Biker who had horrific crash to help launch charity supporting other major trauma victims
Mark McCourt almost died when a car ran over his body moments after knocking him off his motorbike
A motorcyclist, who suffered severe injuries after a car ran over his body moments after knocking him off his bike, has teamed up with The James Cook University Hospital trauma team to launch the northeast’s first NHS trust partnership with charity Day One Trauma Support.
Mark McCourt remained awake throughout the horrific ordeal in April 2021, when a car pulled out at a junction, resulting in him flipping over his handlebars, bouncing off the car bonnet, skidding along the road and eventually being run over by the car.
Mark, 39, of South Shields, shattered his pelvis, broke his leg, knee, ribs and vertebrate and was air lifted to the Major Trauma Centre at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where specialist medical staff operated on him. He spent a month in hospital and even longer at home recovering, which involved learning to walk again, living and sleeping downstairs, and showering in a pop-up tent in the garden.
One year on from the crash and Mark has had seven operations, is receiving specialist treatment in London for his damaged bladder and urethra, undergoing physio for his pelvic area and walks with a limp due to weakness in his left leg. The former marine engineer is also dealing with the ongoing psychological impact caused by the injuries, including PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder), flashbacks, and missing out on a ‘dream job’, which he was due to start two days after the crash.
Read Mark’s story in full below
Mark is speaking about his crash for the first time to help launch Day One Trauma Support at the hospital where he was treated.
Day One is the only charity supporting major trauma patients and their families in the UK, regardless of injury type or location. The charity has partnered with South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs James Cook, thanks to a collaboration with the Trust’s Our Hospitals Charity. James Cook is the Major Trauma Centre for the South Durham, East Cleveland, Tees Valley and North Yorkshire areas.
Day One is providing a caseworker alongside NHS staff on the ward to support patients and their families as soon as they need help, by providing practical, emotional and financial support. Day One can go beyond the scope of the NHS by providing emergency funding for things like accommodation, clothing or specialist equipment, legal and welfare benefits advice, counselling, and befriending through its dedicated team of Peer Support Volunteers. Mark has become Day One’s first Peer Support Volunteer for James Cook and, along with others, will be available to talk with major trauma patients to give them hope and improve their recovery journey.
Mark remains under the care of Mr Andrew Gray, a Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon at James Cook. Together, with the Major Trauma Service, led by Dr Laura Evans, the team is launching the new Day One service for the northeast which will aim to help support the many aspects of patients’ lives as they recover from life-changing injuries.
As part of the launch today (Tuesday 3 May), Day One and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust have released new data that shows Mark was one of 211 patients admitted to James Cook following injuries sustained by a road traffic collision (RTC) in 2021. The second highest admission group, following falls from less than two metres. The number is up from 2020 when 173 major trauma patients were admitted because of RTCs, but slightly down from 2019’s figure of 229 people. However, this is probably due to fewer people travelling in 2020 and 2021 due to restrictions in place because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The figures, obtained through the Trauma Audit and Research Network (TARN), also show that over the past three years staff at James Cook have treated 2,997 major trauma patients from across the northeast (945 in 2021, 978 in 2020 and 1,074 in 2019) – an average of three cases every day. These are people suffering multiple injuries from incidents such as road crashes, sporting accidents, physical attacks or falls from height. However, this data only includes patients who were in hospital for more than 72 hours or admitted to critical care. The actual number of people treated for severe injuries is likely to be higher, but patients may have been transferred to other hospitals or discharged within the 72-hour window so aren’t included in the TARN data.
Mark, 39, of South Shields, said: “Although what happened to me was horrendous, I was lucky to have the support of my family around me to get me through it. I had excellent care from the hospital staff, but when a major physical trauma happens to you, there are so many questions that go through your head and you don’t know where to turn. It’s fantastic that Day One is there to help people like me, and my family, navigate the system, and I can’t wait to give back and use my experience to help others across the northeast.”
Lucy Nickson, CEO of Day One Trauma Support, said: “We’re thrilled to launch this partnership so we can help people like Mark get the support they so truly deserve. NHS clinical care is exceptional and has improved thanks to the work of Major Trauma Centres such as the one at James Cook. If you suffer a major physical trauma, you are more likely to survive your injuries, but enormous pressures on the NHS and inequities in the system mean recovery and rehabilitation support is inconsistent. That’s why Day One is becoming the ‘go to’ support for anyone affected by major trauma, as we can provide the vital practical and emotional support people need so they can rebuild their lives and look forward to the future.”
Andrew Gray, Consultant Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeon at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, said: “It's a privilege to work in a Major Trauma Centre and help treat the most seriously injured of patients. We have a fantastic team of specialties here at James Cook that help cover the range of injuries that patients unfortunately suffer after a major incident. These life-changing injuries affect the many physical, but also the psychological, financial and emotional, aspects of patients’ lives and that of their families. This can impact patients long after their injuries have ‘healed’. Being involved and combining with Day One will help our Major Trauma Centre support both patients and their families during the difficult weeks and months after injury and aid their overall recovery and rehabilitation. I am delighted to be part of this initiative.”
Laura Evans, Major Trauma Strategic Lead at The James Cook University Hospital, said: “Delivering Gold standard care to patients who have suffered major trauma requires input from multiple teams of health professionals from the pre-hospital teams, through the Emergency Department, Diagnostics, Critical care, Anaesthesia, multiple surgical specialties, ward-based care and rehabilitation. As clinicians caring for patients immediately after their injury, we are focussed on ensuring patient survival with as few long-lasting consequences of their injuries as possible. It is equally important however, to ensure that patients and their families receive support with the logistics of adapting to their lives after such injuries. The range of services that Day One can offer to our patients is fantastic and will make an enormous difference to the wellbeing of patients and their families. I am really excited at the prospect of the benefits this charity will bring for our patients.”
Ben Murphy, Head of Charity at South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said: “We are delighted to partner with Day One to further support the excellent care our major trauma patients receive. We know the trauma team works incredibly hard to provide the best possible care to people when they need it most, and this added layer of support from Day One will only enhance their experience – going beyond what the NHS can provide.”
Mark’s story:
Motorcyclist Mark McCourt’s life was turned upside down in an instant when a car pulled out at a junction as he rode along a country lane near Middleton-in-Teesdale, County Durham, in April 2021.
Mark, who was riding a few moments behind his fiancée Maria Kajda, only had seconds to react when the car pulled out into his path. Despite trying to steer around the car, the car hit him, throwing him off his bike, over the bonnet and skidding along the road. As Mark lay conscious face down in the road trying to process what had happened, to his horror the car continued to move in his direction and ran over his midriff, crushing his pelvic area and the force flipping him onto his back.
Mark, 39, of South Shields, said: “I was riding along and could see a white car at a junction ahead of me. I had right of way, but could suddenly see it started moving out. All I was thinking was please don’t hit me. I had about 15 metres to react. The front of the car hit the bike, I hit the bonnet and continued moving down the road.
“I felt the hard hit on my left side and was awake, when the front and rear left wheels of the car rolled over my pelvis. I don’t think the driver realised they had run over me and thought I was where my bike was. I was shouting in pain and tried to get up but couldn’t move.”
Mark was air lifted to the Major Trauma Centre at The James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where specialist medical staff operated on him. He had broken his pelvis, left leg, knee, ribs and fractured vertebrate, as well as damaged internal organs, including his urethra, which is the tube that allows urine to pass out of the body. Mark had multiple operations, including emergency surgery two days into his hospital stay when his chest and neck swelled up, causing him difficulty breathing. This was caused by surgical emphysema as a result of the trauma.
Mark was left temporary paralysed by the incident and left hospital after nearly four weeks, once he could sit out of bed. He had to stay in a medical bed in his living room and use a wheelchair commode to go to the toilet. Fortunately his fiancée Maria – a teacher – was given two months leave to care for him. During the summer they also set up a make-shift shower in the garden with a pop-up tent and battery powered shower.
Mark added: “I am so lucky that I had the support around me. My fiancée was amazing as I couldn’t get out of bed on my own. She had to help me go to the toilet and wash. If I had been single, I would have had to live with my parents and get my mum to do this, which you don’t expect when you’re in your thirties.
“When things are taken away from you, you appreciate the little things like a shower and cleaning your own teeth. I remember feeling water drip down my face for the first time and it felt like a massive deal.”
It took Mark 12 weeks before he was able to put weight on his feet and walk for the first time, which was frustrating for someone who had been very fit and active. Now, a year later, Mark has had seven operations and is receiving specialist treatment in London for his damaged bladder and urethra. He is undergoing physio for his pelvic area and walks with a limp due to weakness in his left leg.
Mark said: “It’s been a long journey and I’m still not at the end of it yet. The infections and setbacks get you down. When people look at me now, compared to a year ago, they’re amazed at the progress I have made. But although the scars and bruising have gone and I’m back walking, my life still isn’t the same.
“I still have difficulty going to the toilet. I’m waiting for reconstruction work on my bladder and urethra and have nerve damage in my pelvic area. People also don’t see the psychological impact something like this has. I still have night terrors about it and suffered PTSD, which I sought help for.”
Mark, a former marine engineer who spent most of his life working on oil tankers, was about to start his ‘dream job’ as an ROV pilot (operating a submersible craft) two days after the crash. Due to his injuries and risk of bleeding, he’s been told he won’t be able to work at sea again as the remote places he would work wouldn’t have the medical equipment or urgent access needed should the worst happen.
The driver of the car later pleaded guilty to causing injury by driving without due care and attention at Peterlee Magistrates Court on 10 September 2021 and was given five points, £100 fine and ordered to pay £100 fees.