Dramatic moment Rob crashed his Thomas the Tank Engine kart Dramatic moment science teacher was thrown from a Thomas the Tank Engine kart during 'Wacky Races' event in front of horrified children Father-of-two Rob van Es, 48, was taking part in kart racing derby in Devon Video shows him coming down hill in Thomas the Tank Engine creation However he looses control on a bend before the kart rolls on to its side Taken to hospital with concussion and broken rib, but is recovering now By Chris Pleasance for MailOnline Published: 17:57 GMT, 17 June 2015 | Updated: 19:42 GMT, 17 June 2015 5 shares 14 View comments This the the dramatic moment a science teacher was left with severe head injuries after he crashed a Thomas the Tank Engine buggy during a race. Children lining the route were left shocked after Rob van Es, 48, lost control of his craft on a bend during the annual Wacky Races event in East Allington, Devon. Mr Van Es was left with a broken rib and a concussion after his kart ploughed into hay bales stacked around the track, and had to be taken away in an air ambulance. However, he has now returned home to his wife Fiona, 52, and his two sons Jasper, 17, who was in the crowd on the day of the crash and Oliver, 13, who was competing in the children's event. Footage has since been uploaded to Facebook of the moment his kart crashed, and seems to show another man dressed as Dick Dastardly, from the cartoon Wacky Races, throwing two spherical objects into Mr Van Es' path before he loses control. RELATED ARTICLES Previous 1 2 Next Combine harvesters in 'battle to the death' as farmers... Driver killed and wife injured after a rock fell off the... Hundreds of little leaguers line the street to pay their... Share this article Share The unnamed man, dressed in the unmistakeable purple coat and red gloves of the animated villain, can be seen tossing two dark objects into the air, which then hit Mr Van Es as he comes along the track. Moments late his Thomas the Tank engine cart begins to wobble, then rolls on to its side. Speaking about the accident, wife Fiona said: 'Medics were on scene in seconds. He was put in a neck brace.Another ambulance team arrived and then the air ambulance. It was all very dramatic. 'As Rob was stretchered up to the waiting helicopter, onlookers burst into a spontaneous round of applause as he was carried back along the race track - it was a moving tribute.' She explained that Rob created his latest kart out of bits of scrap using an old chassis that has been used in past vehicles, including as the Batmobile. Fiona said: 'It cost nothing, it's all bits of scrap. That's the whole point, it's like a scrap heap challenge. 'Rob is a very good amateur engineer, it all comes naturally to him, he has built two steam boats.' Despite his injuries, Rob main thoughts were about whether he had upset the spectators - mainly children - by smashing up their hero. After the accident, the science teacher had to be loaded on to an air ambulance before being taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth, but was discharged a short time later with concussion Fiona added: 'His recovery is very slow and steady. Even when he was at his most concuss he was asking if anyone else was hurt, he was worried that the accident had frightened the children or ruined their day. He is an incredible, selfless man.' After the crash Mr Van Es was taken to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth before being discharged, suffering from a concussion and a cut ear. He said: 'The Wacky races have been a highlight for our family since 2008 and we regularly compete for the whackiest go-kart prize.' Rob said he is already planning next year's design - and joked it would include a lot of cotton wool. Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3128493/Dramatic-moment-science-teacher-thrown-Thomas-Tank-Engine-kart-Wacky-Races-event-horrified-children.html#ixzz3dMlwMRor Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

• published: 17 Jun 2015
• views: 301