Introduction to the Miracle Man
This page chronicles the recovery journey of Lewis Roberts after a severe brain injury when aged eighteen. The following bullet points provide an outline of the narrative structure presented here.
- Life background – growing up, interests and work path
- Principal brain injury – collision as a pedestrian with an uncontrolled motor vehicle
- Second brain injury – falling against a radiator following a seizure at home
- Recovery milestone – feeling more normal
- My introduction to Lewis
Lewis suffered near-catastrophic head injuries on 13th March 2021, after being struck by a delivery van as he was walking along a pavement in his home town of Leek in Staffordshire. Lewis underwent emergency neurosurgery at the Royal Stoke hospital in Stoke-on-Trent to relieve pressure from the bleeding on his brain. Unfortunately, Lewis’s post-operative condition exhibited no improvement.
On 17th March, family members were regretfully informed that Lewis had suffered brain stem death; nothing more could be done for him and he’d sadly passed away at the age of eighteen. Lewis’s mother Julie benevolently agreed that his organs should be donated to help needful patients; his family were advised to say their goodbyes. Lewis was kept on a life support machine solely to maintain (hibernate) his organs – this clinical approach brought Lewis extra time.
Just hours before Lewis’s planned organ donation surgery, his sister Jade at his hospital bedside witnessed a change on his monitoring equipment. Jade immediately relayed the occurrence to clinical staff, who recognised it as evidencing Lewis exhibiting independent breathing activity. The family feel that the outcome was akin to a miracle, more they could have dreamt for after he’d been officially certified as dead and the coroner informed of such.
Media Coverage of Lewis
Lewis’s story gained much media coverage, some of the following web articles may help the reader gain a rapid overview of events.
- BBC News article entitled “Miracle teen recovering after Leek van crash“
- Daily Mail newspaper article entitled “Incredible moment teenager, 18, who was declared brain-dead blinks and starts breathing on his own“
- Stoke Sentinel newspaper article entitled “Miracle teen’s first heart-melting words six months after being certified dead“
- The Daily Telegraph (Australia) newspaper – video sequence
Life Background
Introduction
Lewis was born on 11th July, 2002 – was aged twenty-three in January 2026.
During his childhood years and early adulthood he resided in Blackshaw Moor, a village between Leek (Staffordshire) and Buxton (Derbyshire)
Sporting Interests
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Army Recruit Training
Lewis began his army journey in May 2020 when aged seventeen, he joined recruitment training in Winchester, Hampshire. Shortly afterwards, the covid-19 pandemic struck and the recruits were temporarily sent home for several weeks. Lewis returned to Winchester when training resumed after the lockdowns ended. However, the time spent back home, especially being close to his girlfriend at the time, made the adjustment difficult for him.
The day before his pass-out parade (aged eighteen), Lewis made the decision to return home and subsequently didn’t complete the training course. Being away for long periods felt overwhelming, and although he later regretted leaving, it was the choice he felt he had to make at the time. His sergeants saw great potential in him and encouraged him to stay, knowing how capable he was, but ultimately Lewis chose to return home.
Steeplejack Apprenticeship
Aged 18, Lewis began apprentice steeplejack training (which he loved), working in many sites across the UK
Principal Brain Injury – Road Accident
This section chronicles Lewis’s period of hospitalisation and recovery following him being hit by the out of control delivery van in what is legally termed a road traffic collision (RTC).
It’s followed by the section Second Brain Injury – Seizure at Home, which was an entirely new brain injury. This resulted from Lewis falling and banging his head on a radiator after his discharge to home, subsequent to making progress from his vehicle accident head injury.
Road Traffic Collision
On 13.03.2021, when aged 18, Lewis was hit by an out of control delivery van while he was walking along a pavement in Leek.
Sibling Love and Devotion
The following Facebook message was posted by Jade, describing events on the day she’d visited Lewis in critical care with the likelihood of saying “Goodbye.”
We are literally unsure where to start. Posting on behalf of the whole family. Yesterday at Royal Stoke hospital, after taking out numerous tests, they told us Lewis had given up the fight – no response and had suffered brain stem death.
We signed forms and had conversations you’d never believe. This morning we intended to say our final goodbyes. Lewis was officially certified as dead yesterday, his death was reported to the coroner.
I headed up to hospital at midnight with Emily [Lewis’s girlfriend], our brother and sister-in-law. I held Lewis’s hand and asked him to breathe after 1-2-3. We’d been hoping for a brown line to appear on his monitor for many days – it would have shown he’d taken a breath for himself, but we had nothing.
At midnight, when I said “1-2-3 breathe Lewis” – a brown line showed. The middle line of the video shows the brown line, which is Lewis taking a breath for himself.
We were initially told by staff “No, it must be an error – impossible.” They are sorry and they understand it’s such a difficult time for the family. We agreed, now Lewis can hear us, that isn’t an inconvenience.
We got back home to a phone call – “Lewis is breathing now.” His eyes were dilating, while before we had nothing – zero. We’d been told he was brain dead and had suffered brain stem death and was officially certified as dead. The hospital, family, etc. cannot even believe the miracle. The hospital said they’ve never witnessed this and Lewis is only the second person in the whole world to do this! Mega mega mixed emotions, just absolutely unbelievable. Please keep praying. We are obviously so overwhelmed after hearing that we’d lost our boy.
They’ve apologised and recorded that they’ve made a major error which will be investigated. But our boy is here. He’s breathing fully on his own, which we were told would be impossible… ❤️
Jade’s tattoo displays the change in life support monitoring activity which she noticed on the day that Lewis’s life support equipment was expected to be turned off
Hospitalisation
Lewis was admitted to the Royal Stoke hospital in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire where his brain was operated on. It’s important to recognise the time period as being at the height of covid-19 lockdowns:
- Family access to hospital patients was rigorously managed, such that in-person visiting was often disallowed
- Supervised remote Zoom calls was often the only means of contact
- Visitors had to wear face masks and hospital staff wore full PPE clothing
After four days, neuro-consultants determined that in accordance with protocol of the time, Lewis had suffered brain-stem death – he was officially declared dead
Lewis’s mother signed paperwork to allow his organs to be donated for others in need
On the day when prospective organ donor recipients were identified, Jade visited on 17.03.2021 to say “Goodbye”; she observed a critical change in his monitoring equipment which evidenced breathing activity – she alerted staff
Doctors reviewed matters and determined that Lewis hadn’t suffered brain-stem death, he remained in critical care and then suitable neuro wards at the Royal Stoke hospital
Lewis emerged from his coma while in the company of his mother, uttering his first words on 18th September 2021: “I love you mum, you’re the best.”
After a further two months at the Royal Stoke hospital, Lewis was discharged to the STEPS rehabilitation centre.
STEPS Rehabilitation Centre
Sheffield for fourteen months
Home Recovery
Stuff about how his recovery at home was progressing
Second Brain Injury – Seizure at Home
Lewis had an epileptic seizure (passed out) at home, resulting in him falling and banging his head again a radiator. The event happened on the day which he was due to see a nurse regarding his frequent seizures – the likely outcome of this meeting would have been him given a helmet to wear to lessen the risk due to future seizures.
Hospitalisation
Lewis was admitted to the Royal Stoke hospital in March 2023, where he again underwent neurosurgery due to a brain bleed and loss of conscientiousness.
After six weeks in hospital, Lewis was discharged home – aged 20
Home Recovery
Stuff about how his recovery at home was progressing
Lewis’s frustration and anger returned
Moorlands Neurological Centre
In May 2023, Lewis was admitted to the Moorlands neurological centre (Elysium) near Cheadle, where he remained for over twelve months.
Lewis’s principal carer at Moorlands was Clare Grocott, who Lewis and his family feel forever indebted to for the care she exhibited. Lewis made a wooden plaque, incorporating a poignant message via burned in lettering, as a tribute to Clare.
Assisted Living
Rather than immediately be returned to home, Lewis was discharged to an assisted living facility near Cannock, Staffordshire
After making very good progress in supervised care at Moorlands, in July 2024 Lewis was discharged to an assisted living facility near Cannock
Lewis was responsible for making his own meals and living independently
Home Recovery
Lewis was discharged to home in October 2024
In November 2024 – Lewis commenced reconstructive surgery (part 1 of 3) on his head at the Royal Stoke hospital
Recovery Milestone
In September 2025, Lewis had gone two years without experiencing an epileptic seizure – this is considered a significant milestone in Lewis’s recovery.
In conversation with Lewis, he suggested one of the most significant milestones was being able to independently walk from his home in Blackshaw Moor to Tittesworth reservoir, complete a lap, then return home – perhaps a seven mile / three hour undertaking.
In October 2025, Lewis was using Headway services four times a week, as well as undertaking a physical exercise routine with a personal trainer.
In October 2025, Lewis, his step-father Nigel and myself went outdoor swimming at a lake near Whitchurch in Shropshire.
My Introduction to Lewis
I became acquainted with Lewis, his mother Julie and his sister Jade at the Moorlands Neurological Centre (Elysium) in Cheadle, Staffordshire, where Lewis was undertaking neuro-behavioural therapy. The staff member with oversight of Lewis’s care, Clare Grocott, was aware of my recovery from brain injury and had the idea to invite me to a patients / family & friends forum at the centre on 14th May 2024. As well as being pivotal in Lewis’s care, I learned that Clare worked at the Royal Stoke hospital during my period on the neurological ward in 2015, and had facilitated my discharge to the Haywood hospital.
I chatted with ‘team Lewis’ for about twenty minutes – there was something which I found captivating about the family unit. I immediately resolved to pursue Lewis while he was embarking on the next phase of his recovery journey. I made the following diary notes later that evening:
- Lewis (aged 21) – inspirational manner
- Sister – feisty sibling devotion
- Mother – beautiful dignity
When Lewis and I were walking in Leek town centre, we entered an oatcake shop (Staffordshire savoury food) for a second time in an attempt to buy more oatcakes following my initial purchase. The counter staff informed Lewis that his dad (myself) had just purchased the last dozen – we found it hilarious.🙂
The left photo is of Lewis wearing a wig I gave him, while at the Royal Stoke hospital during an early stage of reconstructive surgery on his skull
Miscellaneous Photos of Lewis
