A mum says her “heart was ripped out” after her biker son suffered injuries in a crash so severe he was not expected to survive.
Jordan Collins, from Manston, went into cardiac arrest twice and was left with an extensive list of broken bones after the horrific collision in Broadstairs.
The 25-year-old was airlifted to a London hospital with a fractured skull, brain injuries and a damaged eye.
He contracted pneumonia, sepsis twice and a skin infection while receiving treatment – and at one point it was feared his leg would be amputated.
His mum Shayla Raine says the 25-year-old “was not expected to make it” and it is “a miracle” he is still alive.
The avid biker has been operated on seven times, was on life-support for four weeks and has remained in hospital since the collision near St Peter’s Road two months ago.
And heartbreakingly, the Pilgrims Hospice kitchen assistant told his mum recently on a phone call: “I may be sat here alive talking to you but I am dead.”
Jordan had been at a garage with his stepdad on the morning of July 27, getting his bike ready for a road trip to Wales in September with his biological dad.
But within 25 minutes of his stepdad saying goodbye, Mrs Raine says police knocked at her door.
“Jordan has never had any trouble in his life, so I knew something serious had happened,” the 42-year-old said.
“The officers said a collision had happened, they needed to get me to London hospital and are really sorry if they didn’t make it.
“They blue-lighted me to London but they couldn’t turn off their radios for updates on Jordan and said they were sorry if I overheard something I didn’t want to hear.
“When I got to the hospital, I was taken into the resuscitation area and there were 12 doctors around a bed.
“The air ambulance doctor told me Jordan was in a very bad way and they had transfused 10 bags of blood en route.
“He was taken to ICU and the consultant told me he didn’t know if he would make it.”
Mrs Raine says her son suffered a cardiac arrest at the scene of the incident and was put on life-support.
The crash, involving the former Marlowe Academy pupil’s red, white, and black Yamaha Fazer motorbike and a white Ford Fiesta, happened at about 3.35pm in Sackett’s Hill at the junction with St Peter’s Road.
“He had a bleed on the brain, a fractured skull, fractures in the face, a broken right shoulder, six broken ribs, a punctured lung, three broken vertebrae and a collection of fluids in the right abdomen,” Mrs Raine added.
“Jordan’s left leg was in multiple pieces and the skin and muscle had been taken away.
“He has had seven operations on it, during which they have removed 6cm of bone and had to use skin grafts from his right leg to replace muscle and tissue on his left one.
“For many weeks, it was questionable whether he would lose his leg.
“He was on life support for four weeks, during which he contracted pneumonia once and sepsis twice, and a skin infection on the left leg.
“Jordan has multiple road rash injuries and damage to his right eye which requires specialist intervention and has left him cross-eyed and with double vision so has to wear an eyepatch.”
Eight days after the crash, he was taken off life-support and put on high-flow oxygen, supporting his breathing.
But Mrs Raine says he complained about something not feeling right before he suffered another cardiac arrest while he was under the knife.
“Within an hour and a half, his heart stopped and they had to do CPR on him so he knew something wasn’t right all along,” she said.
“He was put on life-support for another two-and-a-half weeks.
“I was absolutely devastated and it was like we were back at square one.
“We didn’t stop thinking the worst could happen until this week and it has been touch and go.”
Jordan has now been out of the intensive care unit for two weeks and is trying his best to become physically stronger.
But his speech remains slurred and he has developed a fear of eating – the cause of which is unknown – so he is having to be fed overnight through a tube up his nose.
An external fixation device has been fitted to Jordan’s leg – a cage holding his bones together.
Mrs Raine says if doctors are happy with the progress made through the daily manipulations, he could finally be moved to the QEQM Hospital in Margate or a rehab unit closer to home.
Speaking about the impact the crash had on her, his mum, who is a nurse, added: “My heart was ripped out. My son’s life has completely changed and he is struggling emotionally with everything that happened.
“I am spending a long time away from my husband and family, and letting my colleagues down.
“My job had been my life and I feel heartbroken.
“I don’t think any mother will be able to explain what the knock on the door feels like.
“I fell to my knees and I was screaming as the police followed me around the house.
“But I am in complete awe of Jordan and his sheer determination to pull through. The fact he is still with us is a miracle.”
Despite the massive progress her son has made, he has a long way to go with his recovery.
“His words to me two days ago on the phone were, ‘Mum, I may be sat here alive talking to you but I am dead’, which broke my heart again,” Mrs Raine said.
“We have a very big support network of family, friends and colleagues, which has been overwhelming and we are trying to give Jordan things to hold onto to get his want back.”
Mrs Raine launched a fundraiser to support Jordan coming home.
His mum wants to decorate his room to make it a clean and sterile environment and also so he can sleep in an electric bed which helps with his mobility, rather than a hospital one.
Describing Jordan, Mrs Raine said: “He has never caused any trouble and is always the first to help anyone.”
Police are still appealing for witnesses to come forward following the crash on Saturday, July 27.
Anyone who witnessed the collision and has not yet spoken to the police is urged to contact the Serious Collision Investigation Unit on 01622 798538, quoting reference SM/DC/084/24. You can also email [email protected].
