A MAN who 'died' for five minutes after being crushed by an industrial machine is set to be awarded almost £1.4million in compensation.

Yet the tragic truth is that he will probably forget the fact ten minutes after being told about it.

Former machine controller Mark Hamilton, 33, of St David's Close, Panteg, was 28 when the accident happened at Lucas Braking Systems, New Inn, Pontypool, on March 27, 1996.

It is thought a machine he was adjusting lurched forward as a cut-off switch apparently failed, trapping him against a steel girder.

He suffered respiratory arrest for 45 minutes and was found unconscious and not breathing inside the machine.

Mr Hamilton (pictured with his sister Gemma) cannot remember what happened and there were no witnesses.

But evidence from other employees, and work by Mr Hamilton's union - the Amalgamated Engin-eering & Electrical Union - and his solicitor Mick Antoniw, of Thompsons law firm, Cardiff, led to his case.

Today, at Cardiff county court, a judge is expected to find Lucas (now TRW) liable for compensation and approve the payment of £1,398,000 for his future care.

In a faltering voice Mr Hamilton told the Argus: "I will be very grateful, but I would rather they have all the money back and it be as it used to be. It doesn't count for anything."

After the accident Mr Hamilton - who suffered a severe lack of oxygen to the brain and lost four litres of blood from massive internal bleeding - was treated at the Royal Gwent Hospital then transferred to the University of Wales Hospital, Cardiff. He spent seven weeks in intensive care.

Amazingly, he escaped with just one broken rib, but his short-term memory is now so poor he cannot remember facts told to him just a few minutes previously and would forget where he was if he were left alone, and needs 24-hour care.

Mr Hamilton's marriage to Catherine ended and he sees his six-year-old son Daniel at weekends, but is unable to pick him up from school because of his disability.

He cannot work, drive, play his beloved golf or pool or enjoy a drink with friends. His sister Gemma, 27, said of the money: "It's not like he's won the Lottery. If we did, we would buy a car, a house and have a holiday, but he can't go out and spend it. This is to pay for his care."

No one from TRW was available to comment.