Victim of one of Australia's worst toxic disasters speaks out
It's been called one of Australia's most dangerous toxic disasters.
Now, after 40 years of illness, trauma and heartbreak, one of the police officers who attended the scene first, is speaking out.
Classified as paranoid and discharged from the police force, Senior Constable Terry Clifton never saw a cent.
Classified as paranoid and discharged from the police force, Senior Constable Terry Clifton never saw a cent. A Current Affair
"Cheated would be the correct word," he said.
"I felt cheated."
Hazardous chemicals and radioactive material were released into the environment on the Pacific Highway just south of Port Macquarie more than 40 years ago.
Yet Clifton and colleague Bob Deards remained inside the contamination zone for hours.
They had no breathing apparatus, no protective suits, no specialist training.
Decades on, the fallout is still being felt by the first responders and their families.
Terry Clifton and colleague Bob Deards remained inside the contamination zone for hours. A Current Affair
Still, questions remain about whether the consequences were ever fully revealed.
For decades, Clifton battled police, medical boards and compensation systems trying to prove the Laurieton crash destroyed his health and career.
As the years passed, Deards' health also worsened and he eventually died from cancer.
Until recently, Clifton never received a cent.
It's been called one of Australia's most dangerous toxic disasters. A Current Affair
He took the police to court and won.
Decades on from the crash, Clifton is speaking out, not just for himself but also for his mate who died without ever receiving a cent, or more importantly, recognition for his suffering.
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