IT WAS three years ago when Rob Perfect suffered a horrific car crash which changed his life for ever.

He suffered a ruptured spleen, broken ribs and major head trauma, and was lucky to survive.

However, Rob is now getting his life back together with the support of charity Headway Essex, which helps rehabilitate head injury victims and supports their families.

Rob, 32, said: “Headway helped us totally. Mum and Dad were given a lot of support – someone was always at the end of the phone when they were worried and they could talk them through the problems I was going through.

“They were really good with pointing me in the right direction.

“Headway enrolled me at a gym, to help me get fit, and helped me go to the job centre when I was ready to try to get back to work.”

Rob, a former carpenter, of Main Road, Alresford, suffered the injuries when a car he was in crashed on the A12, near Ipswich, in September 2008.

He spent three weeks in the Royal London Hospital and a further six weeks at Colchester General Hospital.

He permanently lost his sense of smell and taste and he had to learn how to balance again after the big toe on his right foot was amputated.

Rob says his memory of the crash is still shaky, but he is gradually rebuilding his life and is even going back to college to study music technology at the Colchester Institute.

He said: “I have big patches that I can’t remember, both about the crash and being in hospital.

“I am back to full health now, or as close I can be, but it was a long old road to recovery.

“Music is always something I wanted to do and I thought about it when I was in work, but I didn’t think I had the time to do it.

“When I was looking at getting back to work it was a bit gloomy, so I thought now would be a good time to go back to college and do music.”

When he is not studying, Rob also makes sure he is active and now takes part in dogathons, such as those in High Woods, Colchester, and along Clacton seafront, with his black labrador, Mason.

He also tries to draw on his own experience and help others by talking to teenagers about road safety.

Rob added: “They are always really interested to know about my injuries, especially that I am never able to taste again.

“One of my messages is not to make any unnecessary journeys and stay safe. The accident happened quite late at night, so I want to put the message across not to drive if you are tired.”

Anna Smith, fundraising co-ordinator at Headway Essex, said: “Headway Essex provides support in two ways. First, through the Headway Centre, where rehabilitation activities take place.

“We also have a Community Support Service. This provides telephone support, information on the different aspects of brain injuries, support groups, training for carers, specialist literature on brain injuries, home and hospital visits and educational talks.”

The charity relies on fundraising to provide the services and two events are coming up soon.

Me, Myself & I takes place on Thursday, October 13, and the Snowflake Ball is on Friday, November 18.

To book tickets or for more information, call 01206 547616.