Brave dad left in coma for four weeks after horror motorbike crash

Due to his brain injury, Geoff lost his job as a firefighter. But around 10 years later, he went on to secure a place at university where he was training to become a counsellor.

Sadly, he had to give it up during his final year after one of his twin daughters was diagnosed with a rare terminal liver cancer, aged just 21. She died two years later in 2020.

She suffered from a rare condition called fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. The illness affects one in every five million people and there are just 200 people worldwide who are diagnosed with it.

He said: “In the years since my injury, I’ve gone through a lot of ups and downs. In particular, losing my daughter to cancer was nothing short of traumatic and something I don’t think I’ll ever get over.

“What made it worse was, despite the amazing support I had from family, my social circle got smaller after the accident. It was incredibly difficult to come to terms with. This wasn’t helped by the fact I lost my job. Prior to then, I hadn’t had more than a couple of weeks off work so I struggled without having work to go to."

Despite the setbacks, Geoff has been determined to get his life back on track, and hopes to be able to return to university in the future so he can retrain in something he enjoys. He now spends much of his spare time with his two-year-old daughter, Ivy, and also enjoys photography.

Following the crash, in 2009, Geoff instructed specialist injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help him access the rehabilitation and therapies required to maximise his recovery. He’s also been supported by the law firm’s court of protection experts who’ve helped him with financial and welfare matters.

Now 15 years on, following extensive rehabilitation, Geoff, 48, has successfully regained the capacity to manage his own finances.

Geoff said: “I’ve always been stubborn and determined though, and I think this has been a factor in getting my life back on track. Getting back into education also really helped me so I hope to continue on this path.

“The most important milestone in my recovery though is that I’m now able to make my own decisions again on important matters such as my finances. It’s taken time to get there and it hasn’t been easy, but all the work has been worth it. My independence is returning bit by bit and I want others to know what’s possible when you put your mind to it.”

He added: “None of this would have been possible without the support provided by Irwin Mitchell. Before being introduced to them, I used a different firm and was unhappy with the progress."

Action For Brain Injury Week runs from 20 to 26 May. Find out more at ABI Week 2024: A life re-written | Headway