AN ex-nursing student who lost a leg in a motorcycle accident has been awarded a six-figure compensation sum.

Lisa Bennett, 43, was in a crash on December 7 2004. Her son, then just 12, had to “put his life on hold” to help care for her.

The former trainee psychiatric nurse was knocked off her 125cc motorbike on her way to her first night shift at St Ann’s Hospital. She had been in her second year of a degree at Bournemouth University.

Her right leg was amputated below the knee. She needed four more operations to control infection. She also suffered injuries to her left knee, a fractured spine, broken ribs and a broken shoulder.

The mum-of-one, from Upper Parkstone, now uses a prosthetic limb, but due to severe nerve damage, still suffers extreme pain and regularly relies on a wheelchair.

“My life has changed forever. I lost my leg, my dream career, my whole way of life,” she said.

“I was unable to carry on caring for my grandmother, which I’d been doing every day for 12 years, as well as struggling to look after my young son.

“It was frustrating to see my boy put his life on hold to look after me. He’s now 18 and is joining the RAF this year.”

With help from her union, Unison, she was awarded £800,000 in compensation. The driver of the car admitted liability and the claim was settled out of court for £1 million, but 20 per cent deducted for contributory negligence as Lisa’s motorbike light was faulty – although she said it had been working when she left her house. She added: “I’m relieved the case is over, but I’ll never be able to get my life back and will continue trying to cope with the chronic pain.”

James Davies, from Thompsons Solicitors, added: “All her work to pursue a new career as a nurse has been wasted and instead she has had to learn how to cope with her dramatically changed personal circumstances.”

He said the compensation would assist funding her prosthesis and ways to make her life “as physically unchallenging as possible”.