HE SPENT six weeks in a coma after suffering life-threatening injuries in the crash that killed his 21-year-old girlfriend.

Naval engineer Ben Wagon was being driven home by Justine Emblin-Butler when she swerved to avoid a badger and lost control of the car.

Ben received a serious brain injury in the accident and doctors warned his parents he was unlikely to pull through.

But he survived against all the odds and battled his way back to fitness with the help of Headley Court rehabilitation centre in Surrey and the Daily Echo-backed charity Help for Heroes.

Now Ben is preparing to take part in the Liverpool Marathon on Sunday to raise vital funds for the Child Brain Injury Association (CBIA).

He competed in the 2014 Invictus Games and has also been selected for this year's Warrior Games at the US Military Academy in New York.

Ben, 27, of Thornhill, said: "When I woke up from the coma I couldn't walk or talk and also learned that I'd lost the love of my life. For me it seemed all of my dreams and aspirations were gone."

But Ben began to rebuild his life, thanks to the "amazing" support he received from Help for Heroes and staff at Headley Court.

"I now feel it's time to give a little back to society," he said.

"Completing the 2014 London Marathon gave me a taste for long-distance running.

"I recently took part in a marathon in Latvia and my next challenge is to complete the Liverpool Marathon and in doing so raise money for a charity I hold dear to my heart."

Daily Echo:

Ben, who was medically discharged from the navy a few weeks after his accident, is hoping to raise at least £1,000 for the CBIA.

He decided to support the charity after wondering what it must be like for youngsters to suffer the same sort of trauma he experienced.

"The armed forces ensured I recovered quicker and faster than I would have done otherwise but children don't have this opportunity," he said.

"I'm raising money for the CBIA to give children hope. With other people's help I can provide support for an amazing charity."

The accident that killed Justine and almost cost Ben his own life happened on the A36 at Landford in 2011.

As reported in the Daily Echo, the couple had spent the weekend visiting relatives in Southampton and were returning to their home in Yeovil, Somerset.

Paramedics and doctors flown in by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Ambulance fought to save Justine's life but she died shortly after being admitted to Southampton General Hospital.

To help Ben raise money go online and visit his donation page, rock-n-roll-liverpool-2016.everydayhero.com/uk/ben