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Shocking photos of paralysed passenger show the stark reality of drink-driving

These are the shocking images that show a passenger left paralysed from the neck down after he accepted a lift from a friend who was drunk.

Greg Sumner, 26, got into a BMW with “bladdered” pal Vincent Atkinson after a boozy night out, who lost control on a bend at 70mph while racing another car and smashed into an on-coming vehicle driven by father-of-two Richard Parker, 35.

Mr Parker, who was heading to work, and father-of-two Vincent, 31, were both killed instantly in the horror crash on the A371 near Axbridge, Somerset in October 2012.

Shocking: Greg Sumner spent five months in a coma following the crash (SWNS)
Shocking: Greg Sumner spent five months in a coma following the crash (SWNS)

Greg’s family were told he was two hours from death after shattering 27 bones and he spent five months in a coma.

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Four years later the former sales manager now lives in a neuro-rehabilitation unit where he has had to learn how to talk again.

And after regaining his voice he is devoting his shattered life to deterring others from drink-driving, sharing his story in schools, Army barracks, colleges and universities.

Paralysed: Greg had to learn how to talk again following the horror crash (SWNS)
Paralysed: Greg had to learn how to talk again following the horror crash (SWNS)

Greg said: “I can never make up for two men being dead, but I can try my best to do what I can.

“I just want people to, when they are getting in their car or their friend’s car, to think back to me and re-consider it.

“Before this crash I was the ultimate lad. I was out at least three or four nights a week and I did lots of drinking, lots of partying and saw lots of girls.

Lad: Before the crash Greg would go out partying every week (SWNS)
Lad: Before the crash Greg would go out partying every week (SWNS)

“This has brought a full stop to all of that. I can’t move a muscle at all and I can’t do anything for myself.”

Deterrent: Greg now gives talks to deter others from drink-driving (SWNS)
Deterrent: Greg now gives talks to deter others from drink-driving (SWNS)

Greg, who is father to five-year-old Alfie Stamp, added: “As a dad, I’m very very upset – I’m really gutted about simple things like the fact I won’t be able to play football with Alfie.

“When I was a kid, I remember I was baffled by how my dad could run so quickly, but my son will never have that.

“When he falls over and hurts his knee, I won’t be able to pick him up.

“The astronomical price of bending the rules slightly was that two men died and four kids are going to grow up without fathers.”

Top pic: SWNS