A LORRY driver who is ‘lucky to be alive’ after a horrific crash, will soon be married after proposing to his girlfriend from his hospital bed.

Chris Mason, 32, from Middlewich, was involved in a crash on the M62 in October last year and spent months at Aintree Hospital being treated for major trauma and learning to walk again.

However, Chris is now back at home and planning his wedding with his fiancée Angela Hulme after proposing to her on a piece of paper while in intensive care.

Chris said: “We hadn’t been going out long but Angela had made the 80-mile round trip to see me every day and I thought if we can get through that together we can get through anything.

“I was planning on proposing at Christmas but this experience made me realise that time is precious so I wanted to propose there and then. I had a tracheotomy in so I couldn’t even speak but I managed to write it on a piece of paper.”

Chris suffered from life-threatening internal injuries caused by the impact of the crash as well as lacerations to his face, a broken wrist and swelling in his leg which made walking difficult.

His soon-to-be wife Angela said yes when he popped the question but demanded a proper proposal on one knee when he had recovered.

After a month in critical care, Chris was moved to the major trauma ward, where he worked to regain mobility in his legs for that all important proposal.

Chris added: “Knowing that we had an exciting future together and a wedding to plan was a great motivation when I was in hospital and made me even more determined to get better. The team at Aintree were brilliant and very supportive when I was learning to walk again and regaining my independence.”

Six months on, Chris is back at home in Middlewich and, while not ready to go back to work yet, is now able to carry out day-to-day activities and walk his beloved Cockapoo, Wesley, with support from family and friends.

Nikhil Misra, trauma surgeon at Aintree Hospital, said: “Chris had significant injuries from his accident but because we treat emergency patients every day at Aintree we had the facilities and expertise to give him the care he needed as quickly as possible in one place.

“I’m delighted he is doing so well and wish him all the best for his continued recovery. He’ll need all the strength he can muster if he’s got a wedding to plan.”