Brain injury survivor was given 48 hours to live
BBC"It took me a long time to realise how lucky I was. It just wasn't my time."
A County Antrim man who was given two days to live 23 years ago has been recognised for supporting others with brain injuries.
Martin Longmore, from Larne, was involved in a serious crash in September 2001.
"They didn't think I was going to survive it but I pulled through," he said.
Martin's family was later told he would be paralysed and brain damaged for the rest of his life.
He got "stronger and stronger" and learnt how to walk, talk and drive again.
'I had lost everything'
"It was very hard. I struggled a bit but getting my head around it was the big thing.
"I couldn't understand why they saved me. I had lost everything. I nearly lost my life.
"I lost my mobility. My speech was bad."
'Still parts of my life I can't remember'
"I have a very, very bad memory. I still have amnesia. There are still parts of my life I can't remember, and parts of my kids' lives I can't remember," he told BBC News NI.
Martin said he has learned coping mechanisms to help him manage symptoms.
"I would have to be 20, 30 times more alert thinking about what I'm doing, why I'm doing it.
"If I'm walking, lifting my feet, looking where I'm going, thinking about what I'm doing... I have to be constantly reminding myself," he added.
Martin is a volunteer with Headway, a UK charity which supports people with brain injuries.
"I try to be the person that I wanted there, when I was going through what I was going through," he said.
Martin attended Headway's national award ceremony in London after he was nominated for his volunteering in Larne.
'A hero'
Diane Wilson, services coordinator for Headway NI, said Martin is "an absolute inspiration".
"He came from being given 48 hours to live to being someone the whole group relies on. He's someone they adore."
Diane described Martin as a hero to the group.
"Martin is a comedian, he makes everybody laugh, he makes everybody at ease. If there's anyone new there, he takes them under his wing.
"He makes everyone a cup of tea. He remembers birthdays, he gives people lifts home and to doctors' appointments.
'A brain injury is something people can't see'
"I think because a brain injury is something people can't see it's a struggle for people to get across the fact that they're having a hard time," she said.
"Martin is aware of all of those things.
"He can look at people and realise where they are on their journey of recovery so he knows where he can come in and help," she added.