Motorcyclist thanks community response after devastating crash
Kingsley Elliff, 66, says his local community helped him to stay positive after a devastating motorcycle accident. Photo: Kingsley Elliff - Credit: Archant
Despite breaking several bones in a motorcycle crash, Kingsley Elliff was able to remain positive with help from neighbours.
At the end of July, the 66-year-old was riding his new Harley Davidson through his home town of Halesworth when he was involved in a devastating collision which put him in hospital for four days.
He said: "It's a T-junction with poor visibility. The car went one way and I went under the car."
"I woke up in hospital, and I had broken my shoulder in two places, broken seven ribs, collapsed a lung because of all the bruising, and I broke a bone a middle finger.
"Apart from obvious shock, it left me pretty incapacitated."
Mr Elliff, who describes himself as "famous for Halesworth" and "well known for being outspoken on all sorts of things, and having fun banter with people", said he was surprised to wake up in hospital and see a Facebook post made about the accident.
"I have a pretty noticeable motorcycle and people were asking if I was alright and what happened. When they knew it was me it went from that to wonderful banter - people saying I'm a pain in the arse but I'm their pain in the arse," he said.
Most Read
- 1 'A very special place' - New mayor privileged to serve town
- 2 'We've had parents in tears' - The church fighting school uniform poverty
- 3 Vandals damage fence and gate in night-time incident
- 4 Call to back campaign to win £20,000 of primary school sports gear
- 5 Town's walk and talk scheme helps locals connect to the community
- 6 New hair salon opens up with its very own puppy on the premises
- 7 Hospital opens £1.2m eye operation theatre to cut waiting times
- 8 Beer from Lidl and vegan chocolates among items recalled over safety fears
- 9 Data reveals 'inadequate' Suffolk schools starting again as academies
- 10 Snap survey - Patients ignored health conditions after GP waits
After he was finally able to go home, the avid biker said he was shocked by how kind the community had been in responding.
"Wherever we went people - some I knew and some I had never met - were saying thank goodness I was alright.
"I had an 83-year-old man knock on my door and ask if I wanted any shopping.
"The outpouring of love and affection is amazing. It shows what a beautiful, fantastic town Halesworth is. It's the best place I have ever lived."
Mr Elliff added he had struggled with his mental health until recently.
He said: "I've not always been so positive, it put things into perspective and got me out of a desperate position."
"It's all very much in the mind how you approach things," he said.