Injured Luke on road to recovery

Sportsman named ‘Miracle Man’ by doctors

PROFESSIONAL physical trainer Luke Thomas continues to recover after suffering horrendous head injuries in a road accident six weeks ago.

The 38-year-old, a keen sportsman and former professional footballer, was struck by an out of control car as he cut a hedge outside his Jávea home the woman behind the wheel uninsured and without a licence.

The driver was arrested after she careered into a parked car near Pinosol Park and Luke was rushed to Dénia Hospital before being airlifted to Valencia and Hospital de Manises because of the seriousness of his injuries - he was stabilised and placed in an induced coma.

Close family friend Sue Nutbrown told CBNews that Luke has now been transferred back to Dénia Hospital and continued to make progress. He is able to walk, talk and with 'his typical sense of humour' is relearning social graces.

She said he suffered a fractured skull, a broken eye socket, cheek bone and jaw, and a broken collar bone in the accident in September.

“The first 24 to 48 hours after the accident were critical and he pulled through; doctors said the fact he had fractured his skull saved his life because it prevented blood building up and pressurising the brain” added Sue. “There was a massive bleed on the brain.

“There is an awful long way to go but they started calling him the Miracle Man because of the speed of his recovery... small steps are giant leaps for him.”

Sue added: “He is young and fit and a fitness instructor, that is on his side. He cannot remember the accident and his short term memory has suffered - he cannot understand why he cannot just go back to work.”

Transfer

Sue said Luke was transferred back to Dénia on Tuesday; making it easier for Luke’s parents Christine and Mal and his brother Mark to visit - along with close friends.

“In Dénia I think they will start putting him back together, there is a whole team working with him now,” she said.

“He was exhausted after the transfer, it was a huge thing and very stressful for him.”

She said Luke was still under the care of specialist neurologists but the head injuries meant he had lost the feeling in nerve endings in the right side of his face and he would still need surgery.

“He is not happy but he is not brain dead or paralysed, he seems to be able to walk okay but it is a bit like he has suffered and he is continuing to make progress,” said Sue. “He has recovered his sense of humour and has cracked a joke or two.”

And as his ‘Spanish mum’, Sue told his parents he would look after Luke after he moved to Spain from Nottinghamshire; she also thanked everyone who had staged fund raising events to support Luke and his family.

“This could be a life changing accident, on the other hand, he could get everything back. I don’t suppose he will be totally unaffected by this.”