Speedway legend Tai Woffinden fights back tears as he admits he’s ‘lucky to be alive’ following horror crash that left him in a coma

• Tai Woffinden broke more than 15 bones in a horror speedway crash in March
• The three-time world champion was placed in a coma after multiple surgeries
• Woffinden has now provided a fresh update on his gruelling recovery process 

By YASEEN ZAMAN

Three-time world speedway champion Tai Woffinden has opened up on his recovery process after suffering a crash that left him fighting for his life in a coma.

The 34-year-old, regarded as Britain’s most successful rider in the sport, is now walking again following the catastrophic incident during a race in Krosno, Poland, in March.

Woffinden suffered more than 15 broken bones — including a double compound femur fracture, shattered humerus, 12 broken ribs and a dislocated shoulder — after being thrown into the air fence at high speed.

He was airlifted to hospital and placed in a medically induced coma after undergoing multiple major surgeries.

Woffinden, who has represented Great Britain at the highest level for more than a decade, was in attendance at the British Speedway Grand Prix at Belle Vue in Manchester over the weekend.

When asked how he is feeling, three months on from the incident, he said: ‘Like a broken 80-year-old man.

Tai Woffinden has provided a fresh update on his recovery process after his crash in March

The three-time world speedway champion suffered life-threatening injuries as a result of the horror incident

Woffinden has posted pictures of some of his scars online after breaking more than 15 bones

‘But look, the last seven weeks have been really tough – a lot of rehab, four-five hours a day Monday to Friday, you get the weekends off – now I’m back in the gym with Kirk in the UK.

‘Was at the gym this morning and yesterday and we’re planning on staying here in England for a little bit longer and then focus on the gym work now rather than the rehab.’

Woffinden then admitted he may require further surgery as a result of his injuries. 

He continued: ‘I got another scan at the end of the month which will determine if I need a second operation on my arm – my right humerus. Fingers crossed I don’t, but if I do, I do and yeah we’ll just deal with it.

‘It’s a mindset, you know. At a young age I got my black belt in martial arts in Australia, the second youngest. And I transferred over to Speedway and then won my world championships.

‘Everything I do I put 110 per cent into and rehab and recovering from broken bones I have the same mindset and we just get after it.’

The Scunthorpe-born speedster went on to address his potential return to Speedway.

When asked if a comeback in the near future would be too soon, he conceded: ‘Yeah,’ before explaining that he misses riding his bike, rather than racing specifically.

The crash took place in a race in Poland, and Woffinden still has a ways to go in his recovery

Woffinden pictured in Manchester during last year’s British Speedway Championship Final

Woffinden then fought back tears as he simply admitted he is grateful to still be alive.

He added: ‘It was a tough one you know, I woke up from the coma and was like I’m done, I don’t want to deal with this again.

‘And some days go by and I’m like, yeah I fancy having a ride, maybe not racing but maybe ride my bike again.

‘It’s way too soon. I don’t know what my future has to hold and I’m just happy to be alive.’

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Speedway legend Tai Woffinden fights back tears as he admits he’s ‘lucky to be alive’ following horror crash that left him in a coma

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