A young man who suffered life-changing brain and spinal injuries in a crash has said he does not want to be “defined” by the incident.
Joshua Kay-Shaw, from Ripon, also suffered fractured ribs, a fractured breastbone and a punctured lung when the car he was a passenger in collided with another vehicle on Marston Lane in York, in December 2023.
The 20-year-old, who was studying accounting at York College at the time, spent four months in hospital and now uses a wheelchair.
Kay-Shaw said that despite many challenges he has faced since the crash, he had become much more “outgoing”.
Kay-Shaw, who also suffered injuries to his liver and spleen, was placed in an induced coma for four days following the crash and underwent surgery to his brain and spinal cord.
Besides chronic pain he subsequently suffered from memory and concentration difficulties, fatigue and sleep problems, loss of mobility and was dependent on others for much of his daily life.
Kay-Shaw said: “Before the incident, I was very active and independent. I enjoyed playing football, swimming, gaming and spending time with friends.
“I’d also recently passed my driving test and couldn’t wait to experience the freedom of being able to drive.”
