Footballer's 'long journey' to M27 crash recovery

A footballer whose career was ended when he lost a leg after being hit by a car on a motorway hard shoulder has said he is still on a "long journey" to recovery.

Jordan Chiedozie was seriously injured after stopping to change a tyre on the M27 near Ower, Hampshire, on 1 February.

In his first interview since the crash, the 30-year-old, who played for Southern League club Bashley, told the BBC the support he received from across the football community "means everything".

"It takes time, but I'm getting there in terms of recovery - I'm getting better," he said.

Chiedozie was returning home with the club's physio Reighan Taylor following Bashley's match against Tavistock in Devon.

They had pulled on to the hard shoulder after a tyre blew out.

He lost his right leg and suffered open fractures on his left leg as well as a cracked pelvis.

"I've still got a long journey, learning a whole new lifestyle with the prosthetic leg," he said.

He said the recent death of Liverpool striker Diogo Jota in a car crash in Spain had "put things into perspective".

"It's hard to process - you are happy and blessed to be here, but you have still gone through serious injuries."

He admitted finding the process of learning to walk again "frustrating".

"It's strange - you don't think you'd have to learn stuff again - it's not easy but it's something I have to do," he said.

"I can't dwell on it. I don't know if it's mental strength, but you just have to get on with it."

He said it "isn't easy" seeing teams gear up for the start of pre-season, knowing his own football career was ended.

However he said he wanted to return another sporting passion, golf, which he had played when he was younger.

"I haven't put too much thought into the future," he said.

"I want to play whatever sports I can - obviously golf is a sport I know I can go to and try and get back to a high level, now football is out of the equation."

Having started his career at AFC Bournemouth, he went on to play for clubs including Cambridge United, Margate, Poole Town and AFC Totton.

After the crash, many football clubs organised matchday collections along with an online fundraiser, which has raised more than £34,000 to help the self-employed striker, who also worked in the building industry.

"It means everything - you can't it put into words - all I can do is say thank you - it is appreciated for sure," he said.

Among the events being held to support his recovery is a benefit match between Bashley and Bournemouth later.

He said the "one goal" he had set himself was to be able to walk back in to Bashley.

"It could be emotional," he said.

A 44-year-old woman, from Wraysbury in Berkshire, was arrested on suspicion of drink driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving and was later bailed until 1 May, extended until 1 August.

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