Life was good for Dave until November 2019 when tragedy struck. His brother Simon, who had overcome many challenges including depression, finally seemed to be getting his life back on track. The two siblings had rekindled their childhood love of cycling and planned to do a charity ride together in 2020.
However, just three days after Dave’s birthday in late November 2019, Simon was involved in a devastating collision with a car while out riding his bike. Dave received a call with the horrific news that Simon was trapped under the vehicle and had to be rushed to the hospital after his heart stopped beating.
Within a week, Dave and his family received the crushing blow that Simon had suffered a severe brain injury due to lack of oxygen. Facing the agonising decision to take him off life support, Dave was consumed by a torrent of emotions – numbness, confusion, anger, and unrelenting pain.
Desperate for answers and support, Dave reached out to Victim Support who referred him to Aftermath, a charity that assists people impacted by such traumatic losses. His initial call with Aftermath was a lifeline, as the compassionate person on the other end truly listened and understood his turmoil.
From that first conversation, Dave felt an immediate connection. His case worker at Aftermath helped ground him, offering a calm and reassuring presence amid the chaos. They worked through his emotions, provided guidance on navigating the legal system, and connected him with legal representation for pursuing a claim against the driver involved.
Aftermath became Dave’s anchor, helping him regain control and make sense of the unimaginable. Though he still has tough days without his brother, Dave’s life is better thanks to their support. He views the world differently now, with a driving motivation to live in a way that would make Simon proud.
In Dave’s own words: “You think you are alone with this, and you can’t find a way out of the darkness. You are not alone, there is an organisation who can help. They are called Aftermath.”