Amputee patient shares road safety message

“One rash decision by you or by another road user may result in an empty chair at Christmas lunch,” Dr Helen Stergiou, deputy director of the Emergency and Trauma Centre said. “This is a wonderful time of year but we all need to focus as we drive.”

Patient Wayne Pick is using his traumatic motorcycle crash to warn drivers and riders to stay alert.

“I was going through an intersection and a car turned onto the road and hit me.  The impact shattered my leg, and it was nearly severed,” said Mr Pick.

The accident, which happened in Geelong last month, resulted in Wayne losing his lower right leg, and fracturing his vertebrae and ribs.

After receiving care at Geelong Hospital, Wayne was transferred to the intensive care unit at The Alfred. He’s spent nearly a month on the ward recovering.

“I was in an induced coma for a couple of days, needed 18 units of blood, and I came to realise how close I was to dying.”

Wayne doesn’t blame the car driver – he says both he and the driver could’ve taken more care. He’s now aiming to be home for Christmas.

“It’ll slow me down but it won’t stop me,” he said.

“I had some dark moments but my grandchildren… they need a good grandfather and the fight came in and I said I won’t be beaten.”

Dr Stergiou says decision-making can be adversely affected by fatigue, excess alcohol and drugs.

“I shall be working on both Christmas Day and Boxing Day at The Alfred, and I do not want to see you or your loved ones in our emergency department or in the intensive care unit.”