Andy Robinson
Great Britain- Devastating Crash Leaves Biker with Metal-Reconstructed Face
- Gruesome Injuries
- Paramedics Feared the Worst
- Blood Transfusion on the Scene
- Hospital and Coma
- X-Ray Reveals Reconstruction
- A Click in the Jaw
- Advocate for Blood Donation
- Family Support
- Lessons Learned
- A Lingering Desire
Devastating Crash Leaves Biker with Metal-Reconstructed Face
A British man has emerged from a horrific motorcycle accident with his skull resembling "a pointillist's blueprint" after surgeons used 13 metal plates and 52 screws to piece his shattered face back together.
Gruesome Injuries
Andy Robinson, now 48, from Lancashire, was left with life-threatening injuries following a head-on collision with a friend during an off-road biking event in May 2015. His skull was shattered, his left eye socket pushed in by almost an inch, his jaw broken, and his nose almost torn off. He also suffered broken ribs, a severed nerve in his right arm, and multiple facial bone fractures. One of his legs was broken in 15 places from the knee down, requiring pins, rods, and wires to realign the fragments.
Paramedics Feared the Worst
"They prepared my wife for the worst," Robinson recalled. "The paramedics told my friends they were 'pretty sure' I wouldn't make it to the hospital alive."
Blood Transfusion on the Scene
"I'd lost so much blood in my chest that my lungs couldn't expand, so they had to bore two holes in my chest, pump the blood out, and give me a blood transfusion there and then on the forest floor."
Hospital and Coma
Airlifted to the hospital, Robinson spent two weeks in a coma, leaving him with no memory of that period. As he gradually recovered, he was hesitant to look at his reflection, unaware of the extent of his facial injuries.
X-Ray Reveals Reconstruction
Only when Robinson returned home from the hospital did he see the X-ray of his skull, revealing the intricate network of screws and plates used to rebuild his face.
A Click in the Jaw
One year on, the only noticeable reminder of his major surgery is a click in his jaw whenever he opens his mouth.
Advocate for Blood Donation
Robinson has become an outspoken advocate for good causes, including blood donation. "The more people who sign up, the more who can be saved," he said. "Blood transfusions saved my life."
Family Support
Robinson also credits his wife, Sharon, for her unwavering support, saying she has risen to the "top of the tree" in their family. "I thought I was the top of the tree before it happened," he explained. "It's obvious that my wife is."
Lessons Learned
"I'll never go off-road biking again, and my ten-year-old son will absolutely not be taking up his mini-moto," Robinson said. "Every time I'm in the car driving through the countryside, I drive past the track going into the hills, and I get a real lump in my throat."
A Lingering Desire
"The one thing that gets me is, I've never found my gloves or my boots, and I'd love to have them back."
