A DAD left with a brain injury and multiple fractures after a car mounted the pavement and hit him at speed is making “remarkable progress” as he learns to walk, talk and feed himself again.

Gary Burvill, 32, was left for dead after a car ploughed into him in Eastwood on February 6, 2022, and left him in hospital for more than a year.

The dad can no longer work and his family life has been turned upside down after the shocking incident as he “struggles to do things we all take for granted”.

Gary, a father-of-three, was standing on the pavement on Rayleigh Road when the driver pulled out of The Oakwood pub car park, drove across the pavement and hit him.

The driver then fled the scene by driving down the wrong side of the road.

Gary’s parents Graham, 65, and Jackie, 61, have now spoken about the incident for the first time to mark “Road Safety Week” and raise awareness about the impact the incident has had on the family.

Jackie said: “What happened to him that night changed everything. It’s been heart-breaking to see him struggle to do the things we all take for granted and be reliant on others for so many aspects of his life.

“While nothing will ever make up for what he’s been put through, we’re so proud of the bravery he’s shown and the recovery he’s making through his rehabilitation. We couldn’t be prouder of him.

“To know that he will never work again is upsetting, however, as we know how much he enjoyed being a chef. However, we know we’re lucky that he’s still here with us.”

Gary spent four months in the Royal London Hospital before being transferred to the Homerton Hospital.

Gary was in a barely conscious state for eight months following the crash and has since required extensive care and rehabilitation support to enable him to relearn basic skills, including walking.

The driver, Bailey Ling, 33, of Rayleigh Road, Eastwood, was sentenced to four years in prison.

He was also disqualified from driving for five years which will commence following his release and he will be subject to a mandatory re-test.

Following a retrial which concluded on September 21, it took a jury less than an hour to find Ling guilty of causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

Gary continues to receive neuropsychology, neuropsychiatry, occupational therapy, physiotherapy and speech and language therapy support.

He has re-learnt how to communicate with his family, feed himself and walk, although he is currently only able to walk very short distances inside Gary continues to receive rehabilitation and has started to make visits home and spend more time with his family.

His family are now joining with their legal team, Irwin Mitchell, in marking Road Safety Week to warn of the consequences of dangerous driving.

Road Safety Week, organised by charity Brake, runs from 19 to 25 November. Find out more at brake.org.uk/road-safety-week.