This is Plymouth -- A MAN who was paralysed in a motorbike crash in the 1970s died from organ failure 34 years later, an inquest heard. Richard Townsend, then aged 18, was the pillion passenger on a bike which collided with a car in Plympton in 1979. His injuries left him paralysed from the waist down, and he suffered various medical problems over the following three decades. In a statement read to Plymouth Coroner's Court today, Mr Townsend's father Robert described the collision. "A car pulled out and the motorcycle hit it broadside," he said. "He was thrown into the air and when he landed his back hit the pavement. He was paralysed from the waist down. "He kept getting infections and in order to try to treat them he had both hips cut away. Because of his paralysis the wounds never healed, so over the last 30 years he had recurring infections. "He was in and out of hospital all the time, then things started getting worse. The infections started to affect all the organs." The court heard Richard was admitted to Derriford Hospital on August 22 last year, and died two days later. He was 52. Dr Rebecca Appelboam, intensive care consultant, said he was suffering septic shock, chronic pelvic sepsis and organ failure, believed to be as a result of being paralysed. Robert Townsend said he was not sure whether anyone was ever prosecuted over the crash, but remembers his son receiving a settlement at Exeter Magistrates' Court. Assistant Coroner Andrew Cox said: "Richard...was a completely innocent victim of this incident, and I am going to find that he died as the result of an accident."
Reported by This is 8 hours ago.
This is Plymouth -- A MAN who was paralysed in a motorbike crash in the 1970s died from organ failure 34 years later, an inquest heard. Richard Townsend, then aged 18, was the pillion passenger on a bike which collided with a car in Plympton in 1979. His injuries left him paralysed from the waist down, and he suffered various medical problems over the following three decades. In a statement read to Plymouth Coroner's Court today, Mr Townsend's father Robert described the collision. "A car pulled out and the motorcycle hit it broadside," he said. "He was thrown into the air and when he landed his back hit the pavement. He was paralysed from the waist down. "He kept getting infections and in order to try to treat them he had both hips cut away. Because of his paralysis the wounds never healed, so over the last 30 years he had recurring infections. "He was in and out of hospital all the time, then things started getting worse. The infections started to affect all the organs." The court heard Richard was admitted to Derriford Hospital on August 22 last year, and died two days later. He was 52. Dr Rebecca Appelboam, intensive care consultant, said he was suffering septic shock, chronic pelvic sepsis and organ failure, believed to be as a result of being paralysed. Robert Townsend said he was not sure whether anyone was ever prosecuted over the crash, but remembers his son receiving a settlement at Exeter Magistrates' Court. Assistant Coroner Andrew Cox said: "Richard...was a completely innocent victim of this incident, and I am going to find that he died as the result of an accident."
Reported by This is 8 hours ago.