A Wisbech motorist who feels "lucky to be alive" after suffering a "massive" bleed on the brain following a crash is appealing for witnesses to come forward.
Father-of-four Martell Robinson was initially thought to only have minor injuries when his Subaru Impreza was involved in a collision with a Mercedes-Benz at the junction of Elm Road and Churchill Road in Wisbech at 8.15pm on September 13, 2018.
He was initially taken by ambulance to accident and emergency and then discharged home.
However, six weeks later while driving on a motorway, the 31-year-old experienced sudden severe headaches, pressure and the loss of his vision and hearing.
Martell phoned his GP the following day and was referred straight back to the hospital.
Further scans confirmed that he had a massive bleed on his brain.
After doctors said that he had a 50/50 chance of survival, Martell successfully underwent life-saving surgery at Addenbrookes Hospital on November 3, 2018.
The incident was reported to Cambridgeshire Police who attended the scene and investigated but took no further action.
Since the crash, Martell has been very reliant on his partner Lorna.
He continues to suffer a range of problems as a result of his head injury including severe headaches and extreme fatigue, while he can also become very distressed in a range of situations.
Looking back, he said: “The crash happened very fast and I was knocked out.
"I didn’t realise what was happening when I came round.
“I felt unwell after the crash for several days. However, I was in a really bad way after the incident on the motorway with the headaches and loss of vision, so I knew I needed medical help.
"To discover I had a bleed on the brain and that it was 50/50 whether I would survive was very scary. I feel lucky to be alive.
“The months following the crash were among the hardest in my life, but I hope that I will be able to access support which will ensure I can move forward from what happened.
"I would be hugely grateful to anyone who could help me by shedding more light on the incident – any detail could make a major difference.”
Following the ordeal, Martell instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to investigate the crash and help him access specialist support and therapies to overcome his injuries.
Now, they are appealing for witnesses to the crash to come forward.
Patrick Nelly, the serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Martell, said: “This is a case which highlights the huge impact that road traffic collisions can have on those involved.
"Especially as the true extent of Martell’s injuries only becoming apparent weeks after the incident.
"A bleed on the brain can be particularly dangerous as they are not always spotted straight away and can become more obvious when the condition may be close to critical.
“We are determined to help Martell access the support that he continues to require to overcome his injuries the best he can, but we need more information about the collision.
"We are aware of at least one witness who saw the crash and we would be keen to hear from them or others in relation to it.”
Anyone with information should contact Patrick Nelly at Irwin Mitchell’s Cambridge office on 07713 157790 or email patrick.nelly@irwinmitchell.com.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here