A NETHERTON man who was almost killed in a high-speed horror crash has revealed how accepting a lift from a former schoolfriend has left his life in "turmoil".

Ryan Plimmer suffered life-changing injuries when Timothy Pascal crashed a stolen Ford Fiesta on March 19 after hitting speeds of up to 83mph.

Pascal had suddenly decided to speed up, ignoring repeated pleas from Ryan and his fellow terrified passengers, who begged him to slow down.

The car veered onto the wrong side of the road and Pascal lost control as it hurtled towards a bridge in Halesowen Road, Netherton, before hitting a telegraph pole and catapulting into the canal below.

The 22-year-old, who was a back seat passenger, was told he was lucky to survive the crash, which saw Pascal jailed for five years in May after he admitted three counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, aggravated vehicle taking and attempting to pervert the course of justice.

Ryan suffered a bleed on the brain, torn liver, ripped aorta, burst bladder, broken pelvis and leg and arm fractures.

He has undergone nine surgical procedures to date, has limited mobility and has to use crutches when walking or standing.

The true extent of his brain injury is still unknown and he is currently under the care of a neurosurgeon at Birmingham's Queen Elizabeth Hospital.

“If I had known that the car was stolen there was no way on earth I would have accepted a lift home," Ryan said.

"The consequences of accepting that lift have thrown my life into turmoil.

“I’m trying to remain strong and concentrate on my recovery but it’s difficult when the doctors don’t yet know how much of a recovery I may make.

“I know all too well the terrible impact that speeding has. I now just hope that motorists also see the misery and pain they inflict on others and their families by speeding and in future stick to the limit."

Ryan has now joined his legal team at Irwin Mitchell to support Road Safety Week to warn others about the life-changing consequences of speeding.

Katie Flatman, specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell, which is seeking to help Ryan access funds to pay for his rehabilitation, said: “Ryan’s life, and the lives of his family, have been turned upside down by the reckless actions of the driver who, despite pleas to slow down, was intent on speeding.

“Ryan has made great progress considering the seriousness of his injuries but he still faces a lengthy battle to try and overcome the multitude of injuries sustained in the crash the best he can.

“With our work in helping those injured on the roads through no fault of their own, we regularly see the devastating impact speeding can have on people’s lives. Ryan’s story is the latest example of this.

“Both Irwin Mitchell and Ryan are proud to support Brake’s Road Safety Week.

"We join Ryan in urging selfish and irresponsible drivers who think it is acceptable to break the law to stick to the speed limit and help reduce the number of people seriously hurt or killed because of speeding.”

Road Safety Week runs until November 26 and the theme of this year’s campaign is Speed Down Save Lives.

For more information, visit www.brake.org.uk.