Bike crash that gave me a new vocation
ADRIAN LEAKE has always worked in teaching and coaching roles, but a near-fatal road accident forced him to reassess his career.
The 35-year-old from Lichfield, Staffordshire, was struck by a car while taking part in a charity cycling event in August 2016. Adrian suffered broken vertebrae and underwent a spinal fusion, with surgeons using eight screws and two rods to hold the bones together.
The father-of-three retrained as a driving instructor, to give him flexibility around his hours and to put less strain on his body.
He had previously worked as a college lecturer, a personal trainer and a teacher focusing on students with Special Educational Needs (SEN).
He says: ‘I’m not fully recovered, as my lower back nerves on my left side were severed, so I’m numb in the lower back and groin area.’
Adrian embarked on training with RED Driving School in June 2017 and worked as an instructor from June 2018. His accident made him keen to teach people to drive safely.
He adds: ‘I find it so rewarding to watch people develop their new skills. This has been a passion throughout my career.’
An added perk of his new job is the improved work/ life balance, which enables him to spend more time with his wife and three sons, aged six, four and 13 months.
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