A TRUCKER from Padiham is recovering in hospital after emergency surgery following a horror smash on the M5 near Bristol.

Goodwill messages have flooded in for 29-year-old Adam Walne since his lorry overturned on the southbound carriageway between junctions 19 and 20.

Adam, who works for Fagan and Whalley, based in Simonstone, was cut free from the wreckage and taken to the nearby Frenchay Hospital.

His aunt, Anne Bannister, thanked friends and fellow truckers, on behalf of Adam and his parents Ken and Shirley Walne, who deluged the company’s Facebook site with concerned posts after the incident.

She said: “We would like to thank you all for your kind wishes and support, we are truly overwhelmed. After a nine-and-a-half hour life-threatening operation, Adam is quite stable, but has still a long way to go.

“However, Adam is already showing signs of his unique sense of humour! Thank you once again, I am sure Adam will appreciate and be encouraged by your lovely thoughts and wishes.”

One eyewitness, Allan Wagner, said he feared the worst after passing the crash scene on the northbound motorway last Wednesday morning.

He added: “It was pretty shocking but great to see passing truck drivers pulling over and helping right away. I wish the driver a speedy recovery, and a much-needed rest after what must be a very distressing time for him and his family.”

Support messages have come courtesy of truckers and companies in East Lancashire and across the UK, where Adam is a familiar face at specialist truck shows.

A Fagan and Whalley spokesman said: “Our thoughts are with Adam and his family at this time and we wish him a speedy recovery. We have been overwhelmed by the messages of goodwill and we thank you all for your concern.”