Crash victim Lewis Bryan thanks his firefighter rescuers
Lucky to be alive: Lewis
Bryan thanks his lifesavers
by Nick Lillitos
Lucky to be alive.
Four words summing up how Lewis Bryan feels after he survived a
head-on collision.
The 24-year-old carpenter from Larkfield has thanked
firefighters for saving his life.
He was reunited with them at Tonbridge Fire Station as part of
National Road Safety Week, which has been running this week.
In a race against time to get him out the mangled car, firemen
cut off its entire roof as an air ambulance waited at the scene in
Whetsted Road, near Tonbridge.
“When we arrived we feared the worst – the car was a complete
mess, so much it was almost unrecognisable,” said fire watch
manager Derek Patey.
“We were racing to save his life.”
"I can’t thank them enough. I’ve seen the photos of the crash and know how lucky I am to be alive" – Lewis Bryan
For most of the time
Lewis was slipping in and out of consciousness and even today he
can’t remember much of what happened. He regained consciousness
several hours later in hospital.
The wreckage looked so horrific it was initially thought Lewis
had sustained life-threatening injuries. But he luckily suffered
only some broken toes, cuts, bruises and whiplash in the crash.
Lewis said: “You don’t normally get to meet the firefighters
again to thank them. It was good being able to do so. If they
hadn’t got me out quick, things might have gone differently.
“They are definitely a highly valuable and worthwhile service
and we should ensure their numbers are not reduced by government
cuts.
“The service is already over-stretched.
“I can’t thank them enough. I’ve seen the photos of the crash
and know how lucky I am to be alive.”
There was very little
left of Lewis's car after the horrific crash. Picture: Kent Fire
and Rescue Service
The crash happened on October 4 as Lewis was driving home from
work. He was airlifted to Kings College hospital in London.
Insp Martin Stevens, of Kent Police, said: “About six people are
killed on Kent’s roads each month with many more seriously
injured.
“We attend many serious collisions and see the effects this has
on those involved, including loved ones left behind.”
23/11/12
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