A FORMER teacher who was thrown into the air after being struck by a Bentley on a supermarket car park has spoken of his determination to battle back from horrendous injuries.

Mick Collins, 66, was waiting at a car wash at Tesco in St Helens when the vehicle ploughed into him.

He was in intensive care for three days and suffered a catalogue of major injuries – including eight broken ribs, a collapsed lung and two fractured cheekbones.

Surgeons at the Aintree trauma centre inserted 39 screws into his ribs, removed his spleen, cut glass from his face and sewed his left ear back on.

The Bentley had been dropped off at a car wash for valeting at 9.40am on Friday, December 22 when it shot across the car park and hit Mick. Speaking to the Star, the father-of-three, a former Liverpool St Helens rugby union player and Cowley woodwork teacher, described how he is making a steady recovery.

He also wishes to thank doctors and his friends, particularly golfing pals at Beacon Park Golf & Country Club in Upholland for their unwavering support.

Mick, from Sutton, said: “I had been just waiting to give my car a nice Christmas clean – but I was in the wrong place, at the wrong time.

“I had my back to the car and the next thing I remember was it hitting me and being knocked in to the air. You can see a box of ale that I had been holding on the Bentley’s bonnet.”

The Bentley, which weighs 2.2 tonnes, is believed to have also written off six cars.

Mick added: “You do wonder: why me? – four tenths of a second either way it would have missed me. I had a really active lifestyle – swimming and golfing regularly.

“But I’m determined to get back to that – I will be golfing again. My pals at the golf club have been so supportive.”

The incident remains subject to an investigation.

  •  A charity golf day to support Mick will take place on Sunday, April 22 at Beacon Park. Entry is £25 and will be followed by hot pot dinner at 5pm, music and a comedian. To enter contact 01695 625551.