A FATHER-of-four today praised his wife's fighting spirit after she defied all the odds to be alive at Christmas.

Michael Rostron, of Surrey Road, Whitebirk, was told to expect the worst after Barbara, 47, was crushed by a fork lift truck while working at Pets Choice Ltd, in Gladstone Street, Blackburn, on October 30.

She was kept sedated in intensive care for two weeks and has endured six operations, including one that lasted for seven hours, for plastic surgery to her legs, pelvis and abdomen. Barbara, who worked nights as a pet food packer at the factory, still faces a continuing battle for full health and it is not yet known whether she will be able to walk again.

But Michael said the mere fact that she was alive was amazing.

He added: "I didn't think she would be here for Christmas. We are very lucky she is here at all, and a lot of that is due to the medical teams.

"Her state of mind has helped the medical team to get her through it.

"The doctors said initially that it was not good. The way they phrase it is to 'expect the worse'.

"But she is a fighter and I knew she would somehow pull through."

Michael, 52, a support worker at Calderstones Hospital, Whalley, was asleep when police knocked on his door in the early hours to break the news.

He kept a bedside vigil in the early days with sons Michael, 24, Wayne, 20, and Shaun, 18, and daughter Michelle, 16.

Michael said: "At first I was just shocked and didn't know what to do with myself. I can't describe the feelings as her life was in danger.

"She wasn't in a coma, but the doctors kept her out of it for those first two weeks. When she came to, it was a couple of weeks before she could talk and make sense.

"I was there when she awoke and she was asking if we were OK. She knows what has happened but she doesn't want to talk about it."

As her condition stabilised, Barbara was transferred from Blackburn Infirmary to the Royal Preston Hospital, where experts could begin plastic surgery.

Michael added: "She has been into theatre 11 times, but has had about six operations for plastic surgery. The others were to change her dressing so it was sterilised properly.

"The plastic surgery is completed now and doctors say she maybe able to be transferred back to Blackburn Royal Infirmary next week.

"But it is too early to say if she will walk again and she will have to have more operations, this time on her bones."

Michael also paid tribute to friends, family and police liaison officers for their support, and the "brilliant" doctors and nurses for their care.

A spokesman for the Health and Safety Executive said an investigation into the accident was continuing.

David Wynne, production director for Pets Choice Limited, said: "All of Barbara's colleagues at Pets Choice Limited are extremely pleased with the progress that Barbara has made.

"Our personnel manager is in contact with Barbara's husband as well as in touch with the hospital, on a regular basis, to check on Barbara's progress.

"We are pleased that the family will be together over the Christmas period and we hope the New Year will being even more good news about Barbara."