THE family of a farmer is raising money for the hospitals which performed pioneering surgery after a bull left him with 20 broken ribs.

Derek Thompson, 69, from Welbury near Northallerton, was left fighting for his life in January 2013 when he was knocked over and hit by an 800kg bull.

The ground-breaking rib-plating operation was performed at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, and involved cardiothoracic consultant Jonathan Ferguson, cardiothoracic surgeon Joel Dunning and orthopaedic surgeon James McVie.

It involved attaching titanium plates – similar to pieces of Meccano – to what was left of his ribs which reduced the risk of complications such as breathing difficulties and helped relieve the pain.

After almost five months spent in James Cook and later Northallerton’s Friarage Hospital, he returned to his Lingfield Farm home.

Now a family fun day is planned at the farm, to give the public an insight into dairy farming and also raise money for the hospitals which treated Derek.

His son, Anthony, said that Mr Ferguson is the grandson of Harry Ferguson, inventor of the world famous Ferguson tractor.

“Dad’s pleased the operation was done by Jonathan Ferguson, the grandson of the man who invented the Fergie tractor. He says “they’re bloody good tractors and I have a bit of them in me now”.

“It was the first such procedure ever done in the UK and they saved my dad’s life.”

The idea for the family fun-day came after they turned to another piece of innovation after the accident – a robotic milking machine. The new machine has attracted a lot of local attention and requests from people wanting to see it.

The family installed it as Derek could no longer cope with the farm's physical work, although he is still heavily involved in the business. It’s also designed to help make the business sustainable as the dairy industry suffers plummeting milk prices.

Cows walk up to the machine when they need milking and the technology uses lasers to check the position of the cow and then milk them.

Anthony said: “The robots can milk the cows 24 hours a day, so it means cows get milked four times a day rather than waiting every 12 hours. It alerts you if there is any problem with any cow’s milk and they have comfy beds to lie on – it’s better health for the cows.”

They have decided to combine the open day with family activities such as face painting, tractors rides, a scarecrow festival and a bouncy castle.

Anthony said the event was also a chance to show the public how they could support the dairy farming industry as many dairy farms are struggling with plummeting milk prices.

The event takes place on September 12 and 13 from 10am and 4pm.