RELATIVES of a seriously injured Felixstowe man were today waiting to find out if he would ever walk again after his car was involved in a horror crash on a golf course.

Richard Cornwell

RELATIVES of a seriously injured Felixstowe man were today waiting to find out if he would ever walk again after his car was involved in a horror crash on a golf course.

Police have launched a drink-drive investigation after David Read's car left the road, hit a bank and flew 20 yards through the air, turning upside down and landing on its roof.

The 30-year-old suffered compaction of the spine and crushed vertebrae and is now facing six months in hospital.

Firefighters had to cut him free from his vehicle after the crash near the third tee of the Felixstowe Ferry Golf Course.

Tyre tracks could today still be clearly seen where Mr Read's car left Ferry Road as he headed home towards Felixstowe Ferry about 6pm on March 28, went through the rough and up a bank before shooting over the tee area.

Mr Read's uncle Stephen Read said the whole family had been deeply shocked by the accident.

“David has compaction of the spine and crushed vertebrae. They have removed the damaged pieces and are now waiting for the swelling to go down before they clamp him together,” he said.

“He has got some feeling in his feet but at the moment it is too early to say whether he will walk again.

“It's going to be a long job and it will probably be six months before he is on the mend.”

A police spokesman today said officers were investigating the possibility Mr Read had been over the drink-drive alcohol limit at the time of the crash.

A blood sample was taken soon after the accident and officers were awaiting the results before deciding upon which course of action to take. No charges have been laid.

It is believed officers arrived soon after the crash following a tip-off from a member of the public.

The force spokesman confirmed officers had reached the scene within minutes of the car overturning.

Stephen Read, assistant harbourmaster at Felixstowe Ferry, said the family was making regular visits to Ipswich Hospital to sit by Mr Read's bedside.

David Read, who has two brothers, Michael, 28, and Matthew, 22, has lived at the Ferry all his life. His late father Duncan, who died in 2003, was one of the community's best-known fishermen.

One resident at the Ferry said: “We all feel so sorry for David and the family - it's a horrible, dreadful thing to have happened and we are all praying he will be able to walk again.”

Send your get well messages to David Read - write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN, or e-mail EveningStarLetters@eveningstar.co.uk