A LEADING motorcyclist will be spending Christmas recovering from multiple injuries after surviving a horrifying crash. 


Tom McHale. Submitted by Les Trotter Tom McHale suffered a number of serious injuries after falling from his motorbike at a major racing event in China. 

The rising star, who is from Grange, flew across the globe after being specially selected to take part in the Macau Grand Prix in China. 

Mr McHale said: "I competed in the Isle of Man TT this year, which was the biggest race of my career. I did really well and then I got a phone call saying I had been selected to go out to Macau. 

"There are only about 32 racers across the world who go out there so for someone like me to get that phone call is amazing. It's a big thing."

The video below shows a rider on the Macau Grand Prix course:

But the dream turned into a nightmare when the 31-year-old came off his bike at 150mph. 

He said: "I was driving about 150mph but a bike in front of me was slowing down on the racing lane. I had to go round and I lost control. I can't remember anything from that point."

Mr McHale's parents were watching on a television screen in a pit stop and described how the panic set in once they knew their son was in trouble. 

His father, John McHale, said: "We were in a garage in the pits so we saw it on the screen. 

"We just saw the colour of the leathers and the bike came back spinning. At that point we thought it was Tom or his team mate but we'd seen him so we knew it was Tom."

Mr McHale was taken to hospital where it was discovered he had broken 24 bones, including five vertebrae, ripped the roof of his mouth from his jaw and had a haemotoma on the brain and liver.

His mother, Julie McHale said: "The first 48 hours were touch and go. It was pretty scary. After his operation he could open his eyes but he didn't know anything. 

"It took seven or eight days before he could recognise anything. Then he smiled at me and it was just incredible. Something like that just makes you so happy."

The family have been overwhelmed by the support of friends who are now rallying together to raise money for a new bike and leathers to get their racing hero back on the road. 

Despite his horrific injuries, Mr McHale is more determined than ever to get back in the saddle and is refusing to let the incident mar his future. 

He said: "I need to wait for my arm to heal. If that repairs OK I will be back on the bike next year. The aim is to compete in the TT next year. It's only the movement in my hands that would stop me. 

"When you love doing something that much it just becomes your passion."