A PENSIONER has made a remarkable recovery after suffering serious head injuries when a three-tone motorhome fell on his face.

Keith Tyler, 72, was at Fort Rowner in Gosport changing the wheels on the motorhome he had bought to enjoy his retirement and travel around Europe in.

He had jacked up the four wheels to replace them, when one of the scissor jacks he was using gave way while he was underneath the vehicle.

The vehicle fell straight onto his head during the incident on October 30.

His wife Tina, 70, told the Daily Echo her husband was in a 'pool of blood'.

"I couldn't lift the van," she said.

"I turned away to shout and see if someone could hear me while phoning for the ambulance. When I turned back, he had managed to get himself out.

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"He went to step forward and blood went everywhere and he just fell by the car.

"I came around the side of the car and was very shocked to see him sat in a pool of blood."

The emergency services came and he was taken by ambulance to A&E.

However, when Tina didn't have anybody to take her to hospital, a kind policeman gave her a lift and stayed with her.

Tina said: "The policeman, Josh (Cottrell), said, 'Don't worry, I will take you'."

She added: "Josh stayed with me until I was told to go to the visitor room."

Tina was told in A&E that her husband may not survive his injuries.

A nurse at Southampton General Hospital said they were the worst head injuries she has ever seen anyone survive.

"I just collapsed," she said.

His injuries included breaks and fractures to many bones in his face, jaw and skull, contusions to his lungs, and a possible brain infection.

Keith stayed in intensive care until December. He says he remembers nothing of the first few weeks because he was in a coma.

But he has praised police officer Josh, who he called a "very, very nice chap".

He added: "I just wanted to thank everyone involved."

It was a long road to recovery. He was treated at the neuro-rehabilitation unit at Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.

On New Year's Eve, he was able to have his first shower since October. Physiotherapists helped him walk a few steps.

But it wasn't until February 1 that he was able to come home.

Tina said: "I did not stop to think how I was doing, I was just getting on with it. I was just visiting him every day, getting home and then having a meal.

"I am just glad to have him back with me as part of the Tyler team. I feel back to my own self. It's a time I hope to never have to go back again."

Keith has since been able to meet Josh, who had stayed in regular touch with his wife.

"For him and Josh to meet it was amazing," Tina said.

"I just want to say how wonderful the responders and police were. We will stay in touch."

Last month, Keith was able to go to Lindos in Greece to give his daughter, Karen Anthony, 44, away at her wedding.

He says giving his daughter away was "fantastic", and that he did not feel any pain throughout the experience.

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