A MOTORCYCLE rider who lost a leg in a horrific head-on collision has spoken for the first time about the moment he nearly died.

Lee Entwistle (pictured), 27, of Oakwood Road, Accrington, needed more than five pints of blood following the crash which left his £10,000 Aprilia RSV 1000 bike a write-off.

The Lancashire Evening Telegraph has boosted a recovery by arranging for him to receive a signed poster from his motorcycling hero, World Superbike champion Carl Fogarty.

Lee's wife, Kirsten, 27, a nurse at Queen's Park Hospital who he married last August, was told by a consultant that he had not seen an injury like it in 20 years.

Lee, a self-employed data engineer for Network Cabling Division, Wigan, which installs cabling for computer networks and telephone companies, said: "I remember coming off the bike and then being hit by an oncoming car.

"I blacked out and when I came to I couldn't move my right leg so I looked down and could see my bone coming out of my leathers.

"I was bleeding heavily from my leg and I could feel myself dying on the roadside.

"My breathing started packing in and I couldn't see properly.

"A couple from Cumbria who stopped saved my life. The bloke held my head and the lady told one of my friends, who had been on another bike, to press his hand on my groin with all his weight to stem the blood loss until the ambulance came.

"I would not be here if it wasn't for them." Lee, was travelling along the A65 Skipton to Otley road on his way to Draughton in Yorkshire when the crash occurred.

A Range Rover, driven by George Johnston, of Earby, and a Peugeot 405, driven by Arthur Blamires, from Leeds, were also involved in the crash on February 19.

Paramedics stabilised Lee at the scene and he was taken to Airedale Hospital. He was transferred to St James Hospital, Leeds, where he underwent surgery.

He was given five pints of blood and surgeons amputated his right leg below the knee. He also damaged ligaments in his left knee and foot.

Kirsten said: "The doctors said that he has made an amazing recovery. The consultant said that he hadn't seen an injury like it in 20 years."

Lee is now being treated at as an outpatient at Chapel Allerton Hospital, Leeds, where he will have a false leg fitted. He is undergoing physiotherapy at Accrington Victoria Hospital.

A former weapons engineer in the Navy, Lee is a keen sportsman who enjoys mountain biking and canoeing which he says he will be able to continue with.

He said that the accident had not put him off bikes and that he would ride again.

He added: "I would like to thank everyone who has helped me. Everyone has been absolutely brilliant.

"Family and friends have been fantastic and have given us a lot of support."

North Yorkshire Police are still investigating the accident.

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