Biker John Rushworth nearly died when a van driver pulled out in front of him.
And now, eight months on, he is still battling to get back his health.
The driver had been attempting a U-turn and had failed to see John, who was on his way to meet his parents in Halifax.
John, of Golcar, broke four ribs as well as his pelvis, right kneecap, thigh bone and left wrist.
He suffered a severe head injury and, after being airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, was kept in a coma for 10 days.
John had 11 operations, including one to reduce the pressure on his brain.
His mother, Susan, remembers having to identify her son in hospital.
She said: “We were just sat there not knowing anything. It was just awful. Paul, my husband, didn’t take it well at all.
“A trauma specialist told us to prepare for the worst. They said it was a really horrific accident. I just told them to do their best.
“John had his arm in a support and a breathing mask on because he couldn’t breathe for himself.
“I just wouldn’t want any other parent to go through what we went through.”
John’s condition stabilised after 72 hours and he was brought out of his coma after 10 days. He was moved to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary on June 23 and finally released from hospital on July 1.
Two-and-a-half months after the accident he began learning to walk again.
John is now able to walk short distances but he still suffers severe pain in his hip.
He has returned to his job as a textile cutter but has been told he’ll never be able to play football again. And because he is unable to rotate his wrist, he is no longer able to play the guitar.
John said: “I used to play at Soccer City, Waterloo, every week. Now I’ll just have to settle for watching Town, but I need a heated seat because when it gets cold the pain gets much worse.”
John, who is unable to remember the crash, said: “Mentally, I’ve surprised myself but I do think about what would’ve happened if I’d taken a different route.
“I would still go on a motorbike again; it won’t stop me. I’m already choosing which bike I’m going to get.”
James Hickey, 34, of Goldfields Way, Greetland, pleaded guilty to careless driving.
Earlier this month, Calderdale Magistrates banned Hickey from driving for 48 days and fined him £360 plus £85 costs and a £36 victim surcharge.
John says neither he nor his family have received any apology from Hickey.
He said: “They read out a statement in court saying how sorry he was but he never apologised to us in person. It makes me feel really angry.
“I think the sentence was lenient but appropriate.”
John and his family, who are also motorcycle enthusiasts, are urging drivers to take more time to look for motorcyclists.
Government road safety body Think launched a ‘take longer to look for bikes’ campaign in 2008.
John said: “You’re driving a vehicle that weighs two tonnes and it can be a killing machine.
“They need to obey road signs and markers.
“There’s a lack of awareness for motorcyclists”.
Click here to take you back to more Huddersfield news.
To follow us on Twitter click here
