Jack owes his life to the heroic strangers
TEEN CAN’T REMEMBER HORRIFIC ACCIDENT
A TEENAGER has thanked the two quick-thinking strangers who saved his life after a horrific bike crash that left his skull shattered.
Jack Pollock, 16, issued the message after being told it is a miracle he survived the accident in the Lake District — although he can’t remember a thing about it.
Only the actions of passers-by Christopher Tomlinson and James Taylor kept him alive.
“I don’t remember anything about the accident and the first I knew of my life being saved was two week later,” said Jack who was speaking for the first time since suffering major head injuries in the fall in August last year.
“I owe everything to them and I can’t thank them enough.
“I can now play football and go swimming and can do pretty much everything I used to do.”
Jack, who spent five weeks in hospital and is now back at school, admitted: “I haven’t been on my bike since.”
The teenager had been cycling down the steep Kirkstone Pass with another youth, without a helmet, when he lost control and smashed his head on a stone wall.
Mr Tomlinson, who was also travelling down the hill in a van, came upon the horror at the same time as Mr Taylor who was travelling in the opposite direction.
Seeing the teenager’s brain exposed by a badly shattered skull and the skin from his forehead detached and covering his face, they sprang into action.
Jack’s mum Helen Beaty said the family owes everything to the pair, who kept his airways open, stemmed the bleeding and kept him warm while the emergency services rushed to the scene.
“My mobile rang but I did not answer it as I was driving,” Helen said of the fateful day.
“As I was getting out of the car at home, Beth, Jack’s sister, ran out and told me he’d had an accident.
“I got straight back in the car and went to the scene.
“I was not allowed near Jack and there was nothing I could do for him.”
Jack was airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital and then to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital.
“We were told on several occasions to expect the worst. But I knew he was coming home with me,” said Helen.
Jack had part of his skull removed and spent nine days in intensive care. He is set for another operation in May to fit a plate into his skull.
“The doctors have said that his recovery has been amazing,” said Helen.
Mr Tomlinson, of Penrith, Cumbria, and James Taylor, of Essex, have been awarded the Royal Humane Society award for helping the teen.
Helen added: “It is brilliant they’ve been recognised for what they did. We’re indebted to them.”