A HEROIC boyfriend lost a leg after saving his girlfriend’s life by pushing her out of the way of a car so it hit him instead.
Ed Bowen, who medically died in the incident and had to be resuscitated in an ambulance, sacrificed himself to save partner Nicola Boraston as they walked home at 2.30am in the morning.
The incident unfolded in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol when the pair were passed by a car being driven up the hill ahead of them.
The out-of-control vehicle then began to reverse at speed towards them and swerved off the road.
Ed, 33, leapt into the path of the car to push Nicola out of the way and she was left with only minor injuries.
However the back of the car pinned Ed to a retaining wall of a garden, crushing his left leg and pelvis, before moving forward and allowing the wall to collapse on top of him.
He underwent 11 hours of surgery, and spent two weeks in intensive care at Southmead Hospital following the incident on October 20.
Surgeons were unable to save his left leg and had to amputate it just below the hip.
He now faces months of recovery in hospital from his shattered pelvis and years of rehabilitation.
“I remember the car hitting me, but I don’t really remember anything too much after that,” he said.
“I have spent most of my working life in care work so it feels weird and a challenge to switch to being cared for now.”
Police arrested the driver, a man aged 30 who has not been named, at the scene and later released him on bail.
Friends of Ed, who is well known in the Stokes Croft area of Bristol as a skateboarder and tattoo artist, have set up a GoFundMe page.
Now, three weeks after the life-changing crash the couple have been overwhelmed by an outpouring of support.
The GoFundMe page set up to help Ed and his family when he is eventually discharged from hospital has already smashed its initial target three times over.
One of the organisers said: “Ed and Nic have honestly been the bravest most inspirational team during this whole time.
“I can’t explain in words how amazing these two are, and as you can imagine, everyone in Southmead Hospital now loves Ed for his relentlessly positive outlook throughout.
“Unfortunately, it is going to be a long journey for rehabilitation and as you can imagine there will be a lot of pressure for Ed when he comes out of hospital.
“Due to the accident Nic and Ed won’t be able to work, so with your help, we would like to relieve any financial strains that they will have to meet.
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“It will make a world of difference by taking away any added stresses when they leave the hospital. At this point I’m sure you can agree this dream team don’t need to go through anymore than they already have,” they added.
“The response has been amazing,” said Ed.
“I have had so many messages from people which have really touched me. I would just like to thank everyone who has donated or got in touch to wish me well.