Tom Kerr Has Defied Doctors’ Expectations To Launch A Career, Buy A Home And Get Engaged Four Years After Near-Fatal Crash

A university graduate who was left with a severe brain injury after a hit-and-run crash four years ago is speaking out about his recovery for Action For Brain Injury Week after getting his life back on track with a new job, house and wedding.

Tom Kerr had graduated with a degree in sports coaching; he was living with Louise, the love of his life, and on the cusp of a dream career coaching primary school children in sport when he was struck by a car and left motionless on the westbound carriageway of the A12 at Romford.

The then-24-year-old was so badly injured, doctors believed that even if he survived, he would face years of rehabilitation and therapy before he would speak, walk or live independently.

Tom instructed specialist serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to help recover funds to support his rehabilitation and recovery and four years on from the hit-and-run which almost ended his life, Tom has surpassed the expectations of doctors to return to sports coaching, buy his first home and get engaged to Louise, 26, whom remained steadfast through his recovery.

Tom, who is due to marry Louise in July, is now joining his legal team at Irwin Mitchell in speaking out during Action for Brain Injury Week.

Taking place from May 8 to 14, this year’s annual campaign week organised by Headway is based around the theme of life after brain injury and how such injuries have a lasting impact on not only survivors but also their families and carers.

As part of its work Headway has established ‘a new me’, a platform for people to share experiences which has been created to both challenge misconceptions about brain injury and also highlight the value that the right support can provide.

“It hasn’t been easy,” said Tom. “There have been so many things I have had to relearn and it was difficult to have to depend on so many people when I’d been such an independent person before the accident.

“I think my passion for sport helped me get through it in my darkest moments. My focus was always getting back to sport, getting back to coaching and, of course, getting back to Louise and starting our life together the way we should have been pre-injury.

“I have had a wealth of support from my family, my friends and all the medical professionals who helped make my recovery a success story and for that I will be forever grateful. Without them and accesses to the right support and rehabilitation, my recovery would have been a lot harder.

“But there are a lot of misconceptions around brain injury, probably compounded by the fact that everyone is different. In a way, I have been lucky. It’s been a long road, but there is life for me after brain injury. Not everyone gets to start again in the same way.”

During the early days of his recovery, Irwin Mitchell helped Tom secure interim payments to fund a case manager and therapists to support his return to work; something he was able to do in April of last year.

A leading firm in helping brain injury victims to access specialist rehabilitation treatment, Irwin Mitchell assisted Tom and his family with the legal case against the driver of the vehicle, who was convicted for failing to stop at the scene of the accident.

Tom’s skull was shattered and part of it had to be removed. The impact also badly fractured his left leg. He was initially admitted to the Royal London Hospital and then spent four months at the Regional Neurological Rehabilitation Unit (RNRU) at Homerton Hospital where he underwent physiotherapy, neuropsychology, occupational therapy and speech and language therapy

With daily rehabilitation he returned home to his parents in August 2013 with an aim of living independently, supported by Headway East London.

Tom was always keen to return to work and the life he shared with Louise before the accident, and with the help of the team at the RNRU, he successfully applied for further rehabilitation at the Queen Elizabeth Foundation Neuro Rehabilitation Centre in Banstead.

Tom has since landed a new job as a sports coach working full time with school children.

Tom and Louise, who got engaged in March last year, have since bought their first home together and are looking forward to putting Tom’s traumatic accident behind them, starting with their wedding in July.

Expert Opinion

“We see first-hand the terrible effects of brain injury on our clients, whether it be through illness or injury and many of the people we have helped have also benefited from the wonderful work of Headway.

“A brain injury turns a person’s life upside-down; suddenly their families have to start researching facilities and therapies, not to mention start thinking about when their loved one returns home and the adaptions and care they may need. Speaking out during Action For Brain Injury Week helps signpost that help and support for those going through those terrifying and traumatic early stages of brain injury.

“Having visited Tom in the beginning, I could never have imagined how successful his rehabilitation would be. Tom is an inspiration to so many people suffering with severe brain injury and a testament to how love and support – and his love of sport - can lead to rehabilitation.” Sarah Griggs - Partner