Man injured in car crash completes 120-mile walk

Jamie Rudd started the walk on 20 September and completes the challenge at Tewkesbury Abbey on Saturday

A man whose life changed "in the blink of an eye" after a serious car crash has challenged himself to a 120-mile walk to help others who have suffered trauma.

Jamie Rudd, from the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, fractured his back and neck, broke numerous bones and punctured a lung in the incident six years ago.

In the aftermath, he set up SoulKind, which offers outdoor adventure and mentoring for people who have experienced life-changing events.

Mr Rudd, who was warned by doctors that he may never be able to walk again, started the challenge on 20 September and expects to complete it in nine days, raising £150,000.

The accident happened on 12 July 2018 when an oncoming car strayed into Mr Rudd's lane at 50 mph

Mr Rudd's life was turned upside down on 12 July 2018 as he was driving into Cheltenham after dropping his dogs off at kennels.

An oncoming car crossed into his lane and the resulting 50mph head-on collision caused horrific injuries.

Jamie started the walk outside Southmead Hospital in order to thank the team who treated him after the accident

His recovery in the Intensive Care Unit at Southmead Hospital, in Bristol, was long and complex and Mr Rudd was warned he may lose his leg, or at best need to rely on a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

"It's been a long five years to recover," he told BBC Gloucestershire.

"Never in a million years at the beginning did I think I'd be walking even five miles."

Mr Rudd has been joined by supporters on the 120-mile walk, which included the Gloucestershire Way

The 120-mile (193km) walk includes the Gloucestershire Way, which crosses almost the full width of the county, from its westerly border with the Welsh town of Chepstow to Tewkesbury in the north on the River Severn.

Mr Rudd extended the route to start at Southmead Hospital so that he could thank the team who treated him.

The halfway marker was a poignant stop at Stow-on-the-Wold, near the kennels he travelled to on the morning of the crash.

He is due to finish the walk later at Tewkesbury Abbey, passing first by the rehabilitation clinic where he spent time in recovery.

'A bit broken'

Three days into the walk, Mr Rudd, said he was finding the challenge tough.

"I'm not gonna lie, I'm a little bit broken today. It's the repetition of eight hours a day on your feet," he said.

"Somebody said to me right at the beginning, 'remember to enjoy it', so I'm trying to keep hold of those words, but, yeah, today's a tough day and we've got a long way to go."

Mr Rudd has been supported by his wife, Julie (R), and family friend, Sophie, during the six years of recovery since the crash

SoulKind is a non-profit community interest company, which works with like-minded organisations to support people who have suffered life-changing events to rediscover a purpose through outdoor adventure.

Mr Rudd hopes to raise £150,000 towards a trip to Iceland in 2025 for six people and their support networks.