Teenage motorcycle racer still in coma month after horror crash
Aaron Clifford was seriously injured in a crash at Snetterton Circuit. Picture: BSB/Dacid Yeomans - Credit: Double Red
A teenage motorbike racer is still in a coma more than a month after a horror crash at Snetterton.
An online campaign has raised money for Aaron Clifford's recovery and towards the East Anglia Air Ambulance. Picture: Gofundme - Credit: Gofundme
Aaron Clifford was in an accident with two other riders during the warm-up lap of the National STK600 race on Sunday, July 21, at the Norfolk track.
The 19-year-old was placed into a coma by the British Superbike (BSB) medical team before being airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, by the East Anglian Air Ambulance.
His injuries include a serious head injury, two broken cheek bones, a collapsed left lung, broken sternum, multiple broken ribs, both wrists and right arm broken, shattered left femur, broken neck, and dislocated pelvis.
The Irish-born rider, from Duleek, remains in a coma.
His family are living in Cambridge at the moment so they can be by his bedside.
His father Kenneth Clifford said: "Aaron has improved but remains in a critical condition in Addenbrooke's Neurosciences critical care unit (NCCU).
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"He was moved to Papworth due to lung failure, they used a machine called ECMO and Aaron was on this machine for 21 days.
"Three days after the removal of the ECMO machine he was transferred back to Addenbrooke's, his left leg did have an operation last week and on Friday his right arm and his left wrist were operated on."
Aaron's family all live in Ireland and have not returned home.
Mr Clifford added: "We and his grandparents have not been home since the accident. We're staying in guest houses and then took an Airbnb house in Cherry Hinton and are now moving into a rented house in Fulbourn on a short term lease for six months."
A fund-raising page has been set-up to help fund the family through their stay and Aaron's recovery. More than 440 people have donated raising €26,412.
"The family would like to thank all the extremely brilliant staff in both hospitals," Mr Clifford added. "Thanks to all the people that have sent messages, are saying prayers, lighting candles and going to masses. The support the fundraiser is getting is overwhelming."
For more information or to donate go to www.gofundme.com/f/jza8t7-aarons-recovery-fund
