In April 2015 Joe was playing at a local park with his friends, just like any other youngster. But on that day through no fault of his own, he was in the wrong place at the wrong time.

In a split second, a motorbike travelling at nearly 70mph jumped a red light and plowed straight into the youngster who was crossing the road. A collision of that kind would have had a significant impact on an adult’s body, let alone a child’s.

Joe’s injuries were extensive – his spine was fractured in several places, his pelvis and femur were broken, he had bruising to his lungs, the skin was torn off part of his body, he suffered a traumatic brain injury, he had too many cuts and bruises to count and to top it all off, he contracted sepsis due to his injuries.

Airlifted to hospital by the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance

His parents then received the call that no parents ever want to get. They were told their child has been in an accident and had been airlifted to hospital by the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance. At that point, they knew it was serious and prepared for the worst. Miraculously Joe survived against all the odds but was in a coma for more than two weeks.

Looking at Joe’s injuries, it is amazing that he is here at all today, never mind the fact that he has returned to school and is still the funny Joe that his friends and family know and love. On the outside, it is difficult to imagine what he has been through, especially when you see him playing with his friends and making them laugh at his jokes or silly voices.

But, on the inside, Joe has had to endure extreme pain, severe injuries, multiple skin grafts, and months of physio, more so than most other children his age, and he does so without ever complaining. And, not only has he come amazingly far in his recovery, but he has also undertaken fundraising including a 14-mile walk with his friends in aid of the Lincs & Notts Air Ambulance as a way of saying thank you for saving his life that day.