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More on KentOnline
A dad dragged along a motorway at 75mph during a horrific biking accident has told how he “died at the scene” - but somehow lived to tell the tale.
Kevin Marlow, from Hillborough in Herne Bay, was travelling to work along the A2 at Pepper Hill near Bluewater when he crashed into a car changing lanes.
He was thrown over his motorcycle’s handlebars, landing in front of a VW Golf which pushed him across the tarmac for three quarters of a mile.
“I had what’s known as a pulseless electrical activity arrest,” says Kevin, 44. “The statistics of survival from that are very low.
“The air ambulance was called. From what I understand an off-duty police officer was in a vehicle and his actions saved my life.
“There’s no doubt I’m very fortunate to still be here.”
Kevin does not remember anything from the accident - which occurred just before Christmas 11 years ago. All he knows is from what witnesses described and the life-changing injuries he suffered.
Skin surrounding his left shoulder and hip was worn away to the bone as he was pulled along the motorway.
He also sustained two life-long brain injuries, a lacerated liver and several bone fractures.
Kevin woke up from a coma four days after the crash and has no recollection of the first three weeks of his hospital stay.
He was told by family members he would only repeat phrases such as: “Where’s my wallet?”
“I had really large open wounds,” Kevin says.
'There’s no doubt I’m very fortunate to still be here' - Kevin Marlow
“To fix those, they removed my lat and placed that where my shoulder muscle used to be.
“It failed so they removed a quad in my right leg – it sits on top of my shoulder and works my arm.”
Kevin – husband to Sally and father of 14-year-old Aimee and Katie, 11 – remained at King’s College Hospital for two months. He continued living in the capital in order to attend regular check-ups.
He experienced short- and long-term memory loss, headaches, personality changes and severe fatigue stemming from his brain injuries.
“The best way to describe it is like having the exhaustion you’d get through not sleeping for three or four days,” he explains.
“The headaches are awful. I’ve got hypersensitivity to light and sound.
“It hurts - it’s like prodding a bruise. If it’s not managed, it can result in emotional outbursts.
“I’m generally calm and mild-mannered. But after the accident there were times where I’d shout and scream.
“I’d then feel guilty and spend the night in the Premier Inn to get away from anything that aggravates my already bad headaches as my brain is so fatigued and damaged.”
Despite later returning to work, Kevin soon found his injuries prevented him from continuing his job at a major shopping chain.
'I’m living with the symptoms now, they’ll never go' - Kevin Marlow
He is now resigned to having to live with the debilitating symptoms.
But they have not stopped him from taking part in 5k runs, the London to Brighton bike ride and a Tough Mudder to raise about £2,000 for head injury charity Headway, which he credits for helping him with his recovery.
His most recent challenge was an Olympic-length triathlon that he and two friends, called Amy and Charlie, completed in late September.
“Volunteering at Headway was an important part of my recovery,” Kevin, who is now a landlord and part-time photographer, says.
“To be able to spend time around others with similar issues was a massive help.
“The confidence I gained through delivering photography workshops there was also a big part of my recovery.
“I’m living with the symptoms now, they’ll never go. I have limited mobility in my left arm, right leg and many, many, many scars.
“It’s painful. I’m on medication every day. Even while I sit, my shoulder constantly throbs. But I’ll take all of that to be here.”
To donate to Headway, click here.
