More on KentOnline
More on KentOnline
Home Tunbridge Wells News Article
A car crash survivor who spent six weeks in a coma and had to learn to walk again has seen his luck change with a huge lottery win.
Steve Cole, from Tunbridge Wells, was airlifted to hospital after a terrifying head-on smash with an out of control driver in Bayham Road on his way to pick up his teenager daughter from school.
The 65-year-old, who was told he would have had just six minutes to live because of his injuries, was rescued by paramedics and flown to Kings College Hospital in London.
The father-of-seven suffered a flail chest, where part of the rib cage completely separates, a collapsed lung, a broken arm and two broken legs. He later spent eight weeks in intensive care, six of which he was in an induced coma.
"I was coming round the corner and it was like one, two, bang," he said. "I remember being put in the helicopter and then I woke up and it was Christmas."
After going through the horrendous ordeal, the software development company owner had an unforgettable stroke of luck - winning £286,532 on the EuroMillions in the draw on Friday, July 17.
He said: "Early on Saturday morning I took my coffee into the study to check my emails and spotted a 'good news from The National Lottery' message. Logging into my account, I was expecting to see a couple of pounds, instead there was a magnificent £286,532 starring back at me. I could pretend I coolly took in all in my stride but in fact I couldn't do anything and simply sat there giggling.
"To be honest, following the last two years my children and I have lived through, a moment of giggling seems only reasonable."
The avid golfer plans to spend some of his winnings on a family holiday to sunny Barbados, investing in a hedge fund, and on rare stamps for his collection.
He also promises to donate to the Kent, Sussex, and Surrey Air Ambulance.
Following a long recovery, Mr Cole finally started walking again in September and is hoping he will be fit enough to once again play golf.
"After the accident I was wheelchair bound for some time, at risk of never walking again. Now I'm back on two feet I have started going to the driving range. A full round is still some way off but once I'm ready membership to a decent golf club is beckoning."
