Man marries a year after he was expected to die

A man given two days to live after a car crash is preparing to mark his first wedding anniversary.

The injuries suffered by David Jenkins, from Warwickshire, were so severe he spent three months in critical care and had to learn how to walk, talk and eat again.

He married his fiancée of nine years, Rachel, in November 2023, a year to the date of the crash, which she described as "surreal" given a year before they had expected to lose him.

"From being given 48 hours to live, to returning home and living a normal life - it really is a miracle," said Mrs Jenkins.

The couple have praised the air ambulance crew who helped give Mr Jenkins a second chance at life following the collision near Bishop’s Itchington, Warwickshire, on 25 November 2022.

He was given a range of emergency treatment at the scene before being taken to the major trauma centre at University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire.

Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) critical care paramedic Matthew Stringfellow said Mr Jenkins was arguably the most critically injured patient he had attended since joining the team.

Those injuries included multiple broken bones, a lacerated liver and spleen, punctured lung, and a severe traumatic brain injury.

"We were very worried for David’s life and long-term outcome, due to the extent of his injuries," said Mr Stringfellow.

Initially at hospital his family were advised he was unlikely to survive.

Mr Jenkins underwent surgery on his spine and jaw, had a tracheostomy to help him breathe and also developed sepsis and pneumonia during his time in hospital.

He finally went home in April 2023, and when he felt able, they visited the air ambulance crew at their base at Coventry Airport to say thank you.

The team had been "amazed" to see the extent of his recovery, said Mrs Jenkins, and that he was not an amputee after how badly his arm was broken in the crash.

The couple decided to marry in Warwick on the anniversary of the collision to turn the worst day of their lives into the best.

"It was so surreal considering a year ago to the day we thought we’d lost him," said his wife.

"And then a year on we get to celebrate our lives together and celebrate his life – given back to him and us by the air ambulance crew."

Although Mr Jenkins struggles with fatigue because of his brain injury, and has many hospital appointments, overall he is recovering well, she added.

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