Husband's injuries are 'small price to pay' for being alive

A TEACHER who was left in a coma after being struck by a speeding car while on honeymoon in Italy says his injuries are "a small price to pay" for surviving the accident.

• John and Nicola Tams

Newlyweds John and Nicola Tams, from Bonnyrigg, were both hospitalised after being struck by the car in the early hours of July 9 as they made their way back to their hotel in the Italian resort of Sorrento.

Mr Tams still has no vision in his right eye and needs crutches.

Now back home, Mr Tams, 30, said: "Considering how ill I have been, being on crutches and losing the sight in one eye is a small price to pay."

When they were hit by the car, Mr Tams was catapulted into the air and over a cliff, landing 30 feet below.

Mrs Tams said: "I remember the brakes made a terrible noise. John said, 'Quick, babe!' but he was between me and the car and got hit that instant, before I could get out of the way.

"One minute we were having the time of our lives in a beautiful, romantic place. The next minute I was being told John could die. It was horrific."

Mrs Tams had a severe wound on her leg.

Rescuers found Mr Tams unconscious 30ft down the cliff on the opposite side of the road. He had a fractured skull, punctured lung, broken pelvis and was blind in the right eye.

As well as needing stitches in the leg wound, Mrs Tams, 31, had four broken ribs, fluid collecting in her lungs, an inflamed spleen and a damaged kidney.

Mr Tams' head injuries were causing his brain to swell so doctors put him into an induced coma to save his life.

When Mrs Tams was released after eight days, she headed to John's bedside.

She said: "He'd been brought round from the coma, but would drift in and out of consciousness.

"When he saw me he really shouted, 'I love you!' with such force that I knew his brain was fine. We were in tears."

A few days later, John's health deteriorated and doctors once again put him into a coma. When he regained consciousness he had no memory of their wedding on July 3.

"He was very confused," said Mrs Tams. "He couldn't remember my name and kept calling me by different girls' names. He couldn't remember our wedding, or that we were married. It was so hard seeing him like that."