A YOUNG Hoyland man who defied odds by walking again after a crash left him with serious spinal injuries has said he is determined to ‘keep pushing forward’ in his recovery.

Conor Lynch, 24, has been left with a bilateral foot drop and muscle wastage - causing him to walk with a limp - four years on from his accident.

When he was 20, the car in which he was travelling in as a passenger alongside his then 17-year-old friend Oliver Brammah collided with a wall on Haverlands lane in Worsbrough.

Conor’s injuries were so severe that doctors advised him he may never walk again - an outcome he has ‘defied the odds’ to overcome in the years since.

After his accident, he sought the help of Irwin Mitchell Solicitors to help him find support and secure compensation.

“The crash had a major impact on my life and it still affects me in a number of ways now,” said Conor, who was unable to return to his work as a welder after the accident.

“The main thing is that I still have a lot of metal work in my back from surgery after the crash.

“I’ve been told that I will need more surgery again in the future which is very risky.

“This is one of the most frustrating things for me, as I’ve had to adapt my lifestyle to ensure that I can maintain my current level of activity for as long as possible.

“The first few months after the collision and coming to terms with what happened were particularly difficult - not just for me, but my family.

“Both of my brothers witnessed the aftermath of the crash - they saw me cut out of the car and put into the ambulance.

“My mum and my stepdad have been my rocks.

“I couldn’t have got through the last five years without them.

“It’s not always been easy and there have been many challenges, but I’m determined to remain positive and keep pushing forward with my life.

“I’ve worked very hard to get to this point and I just want to keep going.”

Conor recently attained a seven-figure settlement with the help of the Irwin Mitchell team, something he says has acted as a ‘major milestone’ in his recovery and is enabling him to purchase his own home specifically adapted to his needs.

“The settlement is a major milestone for me,” he added.

“It gives me the reassurance that I’ll be looked after in the future, especially if I need more surgery.

“I can’t thank everyone enough for all they’ve done for me ever since the collision.

“The help and support I’ve had has been amazing.

“It’s an exciting time for me - moving into my new home will give me another boost to keep up my progress and is the start of a new chapter in my life.”