'Miracle' man survives after having head ripped from spine in horrifying car crash

A bricklayer who had his head ripped from his spine in an horrific car crash, has survived against the odds.

Tony Cowan's heart stopped and he had to be resuscitated by paramedics at the scene before being rushed to hospital under police escort.

And today, Tony is hoping to soon be allowed to go home and be with his family, and he is determined to get back to the life he once had.


Tony's car accident took place on September 9 last year, when his car hit a speed-bump, spun out of control and wrapped around a telephone pole, the Newcastle Chronicle reports.

His heart stopped and he had to be resuscitated by paramedics at the scene before being rushed to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary by police escort.


He had sustained a C2 fracture to his neck and complete spinal cord injury - an injury medics have described as almost "unsurvivable".

And after scans showed he had no brain activity the decision was to turn his life support machine off.

But after his partner of ten years Karen Dawson, mother Pepsi Cowan, and the rest of his devastated family said their farewells, Tony opened his eyes and showed he was determined to live.

And he has amazed medics who say he is not brain damaged - even though his head was snapped off from his spine and was only being held in place by tissue and muscle.

Consultant neuro-surgeon Anant Kamat reattached Tony's skull to his spine with a metal plate and bolts in a rare operation - and now Tony hopes to soon go home.

(Daily Mirror)