Scot 'may never walk again' after horror motorbike crash in Thailand

Warning: This article contains distressing images

A Scottish man involved in a head-on motorbike crash in Thailand has been told he may never walk again.

Darren Cummins, who has lived in the country for more than a decade, says he was T-boned by another driver at around 100km/h (60mph) during a crash on Saturday, June 13.

The Scot says the other driver was “travelling in the opposite direction” and “suddenly decided to U-turn directly across all three lanes”, leaving him with no time to react.

Darren lost approximately five inches of his shin at the scene, with his upper shinbone breaking and sticking through the skin, multiple severe fractures and broken bones in his foot.

Warning: This article contains distressing images

The 34-year-old, originally from Falkirk, moved to Thailand in October 2015, and lives in Hua Hin.

He was initially taken to Hua Hin Public Hospital, but once the severity of the injuries became clear, he was moved to be treated by specialists at Siriraj University Hospital in Bangkok.

He says he’s undergone multiple emergency surgeries involving external fixations, titanium plate insertions, bone grafts, and plastic surgery.

Doctors told him that he has likely lost complete use of his Achilles tendon permanently, as he can’t flex or move it.

Darren Cummins may never walk again after a motorbike crash in Thailand. Supplied

He said: “At best, I’ll never walk normally again. I’m facing permanent disability and a long, uncertain road to any kind of mobility.”

He told STV News: “I never expected anything like this would ever happen to me and to be honest, even now I’m finding it hard to wrap my head around.

“It was just another completely normal day driving home from the sauna when it happened, and I’ve been in critical care ever since. My partner’s and my life were turned upside down in an instant.

“I’m absolutely terrified. The case is so complex due to the severity of the impact that the orthopaedic and plastic surgeons are creating a medical case study from it. What that means is we don’t really know where it ends and what difficulties we may incur.

“Each surgery brings its own unique set of problems that have to be dealt with in the next surgery due to the severe loss of bone at the scene of the crash.”

Darren says the driver of the other motorbike escaped with “superficial injuries”.

Darren says that between himself and his family, around 1 million Thai Baht (£22,000) has already been paid for medical procedures.

But a fundraiser has been launched to provide more, with more than £3,200 already raised.

He added: “The support has been overwhelming so far, my partner hasn’t left my side since the accident, she’s taken a lot of time away from work for moral support.

“Friends, family and strangers have all been amazing in sharing my story and helping towards medical bills. I really could never have imagined this support, but everyone has shown up for me, and I really appreciate all of it.

“I’m extremely sad at the thought of being permanently disabled, but I’m taking things one day at a time and being as strong as I can be. It’s a rollercoaster of emotion, for sure.”

You can view Darren’s fundraiser here.