Construction worker from Augusta who lost a leg in an accident tells his story

AUGUSTA, Ga. (WJBF) – Seeing him laughing with friends and family, you wouldn’t guess that 22-year-old Bradley Santiago has just been through a traumatic, life-changing experience.

“All I could think about was my wife, my family, my mother – and I thought I was dead,” Santiago said.

Last Wednesday, he was working in the Deer Hollow neighborhood of Grovetown when his right leg became trapped in a cement machine.

“Me and one of my colleagues were up there and we both cleaned it. He pulled the brake, I kept cleaning it. And I heard and felt the vibration of the machine. I tried to jump off, my left leg made it and my right leg just got pulled in,” Santiago said.

To free him, emergency doctors had to amputate his leg and he was flown by helicopter to Wellstar MCG Health.

He underwent his fourth surgery on Tuesday, and he hopes that only one more will be necessary for him to begin his recovery.

The case involves workers’ compensation, but the family has set up a GoFundMe campaign to cover some of the costs.

“Our biggest concern is renovating our bathroom to make it accessible for him. We are also talking about getting him a service dog,” said Shelby Fail, Santiago’s fiancée.

Wednesday was his first day in a wheelchair. He is in a great mood and is especially worried about his family.

“He changed my whole mindset, even the person I thought he was. He is so much stronger than I thought,” Fail said.

“I don’t really think about what happened, I haven’t thought about it. I know I’m just ready to get through this period of my life and get over it, make everyone in my family happy and make myself happy while I’m at it,” Santiago said. “I’m running a 6K marathon when I get my prosthetic leg.”

Click here to donate to Bradley Santiago’s GoFundMe.