Adam Billic

A Coventry man is taking on his biggest challenge since surviving a freak accident four years ago when a large tree branch snapped off and smashed through the windscreen of the car he was travelling in, hitting him in the head.

Former police officer Adam Bilic, from Wyken, sustained two bleeds on the brain, a fractured eye socket, a fractured jaw and was placed in a medically induced coma for eight days following the shock accident.

The 33-year-old’s world changed in an instant on that stormy evening in February 2022, but now he’s putting his best foot forward as he takes on the Adidas Manchester Marathon on April 19 in support of brain injury charity Headway UK and mental health charity Andy’s Man Club.

Adam had been visiting loved ones with his ex-partner and her brother when they made the journey home from Warwick on the evening of the accident.

He said: “We were probably about 10 minutes into the journey when a tree snapped in half and came through the windscreen. I have no recollection of the accident, only leaving to start the journey.

“Weirdly enough, there was a patient transport ambulance behind us.”

Adam was assessed at the scene before being blue lighted to University Hospital Coventry & Warwickshire, where thankfully his ex, who worked as a major trauma nurse, was able to flag a neurosurgeon to explain the extent of Adam’s injuries.

“The neurosurgeon immediately took me through and sedated me for a CT scan,” he said.

“They found that I had two bleeds on the brain, a fractured eye socket and fractured jaw. From then I was put into a coma for eight days.”

Adam says he doesn’t remember much of his time in hospital recovering and describes the whole ordeal as a “very surreal experience.”

He said: “People tell me there's probably more chance of winning the lottery - it would have been nicer if it was that way around!

“I think to meet me, people wouldn't think that I've been in a car accident and have a brain injury. I continue to live with the physical scars, as well as the cognitive, emotional, and behavioural effects it has had on me since that night.

“In many ways, I am not the same person I was before, but I’m incredibly fortunate to have recovered in the way that I have.

Adam said he struggled to grasp what had happened and why for the first 12 months after the accident and went through periods of irritability, fatigue and cognitive effects.

He had to leave his career with West Midlands Police and retire from playing football semi-professionally with Atherstone Town, something that was a “huge part of my life”, he says.

He said: “I then came to the realisation of do I go another three, four, five years and stay where I was, dwelling on what I can’t change? Or do I change my approach and do something positive with it?

“And that’s why I’m running the Manchester Marathon. I’m determined to raise awareness around recovery and life with the challenges after a brain injury.

“This will be my biggest challenge and achievement since my accident, and I’ll be completing it alongside some of my close friends and raising funds for two important charities: Headway UK and Andy’s Man Club.

“These charities are very personal to me; helping others living with a brain injury and raising awareness around mental health- especially for those who may not have been as fortunate as I have.”

Eden Harlow, Fundraising Coordinator at Headway UK, said: “Adam has bravely shared his story to highlight the reality of living with a brain injury as well as offer hope to fellow survivors.

“We’re so grateful to him for taking on the Manchester Marathon in aid of Headway UK, where his fundraising efforts will make a huge difference in supporting others facing life after brain injury.”

Adam added: “I’ve learned that things don’t always go to plan, and that’s okay. Sometimes you find another way, and sometimes you realise the path you imagined wasn’t the one meant for you.”

You can donate to Adam’s fundraiser here.