“My son’s future is bleak”: Ex-motorcyclist spends more than a year brain dead and wakes up shortly before being disconnected from life support machines

The life of 28-year-old James Howard-Jones changed radically in April 2022. On the night of the 24th of that month, he had attended a party, where he was beaten by Ben Davies.

James, his father told the Daily Mail, was beaten and fell backwards and hit his head, sustaining the injury that brought him to the brink of death.

Davies, four years his junior, “admitted unintentional grievous bodily harm and was sentenced to two years and four months in prison.”

The events took place in Cheltenham, England.

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Brain death

The injured man was taken to a hospital, where he was unconscious for several weeks and had to undergo several emergency surgeries, the media outlet said.

James, who was an athlete and motorcyclist, became brain dead and remained on life support equipment.

As the attacker’s trial was broadcast, Neil Howard-Jones, James’ father, explained his son’s critical condition, the Daily Mail quoted.

Within the first few weeks, the doctors who treated James told us he was brain dead and the kindest thing was to let him die.

Neil Howard-Jones, father of James

“I was asked questions that no parent should ever ask, like having their organs harvested. We agreed that this should be done and arrangements were made for organ donation.”

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responded

It was precisely in those difficult times when organ donation was involved that the unexpected ‘awakening’ took place.

James miraculously regained consciousness, prosecutor Jack Berry said.

At first everyone was shocked, “he could only make eye contact and couldn’t move or speak.”

The family said, according to the said outlet, that “at the moment he needs help to get out of bed, to go to the bathroom. You can use a wheelchair for a while to avoid fatigue.”

James is fully aware of his new condition and can see how much he has lost.

Attorney Jack Berry

The family receives the news of his awakening with mixed feelings, knowing that he has brain damage and “will require a level of care for the rest of his life”.

The parent is still scared and says, “My son’s future looks rather bleak.”

Judge Martin Picton, in England, told him when he sent the assailant to prison: “You have destroyed the life and hopes of Mr. Howard-Jones, a young man in the prime of his life with everything to live for ( …) The damage you have done is devastating and lifelong for anyone affected by your criminal act.”