A BIKER told how he is lucky to be alive after being involved in a horror crash.

Paul Ellis, 51, of Sparkbridge, in Laindon, was riding with his friend Laurie Galbraith from Burnham to Finchingfield when their journey took a devastating turn.

Mr Ellis was in collision with another motorcyclist along Wethersfield Road, in Sible Hedingham, on Sunday, June 5.

The other biker, 22-year-old Craig Currie, from Gateshead, died at the scene.

Mr Galbraith received minor injuries and was taken to Basildon Hospital before being discharged.

Mr Ellis, who was riding a Suzuki motorbike, was flown by air ambulance to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, in Cambridge, in a serious condition.

He has made a miracle recovery, but has been warned he will never work again.

He said: “I don’t remember anything of the ride, except for leaving Burnham and stopping once to check my phone.

“The next thing I knew, I was waking up in hospital.”

He had eight broken ribs, fractures to his neck and spine, a fractured left foot and a fractured jaw.

He added: “Apparently some of the broken ribs where from I was given CPR.

“My heart stopped beating while I was in hospital, but it restarted again.

“They didn’t think I would survive.

“I feel very, very blessed – very lucky.”

He has been left with a weak back from his injuries and currently has to wear a neck brace to help his fractures heal.

He will need to learn to walk again once his fractures have mended, and is expected to make a 70 per cent recovery.

Mr Ellis will have to leave his job as a taxi driver, although he is hoping to take early retirement.

It is likely that he will also receive compensation due to the crash.

The father-of-two said hospital staff were “amazed” at his recovery.

He said: “They are hoping to move me to Basildon Hospital when they can find a consultant to take on my case.

“They are over the moon with my recovery and are pleased with the progress I am making.

“The treatment I have had at Addenbrooke’s has been faultless.

“The staff have been fantastic.

“I think if I had been taken to any other hospital, I would not be talking to you now.

“It was a life changing event.

“I wouldn’t want to go through it again, but if I did, I would want to end up in this hospital.”

Mr Ellis put some of his miraculous survival down to the safety gear he was wearing.

He said:“I am going to write a letter to my hat manufacturers,”

“I always wear a back protector, a neck protector and proper boots and gloves.

“My thoughts are with the family of the man who died."