SIXTEEN months on from an horrific car smash which nearly ended his life, David Beech is still defying the odds with his story of survival.
The 58-year-old former headteacher, born and raised in Crewe, was given just hours to live following the head-on collision along the A51 in Staffordshire in October 2003.
He spent five weeks in a coma, suffered 19 serious injuries, and needed more than £1m worth of round-the-clock medical care.
But with the loving help of wife Kate, 52, son Guy, 23, and daughters Louise, 21, and Lucie, 17, the grocer's son from Gresty Road has pulled through to tell his tale.
Speaking at his home in Market Drayton, where he moved in 1986 on appointment as head of Silverdale School in Burslem, Mr Beech said: 'I have absolutely no memory of the accident at all. People always ask me but I cannot remember anything about that week, never mind that particular day.
'I was in a coma for five weeks, and during that time the doctors told my family they didn't think I would be able to walk, talk or anything if I did wake up. They also came close to amputating my right leg and arm.'
David also suffered a fractured skull, a blood clot on the brain and a fractured eye-socket which has left him unable to read.
Born in 1956 to Ronald and Peggy Beech, who owned a grocer's in Alton Street, Crewe, David enjoyed a successful teaching career after taking his first job at Monks Coppenhall.
Wife Kate says David's frustration at not being able to work has been shared by all the family.
She said: 'We are a very caring family who will remain positive no matter what and we are determined to get on with things.
'We will all do our bit to ensure David has the best quality of life possible, but more than anything we are just happy we still have him.'
