Scarborough man who survived being hit by car shortlisted for national award – The Scarborough News

A Scarborough man who had a 30 per centchance of survival after being hit by a speeding car has been shortlisted for a national award for his efforts to help prevent accidents on the road.

Brooke Trotter, who was a university student at the time of his injury, suffered a brain haemorrhage, fractured skull and several facial fractures.

LATEST NEWS: This is how Scarborough Council is set to tackle climate emergency

He now travels the country delivering speeches to raise awareness and reduce the incidence of brain injury on behalf of the emergency services and will be recognised at an annual awards luncheon as one of just three finalists in the UK in the running for the title of Alex Richardson Achiever of the Year.

Its a big honour to be recognised for an annual award, said Brooke. When I started my public speaking journey it was to help other survivors, not for the recognition so it means a lot.

Its a huge surprise I really didnt expect it!

The award, which is sponsored by Slater & Gordon Lawyers, will be presented at the ceremony organised by Headway the brain injury association - on December 6 at the InterContinental London Park Lane, Mayfair.

In May 2007, Brooke, then 24, was walking home from a night out when he was hit by a speeding car.

He was crossing the road when a car, travelling at 50mph, headed towards him.

Brooke stepped on to the pavement in time but as the driver of the car slammed his breaks on, he lost control of the vehicle and it mounted on to the pavement crashing into Brooke with such force that his head went through the windscreen leaving him with a fractured skull and life-threatening brain haemorrhage.

When Brooke was rushed to hospital, his friends and family were told to prepare for the worst but against all the odds, and thanks to the excellent treatment he received, he woke from a coma after 16 days and returned home five months later.

Chronic fatigue, lack of concentration and memory loss resulting from the accident have proven a challenge for Brooke who was unable to return to university to continue his studies in Electrical Engineering.

Instead, he decided to use his experiences to raise awareness of brain injury and the importance of being safe and careful on the roads.

LATEST NEWS: Scarborough mum's plea to have her 'baby's final resting place finished'

I remember in the early days of my recovery reading something that said Do something every day that challenges you and I knew public speaking would do just that," he said.

Brooke delivered his first speech to fellow survivors at Headway East Coast - a local brain injury charity he first heard about through his occupational therapist at the time - and was a keen member of the group for many years.

Headway gave me a place to belong," he said. "In the early days I felt very isolated and down, but Headway gave me the chance to meet and talk to people who understand what its like to live with a brain injury.

Since then, Brooke has gone on to deliver speeches across the country to hospitals, schools and the emergency services.

He has also worked with undergraduate law students, giving talks about his experiences of a personal injury case and what he thinks makes a good solicitor.

He said: I love doing what I do. One of the positives to come out of the accident is that I can now help to educate others through sharing my story. I think it makes others realise just how lucky they are.

Because I have difficulties remembering things after my accident, I have to take notes and prompts with me when Im speaking.

I dont want to be one of those people reading word for word from a script, but if I dont take some form of aid with me Ill lose my train of thought or go on a tangent and start rambling about all sorts.

LATEST NEWS: This is how much the price of garden waste collection could rise to in Scarborough

Its Brookes determination to help others following his own struggles that earned him his nomination as Alex Richardson Achiever of the Year.

Lesley Allen, Emergencies Co-ordinator at Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, nominated Brooke for the award after he joined the teams collaborative project, Safe Drive Stay Alive.

She said: Brookes bravery and determination inspired me from the first time I met him. What impressed me even more was his selflessness to turn his experiences into positive action for the benefit of other young people.

He gives our project his time and energy on a voluntary basis, and the whole team wanted to nominate him for this award in recognition of his amazing contributions to Safe Drive Stay Alive.

Brooke truly is an inspiration to the whole team!

See the original post here:
Scarborough man who survived being hit by car shortlisted for national award - The Scarborough News