AN IPSWICH dad, who was fighting for his life following an accident on a Suffolk country road, is winning his battle today.Mark Dines of Whitton Church Lane has spent the last three weeks in intensive care following a crash in Bacton Green just before Christmas.
AN IPSWICH dad, who was fighting for his life following an accident on a Suffolk country road, is winning his battle today.
Mark Dines of Whitton Church Lane has spent the last three weeks in intensive care following a crash in Bacton Green just before Christmas.
He had stopped to help a motorist who had hit a deer, when he was in collision with a car travelling in the opposite direction and was left with serious head injuries.
Today however, his partner Sharan Burn said he is off the critical list and has been moved to another ward within Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge. The hospital specialises in head injuries.
Ms Burn, also of Whitton Church Lane, said it was a huge relief when her partner was finally woken from his coma.
She said: “It was a great feeling when they woke him up.
“They (the doctors) said that we would probably take one step forward and one step back but it has been OK so far.
“His body strength is there but they said a full recovery could take from six months to four years.”
Mr Dines, 39, had been driving his lorry to work at North Midland Construction at around 7.15am on December 20 when the crash happened.
Mr Dines who was due to marry Ms Burn this year, was taken to West Suffolk Hospital in Bury St Edmunds before being transferred to Addenbrooke's.
Ms Burn said it had been an extremely difficult Christmas and New Year for all the family. Presents from Mr Dines to his family and them to him, still lie unwrapped.
But she said she is very grateful to all her friends who have supported her and helped her throughout the ordeal.
She said: “My friends have been a huge help and I want to thank all of them.”
Since he was woken, Ms Burn said her partner has been to physiotherapy and has been taken to the gym but the extent of what he has yet to face is still unknown.
She said: “He has a long way to go. We don't know the extent of his head injuries. He is moving his arms and legs but he is not awake very much. We're just taking it day by day really.”
n. Do you have a message of support for Mr Dines and his family? Write to Your Letters, Evening Star, 30 Lower Brook Street, Ipswich, IP4 1AN or email eveningstarletters@eveningstar.co.uk
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