A BRAVE Kidderminster-born man who was involved in a life changing vehicle crash is giving back to the hospital that saved him in a sponsored mile open water swim.

Nic Bentley, 57, will swim from Padstow to Rock in support of Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, who put him in a coma for a month after a horrific head on collision five years ago, which caused him serious arm, leg, head and brain injury.

On March 7, 2013, Nic was involved in a collision whilst driving in his van near to Alverley where he has been living for 30 years.

He woke up 28 days later with no memory of the incident.

Due to blood loss from Nic’s injuries, the hospital put him in a medical coma to save his life.

Nic had ten operations whilst in a coma which treated a bleed to the brain and arm and leg injuries.

The former electrician could not walk for six months after being brought out of the coma and has since had another eight operations including titanium placement in his right leg, jawbone and left cheek bone.

Nic also has no use of his left hand.

He described this as a “bizarre experience” and one that has been “very difficult” for him to deal with.

Nic said: “I have no memory of the incident at all.

“I woke up about four weeks later and wasn’t expecting to walk.”

Nic received a large amount of support from his family after the incident, which helped him through his recovery.

To keep active and stay fit after the incident, Nic took up swimming to help with rehabilitation, and participated in a sponsored swimming challenge last year.

The sponsored swim will take place on Friday July 27 and Nic has already received hundreds of pounds with a goal of reaching £1000.

Nic said: “This is a personal ambition of mine and I have the motivation to give back.”

“l would like to thank the consultants, surgeons, doctors, and nurses who worked together to save my life.

“l am swimming a mile to repay the extra mile they went for me.”

Before the incident, Nic used to teach martial arts, and now wants to become a personal trainer to help people with disabilities to stay motivated keep active.

People can donate money on Nic’s Virgin Money Giving page via https://uk.virginmoneygiving.com/nicbentley