Ref. 71714-52THE victim of a horrific car crash has spoken for the first time about the devastating loss of his best friend and nephew.

Speaking at the rehabilitation unit at Great Western Hospital Michael McCann gave an emotional account of the day he was told about the double tragedy and of his fears about the long road to recovery.

The 37-year-old, of Abbey Meads, who has been in hospital for nine weeks, has just begun to walk and talk again after suffering severe head injuries in the smash on June 6 in which his 19-year-old friend Matthew Styles died.

The accident left him with limited movement on his right side and he suffered a broken rib cage and collarbone and collapsed lungs.

Although doctors say his injuries will heal he said he would never recover from the loss of his friend Matthew and the death of his 10-year-old nephew Mitchell, who was hit by a car in Queens Drive while riding his bike just five days after the crash.

"When I heard the news it almost knocked me into a coma," said Mr McCann. "I was devastated. I cried with other people and on my own.

"I have a photo of Mitchell by my bed and I have good memories of Matthew.

"When I'm down I think I must recover in their memory."

Mr McCann said he cannot remember anything about the accident in Pinehurst Road but has terrifying memories of the day he regained consciousness two weeks later.

"It was like murder," he said. "I didn't know what was happening. It was so scary because I couldn't move my arms and legs.

"In some ways it's better not knowing what happened on the day of the accident. But half of me wants to know."

Mr McCann realises his path to recovery will be a long one and admits to suffering days of depression.

But his marriage proposal to his girlfriend Diana Tearall, from his hospital bed, as well as the love of their two children, Ilena, two, and 19-week-old, Micky, have given him hope for the future.

He said: "This has changed my life 100 per cent. I will not take anything for granted anymore, especially life.

"I would say to people not to put things off, do what you can today. Do tomorrow what you can do tomorrow if you get the chance."

Ben payne