A dog walker was forced to give up her career after a 150kg litter bin toppled over and crushed her leg in an east London park.
Mother-of-three Linda Kelsey, 39, said she was taking bulldog Buddy for early morning exercise when his lead brushed against the unsecure metal container causing it fall on her foot.
Mrs Kelsey - who was left in agony - discovered iron bolts holding the bin in place had rusted away on Jolly’s Green, Poplar.
She sued Tower Hamlets Council, who have now admitted liability, but no financial settlement is agreed.
Describing the moment it happened, Mrs Kelsey said: “I got my dog out the way and put up my hands up to stop it landing on my foot but I couldn’t stop it as it was just too heavy.
“My foot was so painful it nearly made me pass out. I have never felt such pain.”
The former catering group manager was rushed to the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel, by husband Alan.
Doctors inserted plates and pins into her right foot which was fractured in four places on May 23, 2023.
Speaking to the Standard, she called on London mayor Sir Sadiq Khan and local authorities across the capital to check for any other “dangerous” park bin amid fears a child could be killed.
Mrs Kelsey was forced to quit work because she couldn’t drive, ditch nights out and her collection of high-heeled shoes as she can no longer wear them due to her badly swollen foot. She now walks with a limp.
She blasted: “This has been the worst time in my life.
“I am a very social and active person, but this has hit me hard as now I am mostly indoors.
“I have had to quit the job I love and now can’t go out and socialise with my girlfriends as I get too tired from my ankle and leg pain and all because of a bin.
“I used to love getting dressed up and wearing high heels on nights, but I have just given away 17 pairs of shoes as I can’t wear them any more with my foot being so swollen.”
Mrs Kelsey enjoyed life before the accident with sons aged two, eight and 16.
She also kept fit and regularly took part in charity fun runs, including Race for Life.
“I couldn’t look after the kids, work, or do anything as I had hardly any mobility,” said Mrs Kelsey.
She took action against her local council with personal injury accident specialists Express Solicitors.
Senior associate lawyer Laura Penny-Vedrines said: “Linda’s life changed after an unsecured heavy bin fell on her leg. She has lost her career over something that should never have happened.
“It’s clear there is a significant lack of maintenance of some public spaces in the UK, and in cases like Linda’s, negligence leads to life-changing injuries.”
A Tower Hamlets spokesman said: “As this is an ongoing legal matter we cannot comment further at this time.”
