Update: Injured jet skier could keep leg

Monday 31 July 2017

A local advocate who sustained serious injuries after a “catastrophic” jet ski accident has praised the “truly amazing job” of surgeons who have reportedly given him "an excellent chance" of keeping his leg.

Giles Corbin (45) suffered “potentially life changing” injuries to his left leg after a speed boat crashed into the side of a jet ski on which he was a passenger earlier this month.

In the aftermath of the accident, he was airlifted for treatment at Southampton Hospital and later transferred to a specialist unit at Salisbury District Hospital.

In a post on social media liked by over 800 friends, family and supporters over the weekend, Mr Corbin, who was left with a shattered knee and serious flesh wounds, has since detailed his progress under the “expert” guidance of surgeons specialising in traumatic bone injury reconstruction, and flesh ligaments and skin grafts. 

Having begun his time at Salisbury Hospital with a reported “90% chance of an amputation above the knee”, Mr Corbin now says that, thanks to the specialist team, he now has “an excellent chance of retaining the leg.”

Pictured: Salisbury District Hospital, where Mr Corbin is currently receiving treatment.

So far, his numerous surgeries have entailed adding four titanium screws into his femur, 15 screws and a vertical plate in the side of his tibia, and a wire ring to hold the shattered knee together. Having seen an X-ray, Mr Corbin commented: “To the uneducated eye, all appears to be roughly in the right places.”

Mr Corbin still can't put any weight on the damaged leg, but he is reportedly making "progress" during physiotherapy treatments. Pictured smiling from his hospital bed, Mr Corbin said he managed to walk half a metre with the help of a Zimmer frame last week – “not much, but the day before I could only stand so it is progress” – and around five metres on Saturday.

He also said that he had been able to sit upright in a chair for 50 minutes – something which had previously left him “lightheaded” and even caused him to pass out. However, he lauded the “amazing” medical team that had helped him, as well as his Jersey support network.

In his posting, Mr Corbin thanks islanders for their support: “Thank you for all the kind cards, thoughts and prayers. They really have lifted my spirits over this difficult time.”