Brain injury survivor and NR Times award-winner receives British Empire Medal

A brain injury survivor and NR Times award-winner who has raised more than £100,000 for charity has received a British Empire Medal.

Dominic Hurley, 52, was told he may never walk or talk again after falling off a moped in Cyprus in 1994, but went on to defy doctors’ expectations.

Since then, he has raised funds and awareness for several organisations, including brain injury charity Headway, and was recognised for his efforts in the New Year Honours.

Hurley won the NR Times Lifetime Achievement award in 2004.

The campaigner said he chose to receive the medal ar Rotherham Town Hall rather than at Buckingham Palace, as the town was where he had done most of his charity work and the recognition was “something good” for the area.

He said the award recognised his “long-standing support” for people living with brain injuries, and that he had been “totally taken aback” by the news.

Hurley said: “The medal is for me, but it’s for all the people, every single person that put any money in the buckets, any people that joined me on the bikes.

“A lot of people have helped me get to this stage.

“I just wanted a big thank you to everybody that’s helped me a lot along the way.”

Hurley was 21 when he was injured in the crash and spent three months in a coma.

He said he then suffered a second brain injury 10 years later and wanted to do something in recognition of all the people who had supported him.

He said most of his fundraising challenges had involved using a spinning bike at the gym and in shopping centres, and riding a bicycle.

Hurley has also written a book about his life and how he has overcome multiple injuries.

He said his message to people was that “life is not over” after injury or illness.

Hurley was presented with the honour by the mayor of Rotherham, Rukhsana Ismail, and the lord lieutenant of South Yorkshire, Prof Dame Hilary Chapman.

He is due to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Friday.