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The mother of a young dad left in a coma after a horror crash is searching for answers as he fights for his life in hospital.
Karen Obbard received the call last Saturday every parent dreads, when she was told her son Ashley had been involved in a serious accident on Millmead Road, Margate.
The 22-year-old had been out on his blue Suzuki GSF 600 motorbike when something caused him to lose control, sending him careering into a parked car before being flung into roadside railings.
Ms Obbard admits nothing could have prepared her for what she faced when she turned up at the scene; Ashley laying motionless on the ground surrounded by five paramedics.
She could only wait helplessly as for two hours they battled to save him, performing surgery at the side of the road, before taking him by ambulance to King's College Hospital in London.
Almost a week on, the young dad, who has an 18-month-old daughter, is still fighting for his life in a coma, with a shattered skull and bleeds on his brain.
"He's got bruising on the top of his brain and a wire coming out which monitors the pressure," said Ms Obbard.
"He's also got a broken jaw, the top of his left arm and shoulder are shattered, and he's got a broken wrist and ribs.
"Both his lungs also collapsed.
"He's not good. He's been unconscious the whole time in a natural coma.
"He's on life support and he could be in a coma for a long time.
"We don't know yet what long-term damage has been caused and, although he got through the first crucial 48 hours, we still don't know if he'll get through due to the pressure on his brain."
Ms Obbard, of Hertford Road, Margate, says the journey to the hospital was the longest of her life.
"The air ambulance wasn't able to take him because of the wind so he went by road," she said.
"I followed behind the ambulance in a police car and all I can remember is blue lights, and half way through the journey I could see the Secamb doctors moving about.
"My heart sunk, I thought he'd gone."
When they arrived at hospital Ashley was rushed off by medics with Ms Obbard still unable to see her son.
"The first time I saw him I was a complete wreck," she admits.
"I'm allowed to see him now for an hour a day and it's getting easier.
"I can see he's not struggling for breath; he looks like he's sleeping."
The heartbroken mum says she is not allowed to touch Ashley, except for his fingertips and toes.
"It's awful," she added.
"We really need anyone who saw the crash to come forward..."
"He's really well-known on the estate where we live and my phone has been going constantly with messages asking how he is."
She says Ashley, who lives with her and his stepdad, is a "joker" with a passion for motorbikes and cars.
"Him and his friends have got a little yard that they fix up bikes in," she said.
"My back garden is always full of bits of motorbike."
Ms Obbard is now appealing for anyone who saw the crash or what happened beforehand to get in touch with the police.
"What they think could have happened is he was overtaking a couple of cars down College Road going towards the Invicta flats," she said.
"Somebody then coming down from Invicta has slowed to turn left down Dane Valley Road and someone, instead of waiting for that car to turn, has overtaken.
"That car has possibly clipped the back of Ashley's bike.
"Ashley lost control and hit the parked BMW and he hit the railings at the side of the road.
"But the police aren't absolutely 100% sure. They're also not sure whether it was to do with the roadworks there or if he slipped on mud.
"That's why they are asking for witnesses and dashcam footage and we really need anyone who saw the crash to come forward."
A police spokesman says officers would like to talk to anyone who witnessed the incident or has dashcam, mobile phone or CCTV footage.
They also want to speak to a driver of a black Audi estate which was seen travelling in the opposite direction of the motorbike before the crash.
Anyone with information can call the SCIU appeal line on 01622 798538 or email sciu.td@kent.pnn.police.uk quoting reference MM/SW/091/20.
