Biker who lost leg in horror Black Isle A9 smash was 'at death's door'
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Major internal injuries. Twenty-six broken bones. An amputated right leg. Severe nerve damage in both arms. 77 hours of surgery – and 20 months in hospital.
Andy Rudge has defied the odds.
After a life-altering collision on his motorbike on the Black Isle on July 25, 2019, he has shown incredible resilience since that fateful day.
On what was meant to be an adventure from Warrington to Wick, the last thing he remembers is filling up his motorbike with petrol in Aviemore.
The next was being treated by an on-call trauma professional on the A9, at the B9169 Culbokie junction.
We got in touch with him after a simple comment on a photo of the crash scene that he came across.
Talking from his home in Warrington he said: “I just thought it would be a simple comment at the end of the article from when the crash took place to let people know I was okay.”
He recalled: “I was first treated by an on-call NHS Highland professional who was first on scene. She got there before the paramedics did.I was then rushed to Raigmore, where I spent three days. My body swelled up so much that I couldn’t be put in the stretcher for the helicopter to take me to Aberdeen.
“I was then placed in an induced coma and flown by a medical jet to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary where I spent six weeks.”
His mum stayed with him throughout.
He was then taken to Aintree in Liverpool to be closer to home.
He said: “I have a daughter and a son, so I was closer to them there.”
When Covid hit, he was moved to a rehabilitation centre. His hip displaced during his time there and the bone died away.
“I ended up having to go back into hospital and I got my leg amputated through the knee", he said, matter of factly.
Since then, the 44-year-old has gone through months of rehabilitation. He is learning how to walk on a prosthetic leg and is getting movement back in his hands, and has managed to learn how to drive again.
I asked if he would ever get back on a motorbike. He joked: “I would like to, but I won’t tell my family when I do! I have been driving motorcycles since I was 16 so they are a big part of my life.”
Having completed six Ironman challenges and running marathons around Europe prior to his accident, Andy has a very strong mental resilience which has no doubt helped him in his recovery.
“I was at my fittest before I had the crash”, he said.
“The last two and half years have been very hard. I lost a relationship, and I have had to learn how to do things again.
“But I also now have a new relationship. I have now been with one of my carers for the last 18 months. This was frowned upon at first, but it is what it is.”
The business owner is very grateful for all those who have been on his journey along the way.
“I am so grateful for my family. They have been such a big support, my mum and my children.
“I also want to say a big thank you to the workers who treated me at Raigmore and the nurses who looked after me in Aberdeen. When I was in the coma, I could hear them talking to me. I remember that.”
Andy hopes to come back to the scene of the accident at some point, and to visit those who helped him along the way.
He added: “I have had a long time to reflect on life while recovering. I’m still not finished yet.”
Story to share with us? Email newsdesk@hnmedia.co.uk
