Everything seemed normal at a steel factory in Woodstock, Ont., just moments before 42-year-old Sem Thin’s life took a drastic turn.
The London resident was wrapping up his shift on June 3 when he used a crane to lift a five-tonne steel coil, something he says he’s done “a hundred-million times” before.
“I’m not too sure what happened, but it started to roll and it tipped over on me. All I remember from that is being under the coil and screaming for help,” Thin said.
“I looked at my [co-worker] and said ‘I’m not going to have legs.’ I think he tried not to give me a response because he knew my legs were gone.”
After a short stay at Woodstock Hospital, Thin was moved to Victoria Hospital where both of his legs were amputated above the knee.
WATCH | What keeps this Londoner positive after a devastating injury:
How this Londoner is keeping his spirits up after losing both legs
London resident Sem Thin’s life changed dramatically following an accident at work that led doctors to amputate both of his legs. Despite everything, Thin is focused on staying positive during his recovery journey and shares how he’s managing it.
He is now entering his fourth week of rehabilitation at Parkwood Institute with an even longer road ahead, but Thin mentioned he’s determined to make the most out of it.
“It’s weird to say but I’m kind of excited for this challenge. You know, 42 years with legs. Now, I’m going to do it without legs,” he said. “It’s a new chapter in my life that I’m ready to take over.”
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Sem Thin is recovering from a workplace injury at Parkwood Institute in London, Ont. (Kendra Seguin/)
One person who’s been especially supportive is his older sister, Sophea Thin, who rushed from Ottawa upon hearing about the accident.
“Maybe an hour after he woke up from sedation, we were right in his face crying, hugging him, just happy that he’s still here with us,” she said while expressing her ongoing emotions about what happened.
“But when you see the person, meaning Sem, being so strong about it, you don’t have any other choice but to put on a brave face.”
“I just want him to be able to live a normal life just like everybody else,” she said.
This past month has taught Thin plenty about navigating life differently due to disability; he anticipates learning even more as time goes by.
“Life is short. You’ve got to take advantage of what you have and be happy because at any time things will just randomly or dramatically change and you’ve gotto be prepared for it,” he said.
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How this Londoner is keeping his spirits up after losing both legs
London resident Sem Thin’s life changed dramatically following an accident at work that led doctors to amputate both of his legs. Despite everything, Thin is focused on staying positive during his recovery journey and shares how he’s managing it.
He is now entering his fourth week of rehabilitation at Parkwood Institute with an even longer road ahead, but Thin mentioned he’s determined to make the most out of it.
“It’s weird to say but I’m kind of excited for this challenge. You know, 42 years with legs. Now, I’m going to do it without legs,” he said. “It’s a new chapter in my life that I’m ready to take over.”
A Strong Support Network
Thin’s injury occurred at the Arcelor Mittal Tubular Products Canada factory in Woodstock. We reached out to the company for comments but did not receive a response before publication. An Ontario Ministry of Labour spokesperson confirmed in a statement that they were informed about an incident at that factory on June 3 and that an investigation is currently underway. Thin noted that his workplace has been very supportive throughout his recovery process and many coworkers along with friends and family have come by to visit him. “A lot of them have been that rock for me,” Thin said.Concerns About Accessibility
Thin shared that he’s quickly adapted to using his wheelchair; he can maneuver easily around the hospital premises. “I was in and out of the hospital a lot. The doctors and nurses were always trying to find me,” he said. Even with all the positivity surrounding him, transitioning into this new lifestyle isn’t without its challenges or uncertainties about what’s next. “When it comes to accessibility, I never really thought about it until this happened,” he admitted. A significant hurdle will be finding suitable living arrangements since his family currently lives in a rental home with multiple flights of stairs which isn’t wheelchair accessible. He’s looking into options for independent living in a retirement home over the next three months-an essential step before receiving prosthetics-but it’s unclear what will happen afterward. Sophea has set up a Go Fund Me campaign aimed at raising funds needed for her brother’s necessary adjustments.“I just want him to be able to live a normal life just like everybody else,” she said.
This past month has taught Thin plenty about navigating life differently due to disability; he anticipates learning even more as time goes by.
“Life is short. You’ve got to take advantage of what you have and be happy because at any time things will just randomly or dramatically change and you’ve gotto be prepared for it,” he said.
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