(Picture: Ross Parry)

Liam Reid’s wedding day wasn’t exactly how he’d pictured it.

Six days beforehand, he’d shattered his left leg in a horrific accident, and was told by doctors that he may never walk again.

But Liam put on his suit, sat in a wheelchair, and got married – because nothing would stop him from tying the knot with his fiancée of five years, Jimena Vergara-Lincoqueo.

Liam had been cycling home from work when he was clipped by a car that had cut in front of him.


He landed in a heap on the side of the road, but didn’t realise just how badly he had been injured. He managed to call Jimena, who was on her way to the wedding photographer to pick up the guest book.

(Picture: Ross Parry)

When he was taken to hospital, Liam discovered he’d need a blood transfusion – and he had broken his left leg in two places.



If it hadn’t have been for a passerby who bandaged Liam up, doctors say he may have lost his leg, or died.

‘I was cycling home which wasn’t the best idea a week before your wedding, but such is life,’ said Liam.

‘He [the driver] was turning right against the traffic and gave me about 10 feet of stopping distance.

(Picture: Ross Parry)

‘I was probably doing 25mph on a push bike. I clattered into him and put a big dent in his van.

‘I laid on the floor looking down at my leg thinking I’ve got away with that because everything was pointing in the right direction, or so I thought.

‘As I was waiting for the paramedics, a passerby, who just happened to be a first aider, bandaged me up.

‘To this day, I wish I’d got his name to say thank you – doctors have since said that he saved my leg and probably my life.

‘When in hospital, I thought to myself, ‘how the hell has this happened?'”

(Picture: Ross Parry)

After a seven hour operation, however, Liam felt positive. He asked the ward manager if there was any chance he and Jimena would be able to get married in six days time.

The odds were pretty poor. Liam desperately needed time to heal, and doctors advised that they couldn’t discharge him from the hospital unless he could do a list of tasks, including standing up, going to the toilet, and lifting objects.

As we mentioned, Liam was pretty determined.

Over the next six days he set to work, with the help of the incredible staff at the hospital.

‘We brought up the fact that we were getting married in six days, but were told in the nicest way possible that it wouldn’t be possible for the wedding to go ahead,’ said Liam.

(Picture: Ross Parry)

‘We had spent years planning it and a lot of money I was determined that no matter what they said I was going to take my bride down the aisle.

‘One nurse called me Mr Groom all week which meant a lot, as it gave me confidence.

‘By Friday, my fiancée had sourced a wheelchair with a leg extension and a big car.



‘Then on Saturday morning, it was confirmed that I was allowed to get married, with the agreement that I needed to come back the next day for further help.’

(Picture: Ross Parry)

On the Saturday, Liam put on his suit, altered by his mum to allow for his injuries, was pushed down the aisle, and said his vows to Jimena. They had planned to fly to Barcelona for a honeymoon afterwards, but that didn’t work out. Instead, the couple returned to hospital.

‘It was such a lovely wedding, if a bit surreal given the extremely unusual build up to it,’ says Liam.

‘The first time I had sat in a wheelchair in my life was being pushed back down the aisle by Jimena.’

After months of recovery and hard work, Liam is able to walk again.

(Picture: Ross Parry)

‘I was in a wheelchair for around two months, then after physiotherapy and hydrotherapy I learned to walk with crutches,’ explains Liam.

‘I was told I might not be able to walk, I have done that although walking up and downstairs is difficult.

‘They told me I would never be able to drive a car and I have done that even if it is an automatic.

“They told me I would not be able to cycle again and I am determined to do that, I am the type of person who, if told I can’t do something, is determined to prove them wrong.’

He now plans to complete the Changing Wheels Challenge – a 160 mile coast to coast bicycle ride for Sheffield Hospitals Charity.


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