A UNIVERSITY porter was speared by a metal barrier in an horrific accident.

Frank Greenhalgh, aged 55, from Farnworth, lost a kidney when his electric buggy collided with the barrier at the University of Salford in April 2004. The barrier pierced the vehicle's window and speared Mr Greenhalgh's abdomen.

On Tuesday, the university was fined £60,000 under health and safety legislation and ordered to pay £11,700 costs by a court.

But Mr Greenhalgh said his ordeal was far from over. "I will never be able to work again," he said. "My and my family's quality of life have been devastated. It has been a very difficult time for them.

"Psychologically, I am still getting to grips with being ill. I was always healthy and kept fit by doing weights and playing football with my son and his friends.

"But I will never be able to do those things again. We used to love travelling and went far and wide. But since the accident we haven't been away and I don't know if I'll be able to. The future's pretty bleak."

Mr Greenhalgh, who has two children from his first marriage lives with second wife Denise, aged 51, and their children Paul, aged 22, and Lyndsey, aged 15, in Harrowby Lane, Farnworth.

Mrs Greenhalgh works for the university and was at the accident scene near the halls of residence just minutes after her husband was impaled on the unsecured, horizontal barrier.

It had been fully open when he went through it on his buggy, but when he returned it been partially closed and was sticking out dangerously.

She said: "He'd been through the barrier five minutes earlier, but it had been moved to a different angle when he returned and he didn't see it.

"I was in shock when I saw what had happened, I thought Frank might die.

"He was in surgery for eight hours. The surgeon said there was a 50 per cent chance he would survive. He was on a life support machine for 10 days. It was horrible.

"At home, I would be scared of the phone ringing with the terrible news and I could never sleep. I still can't because my mind hasn't been able to settle after all this time."

Mr Greenhalgh spent three weeks in intensive care at Salford's Hope Hospital, followed by another two months on a ward.

In the accident, Mr Greenhalgh lost two thirds of his large bowel. His urethra, which connects the bladder to the kidneys, was severed and his urine is now collected in an external bag. He is due to have surgery later this month to see if it can be repaired.

During Tuesday's hearing at Minshull Street Crown Court in Manchester, Craig Morris, prosecuting for the Health and Safety Executive, said of Mr Greenhalgh: "He has 18 per cent kidney function, which can drop to 10 per cent. He is dependent on dialysis and could be so for some time."

Mark Saville, defending, said: "The university expresses unreserved apologies for injuries and stress that Mr Greenhalgh and his family have suffered as a result of this accident.

"Health and safety has and always will be uppermost in the minds of those who conduct the affairs of the university.

"The university made prompt admissions of liability and responsibility. Throughout they have co-operated fully with the Health and Safety Executive.

"The defendant has an unblemished and excellent record. They have never been served with improvement notices and have never been convicted of any health and safety at work offence before. It's a case of the risk assessment and systems in place not being adequate."

Mr Saville said the barrier had been updated and training is in place for their safe operation.

Judge Peter Laken said there had been no adequate training in the use of the electric buggy and barrier.

"Mr Greenhalgh nearly died," he said.

"He has been left with very serious ongoing injuries that are likely to affect him for the rest of his life.

"This very serious accident had had a devastating effect on Mr Greenhalgh and his family. Nothing that this court can say or do will ease their difficulty."

Mr Greenhalgh said the ruling now means his solicitor can begin to pursue a claim for compensation.