Aaron Clifford 'awake but still critical' six weeks after BSB crash
Six weeks after sustaining multiple injuries in an accident during the BSB event at Snetterton, Aaron Clifford is awake and conscious, but still critical
Racer Aaron Clifford has been awoken from his induced coma six weeks after his serious accident during a British Superbike Championship event at Snetterton but remains in a critical condition and doesn’t ‘recognise family members yet’.
The 19-year-old was injured in an accident involving Adam Hartgrove and Charlie Morris along the Senna Straight during the warm-up lap for the SSTK 600 race at the Norfolk circuit on July 21.
He has been in an induced coma since then and undergone multiple surgeries on a plethora of injuries, including a serious head injury, broken cheek bones, collapsed left lung, broken sternum, multiple broken ribs, broken wrists, broken arm, shattered left femur, broken neck and dislocated pelvis.
It has been a long and arduous road for Clifford and his family – from Duleek in Ireland - but one that is beginning to make progress after he was removed from the ECMO (which works as an artificial lung) and moved back to the Neuroscience Critical Care Unit of Addenbrooke Hospital in Cambridge.
Since then he has been slowly taken out of his induced coma and is awake now, but according to a statement from his family remains in a critical condition and is yet to recognise those around him [statement in full below]
Statement and injury update from Aaron Clifford’s family
Hi all just another quick update on Aaron’s condition as it is 6 weeks on. Since coming off ECMO Aaron has as planned moved back to NCCU in Addenbrooke Hospital. Here they are specialized in trauma, bones and neurological (the brain).
In the last week Aaron has had surgery on his femur and his two arms. The operations went well.
Aaron has been doing reasonably well off ECMO but is still very much in critical condition. He still requires full support by the ventilator but has been requiring less oxygen.
Aaron has been off sedation for 2 weeks now and has only been sedated for operations. He is awake now a lot of the time but he doesn’t recognize us or know what’s going on yet, he has had moments where he seems more alert but nothing definitive.
I would like to take the opportunity to thank anyone who organized, donated to, attended or supported the fundraiser or go fund me. The support for Aaron has been incredible and it blows us away everyday. Thank you all.
All the nurses, doctors and staff in both Royal Papworth and Addenbrooke Hospital have been incredible so far, We thank them all.
Thank you all for your kind messages, although we can’t reply to them all we are very grateful for the support. Thank you to all who has been praying for Aaron and we hope you continue to send them as they definitely help.
Thanks again, from Kenneth, Michelle and Leah
Aaron Clifford Fundraising Page - How to donate
A fundraising page has been set up to assist “help with Aaron’s recovery and the long road ahead”. The family says 10% of the total raised will be donated to East Anglia Air Ambulance.
To date, the current raised total of €23,000 has already exceeded the original €20,000 target.
