Personal coach kicked in face as she saved teenager’s life ‘left with £10k invoice’
Ruth Forbes, 43, stopped a teenager from running across a busy road. She claims the girl kicked her in the face, causing her to land awkwardly on her knee
(Image: Kennedy News/Ruth Forbes)
A personal trainer claims acting as a Good Samaritan may cost her £10,000 – after being kicked in the face while saving a teenager’s life. Ruth Forbes was walking down the high street when she noticed a teenager about to run across a busy road.
The personal trainer, 43, grabbed hold of the teenager, who wasn’t watching traffic as she appeared to be drunk, on April 21. But she claims the girl lashed out and kicked her in the face, causing her to fall backwards and land awkwardly on her knee.
Ruth limped back to the car and iced her sore knee at home before going to her GP a month later.
She has spoken about the ordeal(Image: Kennedy News/Ruth Forbes)
She was then referred to a physiotherapist but still experienced sharp pains and couldn’t bend or fully extend her leg, leaving her unable to demonstrate safe exercises to clients.
An x-ray revealed her injury has caused painful ‘bone-on-bone’ arthritis in the outer part of her knee, which is so painful she’s unable to work out.
Ruth said she’ll need a partial knee replacement surgery that she’ll have to pay for privately due to NHS waiting times and will cost her up to £10,000. Despite the pain and disruption to her fit lifestyle, Ruth said she doesn’t regret helping out as she ‘wouldn’t walk past someone in need’.
Her injuries(Image: Kennedy News/Ruth Forbes)
Ruth, of Ross-on-Wye, Herefordshire, said: “[She] was either drunk or on something. I just wanted to help so she didn’t get hit by a car. She chinned me and I fell back […] she didn’t mean it.
“I started to walk off and realised my left knee was quite sore, I thought I just twisted it. I stood up and couldn’t put my weight on that leg, I couldn’t straighten my leg, I limped to my car. I iced it and thought it was going to be okay, but my knee never got better. It’s this constant pain, I don’t have a day now when I’m not in pain.”
Doctors reportedly told Ruth the fall caused the cartilage on her knee to wear away, allowing the bare thigh bone and shin bone to rub directly against each other. She said: “I helped and ended up in this state. I tend not to think about the incident or I start thinking if it’s my fault.
She says it’s affected her job(Image: Kennedy News/Ruth Forbes)
“But I would still do it again, I wouldn’t walk past someone in need. I’m not built like that, I’m not that person, I was trying to be a Good Samaritan. When I got the x-ray I was told my knee had arthritis in it. I had arthritis before but the injury apparently took away any cartilage I had, so now I have ‘bone-on-bone’ [arthritis].
“I saw the consultant and a partial knee replacement is my only option. I can’t straighten it or bend it properly and need an MRI scan to see what is going on internally.”
While Ruth is still able to work some hours with her regular clients, she’s unable to get new clients as she’s unable to safely demonstrate exercises.
She needs an operation(Image: Kennedy News/Ruth Forbes)
Ruth said: “I’m a self-employed personal trainer. If I ask the client to do something, I can’t demonstrate. I don’t want them getting it wrong and getting injured. It’s how I make my living and that’s been affected. I can’t demonstrate a squat to somebody and that’s heartbreaking to me. I was meant to compete in November and I can’t do that.
“It does affect your headspace. It’s like an aching pain, if I step on it too much or step the wrong way it’s like a sharp pain. I can still do some of my work but I can’t do it to the best of my ability.
“My clients are lovely and very understanding. I couldn’t work for a month-and-a-half because I could barely stand, I can’t afford to not work. I’ve built a relationship with my clients but if I get someone new, it’s hard to get new business if I can’t show them how to do it.”
A GoFundMe has been set up to help Ruth get surgery and to help with living costs. You can donate here: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-me-get-back-on-my-feet-j2fvs
