A man who was told he had just a ‘30% chance of survival’ after a serious car accident is now getting ready to run the ABP Newport Marathon.
In June 2022 Ethan Brown suffered severe injuries after his Ford Fiesta crashed on the A470 near Brecon.
The 24-year-old Mechanic from Swansea said: “I don’t remember anything about the accident apart from waking up in hospital after being in a coma for two weeks.”
Ethan later learned that an off-duty police officer was driving past and saw what happened. They phoned the emergency services and the Welsh Air Ambulance arrived soon after, cutting him from his car and transporting him to The University Hospital Wales Major Trauma Centre.
He’d suffered several injuries including bleeding and bruising on the brain, a collapsed lung, a hole in his bowel and bruising to his heart. He’d also broken his left foot and nose.
He spent two weeks in intensive care and was put into an induced coma to rest his brain, while also undergoing operations to repair the hole in his bowel which had become infected. Meanwhile his mum Lisa was at his bedside every day.
Ethan said: “My mum was told I had a 30% chance of surviving. I wasn’t aware of anything going on, but I imagine it must have been heartbreaking to hear. I feel so lucky to have pulled through.
“Before my accident I was really fit. I did a lot of MMA (mixed martial arts), running and football. Doctors said that played a huge part in helping my recovery.
“When I came round, I couldn’t speak for a week. I was so traumatised by it all. I was very confused by what had happened due to my brain injury and I was trying to rip all the tubes and wires that were connected to me off. I must have been quite frightened and sad by what I saw.
“I had my foot injury and ligament damage in my right knee which I struggled with. Combined with my bowel damage I couldn’t stand up straight for several months.
“I ended up losing a lot of weight as well which I worked really hard to put back on.”
After being discharged from hospital in July 2022, Ethan was determined not to let what happened to him hold him back.
As soon as he was able to, he started jogging and lifting weights and was back to work within six months. However, the psychological impact of what had happened to him remained and he was prescribed anti-depressants to help with his mental health.
He said: “It was so hard trying to get my fitness back. I was so frustrated as things I’d previously been able to do so easily, like a press up or lifting certain weights, I was no longer able to do. It was three months until I was able to do my first sit up.”
Since the accident Ethan said he no longer feels like he’s the same person. That’s why he’s taking on the ABP Newport Marathon on Sunday 13 April with a friend. He’ll be running to raise money for the event’s lead charity partner Mind & Mind in Gwent as well as the Welsh Air Ambulance.
He said: “The challenge of running a marathon will be good for both my body and mind. It’s something I’d never done pre-accident and something I can now claim for myself in this new chapter of my life.
“I’m looking forward to the challenge, especially getting to the point of wanting to stop but pushing through to prove how strong I can be. I know I’ll be so proud of myself and all the work I’ve put in.”
Matt Newman, Chief Executive at event organisers Run 4 Wales, said: “Ethan has shown huge resilience and determination in his recovery from his accident, and this will no doubt help him take on the huge 26.2-mile distance in Newport in April.
“We’re very much looking forward to cheering him around the course and seeing him cross the finish line, while raising money for two fantastic charities.”
