Man who somehow survived car crash that ripped his head from his spine marries his childhood sweetheart in hospital before switching off life support
Tony Cowan spent the last two years on a ventilator after a horrific accident where he lost control of his car
A MAN who somehow survived a car crash that ripped his head from his spine married his childhood sweetheart in hospital before switching off his life machine.
Tony Cowan spent the last two years on a ventilator after a horrific accident where he lost control of his car and suffered a neck injury so severe medics described it as almost "unsurvivable".
The determined 31-year-old fought to live as normally as possible with partner of almost 12 years, Karen Dawson, but just before Christmas the pain became too much and told his family he wanted to switch off the machine.
But before doing so Tony, from Chester-le-Street, County Durham, wanted to keep to the promise he made to Karen years ago - that they would be married.
The pair finally said their vows on December 16 and four days later he asked medics to turn off the the life support.
Proud wife Karen, who has taken Tony's surname Cowan, said: “We got married four days before he died in hospital (University Hospital of North Durham).
“I went to visit him on the Friday and by 4.45pm we were married. It was just with family.
“It was amazing and it was happy and sad because we knew what was coming.
"He always wanted to get married but we just never got round to it.”
The pair said their vows in Tony’s hospital room which was decorated by staff using fairy lights, sheets on chairs and aprons as ribbons.
Karen, 29, who wore jeans, boots and a blouse bought on the spur of the moment, praised the hospital team for their help and generosity which saw a matron run home to collect items from her recent wedding.
Although they had their wedding booked for May, Tony decided to bring it forward due to the pain he was in.
He was laid to rest with the wedding dress his bride would have worn.
“He would have carried on living like that, it was just the pain,” she added.
“There was nothing they could do.”
Karen was her husband’s full-time carer and from March 2016 until December looked after him at their home.
Although he battled with pneumonia and chest infections which resulted in admissions to hospital, the pair spent every moment with each other.
“He just wanted to live as normal a life as possible,” she said.
“Even though he was the way he was he wanted a normal lifestyle.
“We would stay up late watching films, order takeaways. We were together all the time.
“I just want everyone to know how proud I was of him. He was strong and determined but it was the pain in the end that took him.
“If you were close he had the biggest heart. There was no one like him in the world.”
An inquest into Mr Cowan’s death at Crook Coroner’s Court on Wednesday concluded he died as a result of a road traffic collision.
Coroner Leslie Hamilton said the crash on September 9, 2014, led to his neck injury and left him dependent on a ventilator which he asked to be turned off.
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