Man given 24 hours to live after e-bike crash defies the odds to learn how to walk again

David Harrison, who is from Manchester, was given just 24 hours to live following a horrific e-bike accident in September last year and has learned since to walk and eat again

A man who was given just 24 hours to live following a horrific e-bike accident has defied all odds by learning to walk and eat again.

David Harrison, 24, was catapulted off his bike on a narrow country road on September 4 last year and collided into the embankment. He was airlifted to Salford Royal hospital where he underwent emergency surgery and was placed into a coma.

Harrison woke up one month later in a hospital bed, surrounded by doctors and his family. With no memory of the accident, he found himself in a state of confusion. The severity of his condition was soon revealed - he had fractured his spine in four places, broken his neck, sustained a fractured skull, suffered a bleed on the brain, punctured lung, broken jaw, and a brachial-plexus injury where nerves are torn away from the spinal cord.

What followed was a gruelling three-month stay in the hospital, filled with immense challenges. Harrison had to relearn basic skills such as walking, feeding himself, and dressing himself. Despite these hurdles, David, of Denton, Manchester, persevered, although he has now completely lost the use of his left arm and hand due to the accident.

David recounted his harrowing ordeal and told the Manchester Evening News: "I was just out with a few friends on my bike and we had been to a local track to us with jumps. I was riding on the way home and came off my bike, but don't remember the crash or anything else because I have suffered with brain damage and severe memory loss.

According to hospital reports, David's fall from his bike resulted in him shooting up into the air, hitting the embankment, and suffering a severe head injury. The severity of his condition was such that he was given only 24-48 hours to live, necessitating an immediate airlift by an air ambulance.

David woke up a month later to devastating news. He had spent his unconscious period in the ICU unit, in a coma, surrounded by doctors and his family. They informed him that they believed he would never walk again - a fact he initially refused to accept until he found himself unable to even sit up.

"When I woke up I didn't have a clue what had happened and I didn't believe a word anyone was saying to me. It was a huge shock and it hits harder because I don't remember it," David said.

On the day of the accident, David underwent an emergency operation to reconstruct his neck and spine using metal to stabilise it.

After weeks of despair and near surrender, David's spirits were lifted when he discovered a fellow biker on social media who had suffered a similar brachial-plexus injury and had designed a special arm brace. This marked a turning point for David, inspiring him to set goals for himself and work towards getting back on his feet.

In an emotional video shared with the Manchester Evening News, David is seen taking his first steps in hospital after months of recovery, guided by dedicated physiotherapists.

David recounts his challenging journey: "I was in hospital for three more months and in that time I have worked on myself and learning how to do everything again. I was in bed for so long that even when they sat me up I felt faint."

His mental health took a significant hit during this period. "As you can imagine my mental state was very very low. I had no more goals to achieve and just didn't care anymore."

The road to recovery was steep. "When they stood me up for the first time I couldn't even walk two steps - my brain couldn't make my legs move. I've been setting myself goals the whole time and I started to succeed again. I had to learn how to feed myself, dress myself, train my right arm to start moving again but it's nowhere near to being back how it was."

Inspiration struck when he saw a post about a man with a similar injury who designed an adaptive arm brace. "It gave me motivation. You can give up and sit down or stand up and face up to it."

Now, David and his family are rallying support to raise £7,000 to purchase the specialist adaptive arm brace created by TrinityCreative. The brace, which connects to the shoulder with a locking system, could be the key to getting David back on his bike and enjoying life once more.

In a heart-wrenching revelation, David shared the extent of his injuries, stating: "Nerves to my left arm have fully dislodged so there's no way of fixing them and it's the same on my hand, I have no feeling."

Despite the devastating setback, David remains hopeful and determined. His next goal? To regain his ability to ride and fish. He confessed, "What's happened is unbelievable. I still don't believe it myself. It's hard going from a fully functioning body to what I've got now but I am making the most of it. I could've died but I'm still here."

For those moved by David's story and wish to lend a helping hand, donations can be made online.

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