I wish I could be the father I was before, says dad left in coma after crash

Father-of-two Simon Oldnall suffered multiple injuries and was in a coma for six weeks after he was knocked down while crossing a road in West Bromwich.

After waking up in hospital, he spent a further six months under the close care of doctors as he started his journey to recovery from a broken neck, shoulder, legs and a punctured lung.

Today, 15 months after the crash in Black Lake, which changed his life, the 44-year-old has spoken for the first time of the ordeal as he looks to the future and settles back into family life.

See also: Simon Oldnall wakes up from coma

Father fighting for life after crash

He has also thanked the team of surgeons at Queen Elizabeth Hospital, who he says saved his life. Next month he is supporting his brother in a charity football match raising money for the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine.

"They saved my life and my arm - if it wasn't for them I wouldn't be here, or I would be here with an amputated limb," the former self-employed carpet fitter said.

"I owe them everything for the work they did. I was since told they were experts and I was extremely lucky to have them treating me for my injuries."

Simon was take to hospital following the crash on April 26. He was kept in a coma and then treated for his injuries until discharge in September last year.

Despite being at home, he is still under the watchful eye of doctors and attends regular physiotherapy sessions. He walks around with crutches and struggles with anxiety when outside his home in Anson Road, West Bromwich.

He said: "Everything has changed in my life since the crash happened.

"I've suffered brain damage and struggle with short-term memory. I can't walk far unaided and only have 60 per cent use of my left arm.

"I find it difficult to sit down for long periods due to pelvic injuries and have constant pain in my neck - I've had to become used to the pain."

But around him, Simon has his long-term partner Laura Irvine, 29 along with their two children Jake, six, and Luke, four.

He said: "It's good to be back with the family, but plans we had for our future such as holidays have to be put on hold.

"For me it's Christmas which is the hardest.

"I wish I could continue being the father I was before this happened. Now I've left to struggle around the house, they want to know what happened to me.

"It's going to be a long journey to recovery."

Simon was injured when crossing Black Lake with his friend Adrian Leir after getting into the nearby Metro stop following an evening in Birmingham.

They were heading to The New Talbot pub.

Simon said: "I don't remember anything apart from waking up in hospital."

Miss Irvine said: "It's been really hard, I have had to do everything since what happened.

"I can't just get the kids ready and go out because I can't leave him (Simon) on his own.

"His bones are still broken so a lot of care needs to be taken about where he goes."

She added: "We are hoping he will improve so we can get our life back in track.

"It's also been difficult for the children as they are young."

The charity football match on will take place at Charlemont Farm in West Bromwich on August 24. It begins at 11am and will be between The Old Miners Arms and The Young Sow and Pigs.

Brother Stephen, aged 36, also of Anson Road, is organising the event.

He said: "We want something good to come out of something bad.

"If we can raise a bit of cash to show our appreciation to those who helped Simon, I know that would mean a lot to the family."

Daninder Singh Rai, aged 29, of Higgins Walk, Smethwick, faces three charges after allegedly knocking down Simon.

He is charged with a count of failing to stop after a road accident and a further count of failing to report a road accident.

He is also charged with 'doing a series of acts tending and intended to pervert the course of public justice' in January.

He will next appear at Wolverhampton Crown Court on August 15.