Motorists travelling through St Elizabeth are often surprised on their first encounter with tyre repair specialist Roy Hutchinson.

The reason is that Hutchinson is a wheelchair-bound double amputee. However, the 60-year-old, who lost his legs due to poor circulation, is undaunted by his physical disability.

Last Friday, Hutchinson was quick to lend a helping hand to the Jamaica Observer team after our vehicle developed a flat tyre on the way to cover the damage inflicted on St Elizabeth and Westmoreland by Hurricane Melissa.

Hutchinson, who is from Rocky Hill, St Elizabeth, shared that he has been operating the tyre shop since November last year.

“It was my brother’s own; he migrated to America, so I took it over and do my little thing to earn a living. I plug a tyre, take off a tyre the same way. I change a tyre on the machine inside the shop in the same way. I only need someone to push me around,” Hutchinson explained, adding that he has another man who assists him daily.

“I used to drive a school bus carrying Hampton and Munroe students over the years, but poor circulation took my feet. One leg was amputated five years ago, and the other last year. I didn’t really feel any pain from having them removed,” he said.

He told the Observer that business has been doing well, even after the passage of Hurricane Melissa, as people have been seeking his services.

Wheelchair-bound double amputee Roy Hutchinson repairs this punctured motor vehicle tyre at his shop in St Elizabeth last Friday, while his partner, Michelle Golding, looks on. (Photos: Garfield Robinson)

“Yesterday [Thursday], I patched about four tyres with nails. So basically, I knew that people would come today to plug tyres, so I came out,” he added.

At the same time, Hutchinson appealed for assistance in securing a battery drill and a tyre-changing machine, which he said would make his work more efficient.

On Friday he was assisted to the tyre shop by his partner, Michelle Golding.

“I come and help him change tyres, push him to and from, push him in and out,” Golding told the Observer.

Hutchinson, like other residents in the parish, is left to pick up the pieces after Hurricane Melissa caused damage to several homes and electricity poles, leaving many without power.

“I have the front there to fix back. I have to go buy some zinc nails and zinc to put it back on,” he said pointing to his shop.

“I don’t really have any savings. I have some chicken in the fridge right now which I am going to lose. I have young chicken to kill in three weeks’ time; I know that when I kill them I won’t have a fridge to store them in because of the current [electricity]. It’s a great loss for me again,” he said.