When it all goes wrong...
Discussion
Well. Never thought I'd be typing this. Probably helps it's to a bunch of strangers in all honesty.
Getting straight to it. Getting it very wrong. So last wednesday just gone, commuting to work late evening for nights. Not heavy traffic at all but moving.
Come to a three lane into two merge. In lane 2 coming up to back of a slowly moving hgv, see lane 1 which merges into 2 ahead to form a new lane 1, is totally clear so move into that lane and accelerate round the hgv, looking ahead at the merge/ vanishing point i see that gap quickly vanishing and decide that I'm not going to make it , brake hard ish to make sure I end up behind lorry and front of bike goes down as do I, in the blink of an eye I'm under the truck , looking i see myself not sliding as fast as the truck is coming forward and instinctly roll to my left , next there is a huge crunch as basically my left leg is run over.
The end result as the truck passes over me is I now see my right leg virtually fully amputated and almost touching my face. I don't need to say that at this point I am utterly hysterical.
The next hour or three passes in a blur where a quick acting off duty firefighter, got a tourniquet on which saved my life enough for the emergency services to save it properly. I'm administered Ketamine which was that for my consciousness.
I awoke (in Southampton) intensive care and the week has been a roller coaster since. I was told off record in intensive care, I died and had to be resussed in helicopter, which was interesting. I've had a few transfusions and ops throughout week to get to where I am now. Being driven mad on the ward I've been on for around 5 days.
It's been odd to think back with hindsight that the roll saved my life as the trajectory of truck to me had I not rolled would have been over my chest and head.....
Hard getting my head round everything. There is so much missed off this post. But just after 13/14 years of riding. Everything from 600cc to mainly 1000cc sportbikes. Communiting 1000s and 1000s of miles, isle of man trips X 3 , track days etc that it ends like this. Never thought it would be and it's sobering beyond belief.
Taking life every day at a time and dealing with every aspect one thing at a time. It's scary how much stuff you just do and take for granted.
I'm getting there and it will be a long road back but I will be back on two feet soon as possible from a bloody minded determination.
Anyway rant over. More just to get it off my chest , I'm sure to someone reading it behind a screen they will shrug their shoulders and move on and that's fair enough. I just needed to vent.
Be safe out there!
Getting straight to it. Getting it very wrong. So last wednesday just gone, commuting to work late evening for nights. Not heavy traffic at all but moving.
Come to a three lane into two merge. In lane 2 coming up to back of a slowly moving hgv, see lane 1 which merges into 2 ahead to form a new lane 1, is totally clear so move into that lane and accelerate round the hgv, looking ahead at the merge/ vanishing point i see that gap quickly vanishing and decide that I'm not going to make it , brake hard ish to make sure I end up behind lorry and front of bike goes down as do I, in the blink of an eye I'm under the truck , looking i see myself not sliding as fast as the truck is coming forward and instinctly roll to my left , next there is a huge crunch as basically my left leg is run over.
The end result as the truck passes over me is I now see my right leg virtually fully amputated and almost touching my face. I don't need to say that at this point I am utterly hysterical.
The next hour or three passes in a blur where a quick acting off duty firefighter, got a tourniquet on which saved my life enough for the emergency services to save it properly. I'm administered Ketamine which was that for my consciousness.
I awoke (in Southampton) intensive care and the week has been a roller coaster since. I was told off record in intensive care, I died and had to be resussed in helicopter, which was interesting. I've had a few transfusions and ops throughout week to get to where I am now. Being driven mad on the ward I've been on for around 5 days.
It's been odd to think back with hindsight that the roll saved my life as the trajectory of truck to me had I not rolled would have been over my chest and head.....
Hard getting my head round everything. There is so much missed off this post. But just after 13/14 years of riding. Everything from 600cc to mainly 1000cc sportbikes. Communiting 1000s and 1000s of miles, isle of man trips X 3 , track days etc that it ends like this. Never thought it would be and it's sobering beyond belief.
Taking life every day at a time and dealing with every aspect one thing at a time. It's scary how much stuff you just do and take for granted.
I'm getting there and it will be a long road back but I will be back on two feet soon as possible from a bloody minded determination.
Anyway rant over. More just to get it off my chest , I'm sure to someone reading it behind a screen they will shrug their shoulders and move on and that's fair enough. I just needed to vent.
Be safe out there!
It’s very sobering how easy these things can happen. At least your still here and hope you make a good recovery. No matter how experienced we all think we are you just never know what will happen.
A friend of mine recently got “t-boned” by a car that ran a red light and him and his wife got out with a few bruises, the car was destroyed, then about 2 weeks later another very similar accident half a mile down on the same road a passenger was killed and the driver in intensive care!
A friend of mine recently got “t-boned” by a car that ran a red light and him and his wife got out with a few bruises, the car was destroyed, then about 2 weeks later another very similar accident half a mile down on the same road a passenger was killed and the driver in intensive care!
mckeann said:
f
king hell. That’s not an easy read as someone who doesn’t know you, so I can’t even imagine what it’s like in your head right now. Did they manage to save your leg?
No.king hell. That’s not an easy read as someone who doesn’t know you, so I can’t even imagine what it’s like in your head right now. Did they manage to save your leg? I guess the best thing is that I knew at the time, as in the instant it happened I could see the leg was 90% off if not fully off. Annoyingly in a way I guess is i can remember everything in HD if not 4K clarity about the accident as in the time before , during and when the truck went over the leg even the 6-7 of hysterical screaming by myself. After that it calms down a bit .l
When I say best thing , what I mean is when I came round in intensive care, apparently the first words spoken to my mum who was standing over me was. I know my legs gone, so dont worry. I was very calm about it and I've been very positive since. You have to be of you would let it destroy your personality.
RemyMartin81D said:
Well. Never thought I'd be typing this. Probably helps it's to a bunch of strangers in all honesty.
Getting straight to it. Getting it very wrong. So last wednesday just gone, commuting to work late evening for nights. Not heavy traffic at all but moving.
Come to a three lane into two merge. In lane 2 coming up to back of a slowly moving hgv, see lane 1 which merges into 2 ahead to form a new lane 1, is totally clear so move into that lane and accelerate round the hgv, looking ahead at the merge/ vanishing point i see that gap quickly vanishing and decide that I'm not going to make it , brake hard ish to make sure I end up behind lorry and front of bike goes down as do I, in the blink of an eye I'm under the truck , looking i see myself not sliding as fast as the truck is coming forward and instinctly roll to my left , next there is a huge crunch as basically my left leg is run over.
The end result as the truck passes over me is I now see my right leg virtually fully amputated and almost touching my face. I don't need to say that at this point I am utterly hysterical.
The next hour or three passes in a blur where a quick acting off duty firefighter, got a tourniquet on which saved my life enough for the emergency services to save it properly. I'm administered Ketamine which was that for my consciousness.
I awoke (in Southampton) intensive care and the week has been a roller coaster since. I was told off record in intensive care, I died and had to be resussed in helicopter, which was interesting. I've had a few transfusions and ops throughout week to get to where I am now. Being driven mad on the ward I've been on for around 5 days.
It's been odd to think back with hindsight that the roll saved my life as the trajectory of truck to me had I not rolled would have been over my chest and head.....
Hard getting my head round everything. There is so much missed off this post. But just after 13/14 years of riding. Everything from 600cc to mainly 1000cc sportbikes. Communiting 1000s and 1000s of miles, isle of man trips X 3 , track days etc that it ends like this. Never thought it would be and it's sobering beyond belief.
Taking life every day at a time and dealing with every aspect one thing at a time. It's scary how much stuff you just do and take for granted.
I'm getting there and it will be a long road back but I will be back on two feet soon as possible from a bloody minded determination.
Anyway rant over. More just to get it off my chest , I'm sure to someone reading it behind a screen they will shrug their shoulders and move on and that's fair enough. I just needed to vent.
Be safe out there!
First off its sounds like you have been lucky so thank your stars as there are so many who don't survive.Getting straight to it. Getting it very wrong. So last wednesday just gone, commuting to work late evening for nights. Not heavy traffic at all but moving.
Come to a three lane into two merge. In lane 2 coming up to back of a slowly moving hgv, see lane 1 which merges into 2 ahead to form a new lane 1, is totally clear so move into that lane and accelerate round the hgv, looking ahead at the merge/ vanishing point i see that gap quickly vanishing and decide that I'm not going to make it , brake hard ish to make sure I end up behind lorry and front of bike goes down as do I, in the blink of an eye I'm under the truck , looking i see myself not sliding as fast as the truck is coming forward and instinctly roll to my left , next there is a huge crunch as basically my left leg is run over.
The end result as the truck passes over me is I now see my right leg virtually fully amputated and almost touching my face. I don't need to say that at this point I am utterly hysterical.
The next hour or three passes in a blur where a quick acting off duty firefighter, got a tourniquet on which saved my life enough for the emergency services to save it properly. I'm administered Ketamine which was that for my consciousness.
I awoke (in Southampton) intensive care and the week has been a roller coaster since. I was told off record in intensive care, I died and had to be resussed in helicopter, which was interesting. I've had a few transfusions and ops throughout week to get to where I am now. Being driven mad on the ward I've been on for around 5 days.
It's been odd to think back with hindsight that the roll saved my life as the trajectory of truck to me had I not rolled would have been over my chest and head.....
Hard getting my head round everything. There is so much missed off this post. But just after 13/14 years of riding. Everything from 600cc to mainly 1000cc sportbikes. Communiting 1000s and 1000s of miles, isle of man trips X 3 , track days etc that it ends like this. Never thought it would be and it's sobering beyond belief.
Taking life every day at a time and dealing with every aspect one thing at a time. It's scary how much stuff you just do and take for granted.
I'm getting there and it will be a long road back but I will be back on two feet soon as possible from a bloody minded determination.
Anyway rant over. More just to get it off my chest , I'm sure to someone reading it behind a screen they will shrug their shoulders and move on and that's fair enough. I just needed to vent.
Be safe out there!
The only advice I can offer is to channel any anger or frustration into getting mobile again, its sounds corny but its anything but because if you don't there's a big dollop of self pity on its way thats hard to climb out of.
Chin up.
See you on a TD next year.
Very very sorry to hear about this, one of my sons nearly had his leg amputated a few years back when an idiot pulled out in front of him when he was doing 30mph. Fortunately (for him) they saved his leg but he now has a rod through it.....these things happen.
Just take each day as it comes, you seem to have a very positive attitude which will be invaluable in the coming weeks.
Just take each day as it comes, you seem to have a very positive attitude which will be invaluable in the coming weeks.
You’re a braver man than me for being so calm about it. Bikers Nemesis has lost a leg and it hasn’t slowed him down much, so chin up, you can still kick ass on trackdays if you still want to ride.
Tony Norman from Parkitt Performance Racing has also lost a leg in a bike accident and they’ve helped do conversions so will be worth a shout for some bike advice
Tony Norman from Parkitt Performance Racing has also lost a leg in a bike accident and they’ve helped do conversions so will be worth a shout for some bike advice
I've had outrageous levels of support from work, friends and obviously my family.
My mum and dad have been amazing , they aren't in 100% health in fact far from it, fair to say they have a very very st 2019 and well last 4-5 months of 2018.
Anyway they've both been amazing, despite it hitting them stupidly hard, and my brother flew in from the US. It's been amazing and also very hard. We will help each other and get through it all. All I can say I won't ride again whilst they are alive. It's not fair on them at all, they've never interfered in that way , in fact they loved the bikes. It's just I can't put them through any worry. It's incredibly selfish and maybe time will calm it down but we are a close mum, dad and brother family so I don't want to be that person who just does what he wants when I know now they would be sick from worry .
Going forward I honestly don't see me ever road riding again. Track days maybe in the future but there are a million and one things to do before that was on top of the list.
I will be pushing for a microprocessor controlled knee from Ottobock or similar to continue on with my life as it was.
Work wise I've had managers visit me , I work in an industry where as a minimum I will be looked after possibly in a new role but going back to my actual hasn't also been ruled out so we will see. I drive trains.
Bloody painful losing a leg.
My mum and dad have been amazing , they aren't in 100% health in fact far from it, fair to say they have a very very s
t 2019 and well last 4-5 months of 2018. Anyway they've both been amazing, despite it hitting them stupidly hard, and my brother flew in from the US. It's been amazing and also very hard. We will help each other and get through it all. All I can say I won't ride again whilst they are alive. It's not fair on them at all, they've never interfered in that way , in fact they loved the bikes. It's just I can't put them through any worry. It's incredibly selfish and maybe time will calm it down but we are a close mum, dad and brother family so I don't want to be that person who just does what he wants when I know now they would be sick from worry .
Going forward I honestly don't see me ever road riding again. Track days maybe in the future but there are a million and one things to do before that was on top of the list.
I will be pushing for a microprocessor controlled knee from Ottobock or similar to continue on with my life as it was.
Work wise I've had managers visit me , I work in an industry where as a minimum I will be looked after possibly in a new role but going back to my actual hasn't also been ruled out so we will see. I drive trains.
Bloody painful losing a leg.
Edited by RemyMartin81D on Friday 1st March 22:12
Biker's Nemesis said:
First off its sounds like you have been lucky so thank your stars as there are so many who don't survive.
The only advice I can offer is to channel any anger or frustration into getting mobile again, its sounds corny but its anything but because if you don't there's a big dollop of self pity on its way thats hard to climb out of.
Chin up.
See you on a TD next year.
Ok , massively different situations. But I think of people like William Dunlop who are dead , so yes I dont feel it, but I have been lucky.The only advice I can offer is to channel any anger or frustration into getting mobile again, its sounds corny but its anything but because if you don't there's a big dollop of self pity on its way thats hard to climb out of.
Chin up.
See you on a TD next year.
Your a stronger man than I think I would be in your situation mate, respect to you.
Someone posted above to “keep talking” if you wanted, thats wise words among many others posted id say.
Im sure in time you will be up and about, for now im pleased your still here to tell us your story.
All the best.
Someone posted above to “keep talking” if you wanted, thats wise words among many others posted id say.
Im sure in time you will be up and about, for now im pleased your still here to tell us your story.
All the best.
Get well soon. A sobering read.
I hope you don’t mind me asking a naive question, as someone who is learning to ride at the moment and wanting to stay safe.
with regard to the front of the bike dropping under braking. My instructor said ABS would stop me braking so hard that the bike would throw me off. Your story suggests that he is wrong, or did your bike not have abs?
I hope you don’t mind me asking a naive question, as someone who is learning to ride at the moment and wanting to stay safe.
with regard to the front of the bike dropping under braking. My instructor said ABS would stop me braking so hard that the bike would throw me off. Your story suggests that he is wrong, or did your bike not have abs?
Wow, I really hope you get back to as you was before, I gave up bikes as a very small fall made me open up my eyes.
It’s not anyone’s fault as such I just feel if or when you come off a bike your going to get hurt and boy you really are taking this very well from the feel of your replies.
I really wish you the best recovery.
Carl
It’s not anyone’s fault as such I just feel if or when you come off a bike your going to get hurt and boy you really are taking this very well from the feel of your replies.
I really wish you the best recovery.
Carl
Jag_NE said:
Get well soon. A sobering read.
I hope you don’t mind me asking a naive question, as someone who is learning to ride at the moment and wanting to stay safe.
with regard to the front of the bike dropping under braking. My instructor said ABS would stop me braking so hard that the bike would throw me off. Your story suggests that he is wrong, or did your bike not have abs?
No old wobbly Fazer 600 that had knackered suspension.I hope you don’t mind me asking a naive question, as someone who is learning to ride at the moment and wanting to stay safe.
with regard to the front of the bike dropping under braking. My instructor said ABS would stop me braking so hard that the bike would throw me off. Your story suggests that he is wrong, or did your bike not have abs?
Tbh I know it's frowned upon here but I enjoyed doing my IAM in the area I lived in. Did it for the experience not to join the club and hang around with beards every Sunday. It gave me skills which helped me. Sadly my mistake was not a lack of skill more a misjudged gap....r1 would have made it easily lol.
Abs would have saved it in that sense....
I'll admit to finding that an uncomfortable read... took me back to witnessing my other half being taken out by someone pulling out of a field. In the strange way of these things a lovely lady vet was on hand to help until the paramedics arrived and, thankfully, we were just down the road from Stoke Mandeville. The surgeons there performed near miracles and managed to save her leg, but it was touch and go for the first twelve months. We were lucky during that time that we had the support of some good friends - I genuinely hope you've some good mates who will keep an eye out for you. It makes a huge difference, and to your nearest and dearest whoever they may be.
Really just want to say, don't know you, but really feel for you and wish you the very best of luck for the future - sounds a bit limp, but it is heartfelt.
Really just want to say, don't know you, but really feel for you and wish you the very best of luck for the future - sounds a bit limp, but it is heartfelt.
RemyMartin81D said:
Jag_NE said:
Get well soon. A sobering read.
I hope you don’t mind me asking a naive question, as someone who is learning to ride at the moment and wanting to stay safe.
with regard to the front of the bike dropping under braking. My instructor said ABS would stop me braking so hard that the bike would throw me off. Your story suggests that he is wrong, or did your bike not have abs?
No old wobbly Fazer 600 that had knackered suspension.I hope you don’t mind me asking a naive question, as someone who is learning to ride at the moment and wanting to stay safe.
with regard to the front of the bike dropping under braking. My instructor said ABS would stop me braking so hard that the bike would throw me off. Your story suggests that he is wrong, or did your bike not have abs?
Tbh I know it's frowned upon here but I enjoyed doing my IAM in the area I lived in. Did it for the experience not to join the club and hang around with beards every Sunday. It gave me skills which helped me. Sadly my mistake was not a lack of skill more a misjudged gap....r1 would have made it easily lol.
Abs would have saved it in that sense....
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