Home / Disasters and Accidents / Skull Removed After Bike Crash on Dumped Rubbish
Skull Removed After Bike Crash on Dumped Rubbish
26 Jun
Summary
- Cyclist Colin Appleton faced a 10% survival chance after hitting fly-tipped waste.
- He suffered severe head injuries, losing a quarter of his skull to save his life.
- Family advocates for banning fly-tippers from driving and retaking tests.
In 2024, cyclist Colin Appleton suffered life-altering injuries after colliding with fly-tipped rubbish on a country lane. The accident occurred when his bike hit an old asbestos shed dumped in the road, causing him to go over the handlebars.
He was airlifted to a London hospital with severe head injuries, including two brain bleeds, and underwent a major operation. Doctors initially gave him only a 10% chance of survival, and he remained in a coma for weeks, experiencing memory loss upon waking.
Surgeons had to remove a quarter of his skull to save his life, and his recovery has been a long process, involving regaining speech and motor functions. While the fly-tipper was convicted, Colin and his family are advocating for stricter laws, demanding that fly-tippers who cause accidents be banned from driving.
Colin, who lost his own driving license due to his injuries, feels it is unjust that the fly-tipper faces no similar consequences. He expressed surprise at his current recovery, given his slim initial chances of survival.
