A MUSICIAN from York who was severely injured in a hit-and-run crash can get back behind his drums after making a remarkable recovery.

Lee Johnstone, 34, suffered a head injury, severe facial cuts, fractures to his spine, ankle and arm, a dislocated hip, nerve damage to his right eye and bruising of the lungs when he was struck by a car while crossing a road in Leeds city centre in 2008.

The motorist drove off without reporting the accident, leaving Lee for dead, but he was spotted lying injured in the road by a passenger in a taxi, who called the emergency services.

Mr Johnstone was in a coma for weeks and stayed in hospital for several months but law firm Irwin Mitchell says that once he was discharged, its specialist client liaison managers helped him access physiotherapy and care from social services, before arranging an interim payment from the defendants to cover private rehabilitation for his severe hand injury and treatment to help him come to terms with his injuries.

Now the firm says it has secured an undisclosed settlement for him and helped him access vital rehabilitation services to regain the movement in his hand, so he can go back to college and continue to pursue his dream of becoming a music producer. It has also introduced him to brain injury charity Headway in York.

A spokesman said the driver, who was later found and prosecuted, was under the influence of drink and drugs and had abandoned his car, ripping out the ignition wires to make it look as if it had been stolen.

Mr Johnstone, who at the time of the accident was a finance assistant and a keen drummer, initially struggled to get back to playing after the crash. He will always suffer from memory problems and has restricted movement in his wrist but has recovered well both physically and psychologically. After a period of living with his parents because of his care needs, he now lives independently, with support, in York, and is looking forward to moving on.

He said: “This crash could have ruined my life but I’ve been determined to get back on my feet and I am very thankful to everyone that has helped me, especially my family who have supported me so much.

“Thanks to the settlement I can now live independently and go back to college knowing I have some security should I need support again in future.”

Joanne Ewart, Irwin Mitchell’s specialist serious injury lawyer, said: “Since this terrible hit-and- run incident Lee has made a remarkable recovery and it is testament to the rehabilitation he has received that he is now looking to get his life back on track.

“He is an inspiration to other people seriously injured in road accidents. Lee is fortunate that we have been able to help him to access the necessary rehabilitation to help him regain the most of the use of his hand which means he can now return to drumming in his band. The settlement we secured has given him the security to be able to achieve this while he continues his recovery from injury.”