A footballer who lost both legs in a hit-and-run has said that he was kept alive by the thought of marrying his fiancée.
Shaun Whiter, 28, was run over by a car while changing a tire for a friend. He begged for help as the driver reversed and sped off as he lay fighting for his life.
Pal Joey Abbs, 31, was crushed alongside the semi-pro footballer and unable to help as blood gushed his friend's mangled legs.
Fortunately, despite the severe pain, Shaun was able to call the emergency services. He told the Sunday People: "I still can't get over the fact that another man just left me there to die. We could have died. I understand that panic sets in but how can you do that?
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"In hospital, the moment I realised I had lost my legs the first thing I did was to ask my fiancée Charlotte if we were still getting married.
"When she said yes, the next thing I said was that I was going to walk down the aisle."
The driver, Jan Adamec, 40, was jailed on Friday for two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving, with Shaun Whiter giving testimony in court.
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Shaun said: "He could have handed himself in to police and made sure we were OK but he didn't do anything.
"He said he thought he hit a deer at first, but that's rubbish. He knew what he had done.
"That man has changed my life... forever. I have to start again. I'm having to re-learn how to live."
The Czech-born dad of two was sentenced to 40 months by the judge.
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This week Shaun, whose legs were amputated below the knees, will have his first fitting for artificial limbs. And he says that his most important step will be at his wedding.
Shaun said: "That is the day I will walk down the aisle."
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