Edinburgh prosthetics doctor had arm severed in nightmare cycling crash that nearly killed him

Dr Jim Ashworth-Beaumont before the nightmare accident.

In July, Edinburgh born Dr Jim Ashworth-Beaumont was cycling to work through London when he was knocked down by an articulated lorry.

The 40-ton truck rolled over him, severing his right arm, and caused so much damage that the 54-year-old NHS doctor almost died.

The former Royal Marine medic who served in the military for over a decade also sustained nerve damage in his leg, spinal fractures, broken bones in his face and arms, and a fracture in every single rib in his body.

Dr Jim Ashworth-Beaumont in hospital following the near fatal crash

The main artery to his liver was so damaged that doctors had to cut away 80 per cent of the organ to save his life.

Remembering the horrifying ordeal Dr Ashworth-Beaumont said: “I was still conscious up until the ambulance arrived and 99 per cent sure I was going to die.

“I remember the sirens. I remember hearing people talking in the background. It was terrifying.”

The nightmare continued after the father-of-two was airlifted to hospital, he developed sepsis and went into multiple organ failure but thankfully pulled through.

After spending five weeks in a coma, Dr Ashworth-Beaumont came to and began his long road to recovery, finally leaving hospital in November.

Through intensive physiotherapy the competitive runner and cyclist, who had been training for a triathlon at the time of the accident, has recovered to the extent that he is now able to complete 10k runs.

He said: "Before the accident, I was the fittest I could ever be, but I've basically had to learn how to do everything again. Stamina is what I know. And I think that is what has got me through.”

Now, six months after the accident Dr Ashworth-Beaumont is back at work at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital in London, where he helps patients who have lost limbs.

He said: “I love my job. And now I can empathise with my patients even more. I create and fit prosthetics for children who have lost limbs through illness like cancer, adults who have lost arms and legs in traffic accidents, I make spinal braces for people with spinal deformities, and fit splints.

"What has happened to me has made me realise that you just need to make the best of what you've got. The downsides have by far been outweighed by the good.

"And it has been a stark lesson in what's important in life, and whatever it throws at us, we just have to roll with it and hope for the best."

While still in the coma Dr Ashworth-Beaumont sisters Lisa Beaumont & Nicky Buchanan began fundraising for specialist prosthetic surgery not available on the NHS.

Having now raised over £100,000 the new arm and hand, surgery and extensive aftercare Dr Ashworth-Beaumont is hopeful it will go ahead this year.

He said he has been “overwhelmed” by the support from the public adding: "It's heart-warming to think that so many people have gone above and beyond to help."

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