A TEENAGE racing prodigy has thanked medics who put him on the road to recovery after a terrifying crash which left him fearing he may lose his leg.

Ollie Handley, 14, was signed to the McLaren DNA programme after competing in the British Karting Championships.

But the Colchester teenager was involved in a smash at Red Lodge Karting, in Suffolk, in March where he hit a tyre wall at 58mph.

He was thrown up in spiral motion, but his right foot got stuck under the accelerator causing a nasty leg break.

Paramedic Steve Murrow administered immediate treatment and called in the East Anglian Air Ambulance.

The crew were four minutes away and pilots Martin Polding and Hal Erikson landed the helicopter at the track and Dr Abilius Wong and paramedic David Killingback quickly got to Ollie. They treated him for an hour before he was flown to hospital.

Gazette:

Ollie’s leg was broken in three places and subsequently needed titanium rods and fixtures inserted.

Surgeons thought it would take a year before he could walk again, but Ollie was close to doing so in half the time.

A few weeks ago he got back behind the wheel of his Citroen Saxo saloon car for a day’s testing.

Ollie hopes to be racing properly again next year.

He said: “I hope my leg will be strong enough by then so that I don’t miss any races and this doesn’t set me back.

“I really appreciate all the work the air ambulance crews do and hope to be able to fundraise for them in the future to say thank you for treating me and flying me to hospital.”

Dad Neil added: “It’s been such a tough year for Ollie, breaking his leg and then being stuck at home throughout the lockdown, but he’s put his time to good use and really concentrated on his physio to get walking again. “He was so brave when it happened, not shedding a tear and bluntly asking if he would lose the leg.

“We were so glad the air ambulance was on scene quickly to help get him out of the go kart and on to hospital as soon as possible.

“The team were all fantastic and made what could have been a much worse situation incredibly calm and professional.”