Simon Clark, 45, from Gloucestershire, survived what medics described as unimaginable trauma after a brutal car crash left him internally decapitated—his skull virtually separated from his spine. Despite suffering severe brain injuries, over two dozen fractures, multiple organ damage, and a critical tear in his heart’s main artery, Simon’s story is one of extraordinary resilience.
The tragic crash, which claimed the life of his partner Lindy who was driving at the time, occurred on a blind bend when their car collided with an oncoming vehicle. Simon recalls the impact vividly: “I took the full brunt on my left side. My head was only connected by skin, muscles, nerves — it was like a chicken with its neck broken.”
Medics placed Simon into a medically induced coma at the scene. He awoke two months later to the devastating news of Lindy’s death and the grim prognosis that he would likely never walk, speak, or breathe unaided again. “I drifted between survivor’s guilt and hopelessness. At one point, I even tried to bite my tongue off,” Simon recalls.
The darkest moments came when visitors left, and hospital staff finished their shifts, leaving him alone with the beeping of machines—a silence filled only by his helplessness. Yet, amidst the physical and emotional wreckage, Simon discovered an inner strength. He resolved not to accept this as his fate.
“I chose to fight. I made a firm decision to walk out of the hospital unaided within six months.” With no control over his body, Simon focused on reclaiming his mind, creating a mental sanctuary where ‘Simon’ could survive the horrors surrounding him.
His progress was painstakingly slow—mastering eyelid movement to communicate, then finger twitches, and eventually basic limb movements. “Learning to walk again has been excruciating and is still painful,” he admits.
After discharge, Simon embraced Nordic Walking, guided by physiotherapist Melissa Domaile. This full-body exercise slowly increased his endurance—from short walks to trekking Everest Base Camp less than five years post-accident. Today, he has conquered the Icelandic Highlands, scaled Mount Toubkal, and is preparing for a trek to the North Pole.
The road has been grueling. Simon faces ongoing challenges, including limited lung capacity, heart issues requiring his heart rate to stay below 120 bpm, chronic pain, PTSD, anxiety, and depression. His body’s temperature regulation is impaired, necessitating upcoming cold weather testing in Svalbard.
Yet, Simon’s resilience shines brightest in his dedication to physical exercise and nature. “Walking in the hills cures most problems, and those it can’t, it puts into perspective,” he says.
Simon Clark’s journey is a powerful testament to human endurance, the healing power of will, and the restorative strength found in nature.