. I’ve been a mess.”
His ultimate aim, he told My London, is to have enough money to leave the Travelodge “get a home and start building a life again”.
You can donate to Cerrone’s GoFundMe here.
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