A ROYAL Marine who suffered serious head injuries in a road accident while in Afghanistan has won an award for his bravery.

Thomas Birch, 21, of Heanor, was picked by brain injury charity Headway as Achiever of the Year at its annual awards.

He was given the award for his courage and determination in learning how to walk and talk again after his accident.

Thomas, of Trinity Way, Heanor, said the award had been a total surprise.

He said: "I feel over the moon. I did not find out until today that I had won.

"It feels so good to get this after the last few years."

After he joined the Royal Marines in 2005, Thomas was deployed on duty to Afghanistan.

While serving in Helmand Province, the Land Rover in which he and a fellow marine were travelling plunged 100ft off the side of a cliff.

Thomas, who cannot remember the accident, sustained multiple head and neck injuries – including three fractures to the skull – and serious internal damage.

He returned home in 2006 and for the last three years has been making a recovery but his injuries were so severe he could barely move and had to relearn simple tasks like talking and walking.

He said his friends and family had helped him pick up the pieces of his life.

He said: "It was like being a new-born baby again. It was back to square one and I had to learn everything again.

"But my family have been so helpful and have not shouted at me when I can't do something or get something wrong.

"And my brother, Ryan, has made me laugh so much. He's made me feel so much better so often. My friends have been good, too. When it's so difficult to talk you find out who your real friends are and those that stick by you are great people."

In the last three years, Thomas has tried to follow his dream of becoming a personal trainer.

He said: "I completed my studies in personal training at South Nottingham College and won an award for student of the year and now I'm looking to get started in my career."

Peter McCabe, chief executive of Headway, said: "Thomas is an incredible young man.

"It must take an extraordinary amount of emotional and physical strength to rebuild one's life from scratch – particularly when you were so young, fit and active when everything changed.

"The way in which Thomas has done so, however, is nothing short of inspirational. Throughout his entire journey to recovery, he has tried to help others by raising the public's awareness of brain injury and developing the fitness programme at Headway."