Athlete recovers from crash to compete and volunteer

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Old are gathering in New York City right now as the Big Apple prepares to host its very first Iron Man competition it is -- ruling race.

Known for profiling endurance athletes who have persevered in their sport.

And in their life.

Especially one young man who battled back from a horrific car accident to return to athletics and even write a book about it.

Here's the book -- joining us now is Brian Boyle tri athlete and honor of author of iron hard.

The true story of how I came back from the dead and -- and you really work.

I was eight times eighteen years old you're in a horrific car accident.

-- tell us a little bit about the injuries first of all.

Catastrophic apartment across the chest -- ribs shutter pelvis collapsed longs.

Lost about sixty some blood the medevac -- to -- shock trauma unit for two months in the -- and in the coma.

Medically induced coma you woke up what after a month and a half but a month into the the two month ordeal okay and you basically wanted to -- I had given up.

But have my parents -- my support system a medical team believe in -- me.

I had to keep going for them.

It's I've been reading the book and it's it's fascinating and it's heartbreaking.

You could hear them you could see them but you couldn't talk.

Couldn't move.

I was very aware you know haven't the sounds round of the sites the most paralyzed and I could communicate that I was aware of what's taken place -- of a living night.

There.

And you -- the very eloquently about how you finally were able to force yourself to smile.

To tell your folks that you're still here and could understand.

You know what if what it was that they were open -- -- It was a comeback -- that that simple civil jester of the phase that smile was my comeback and it's an enjoyment not in the -- and -- my parents for once -- meant the world to me and I was addicted to it I kept going and everything since then has been about with much force.

Well one of the reasons you're wearing that their Red Cross on your lapel is because.

You are -- big booster of the Red Cross now for.

For having collected the blood that kept you alive 36 transfusion that's right 36 transfusions and thirteen thousand treatments and but the run across or five years settled in of this December national Red Cross volunteers spokesperson and and this race for me is extra special because I'm racing in behalf -- my blood donors and America right across it was going to be a great day tomorrow.

We're looking for will will give our viewers an update on on how goes I'd appreciate it wish him luck we sure will will be looking for across the finish line.

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Athlete recovers from crash to compete and volunteer

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