PIRATES new boy Lewis Kerr admits he is “really grateful” to be racing after making a full recovery from the crash which left him fighting for his life.

Kerr sustained severe head injuries after colliding with former Poole flier Josh Grajczonek during the Premier League Fours at Peterborough in August 2015.

The Norfolk-born rider was airlifted to hospital and placed in an induced coma, with wife Jessie – who was pregnant at the time – told by doctors that her partner may not pull through.

However, Kerr made remarkable progress. He was back at home within just 10 days and after slowly piecing his life back together, returned to racing with Lakeside, Ipswich and Scunthorpe last year.

Kerr rejoined Scunthorpe ahead of this season and an injury to Kyle Newman resulted in a switch to Pirates, with his full debut inked in for tomorrow’s Knockout Cup quarter-final first-leg clash with visitors Belle Vue (7.30pm).

Reflecting on the flashpoint of his career, Kerr told the Daily Echo: “It wasn’t nice. Luckily, I don’t remember anything of the day itself and I don’t remember hospital too much.

“They told my wife I could die or that maybe I wouldn’t walk again, or that I might come round and not know who she was.

“I don’t think a lot of people know how tough the recovery was for me.

"I couldn’t do the simplest things, like walking to the toilet.

“But I made a full recovery and I’m really grateful because I don’t think there are many people who have the outcome I have. I’m really lucky to be racing again.

“When I was out of my induced coma and talking, there was no doubt I was going to start riding again.

“My wife knew that would be the case because if I wasn’t racing, I’d be miserable. I’ve always wanted to ride a bike, that’s just how it is.”

Kerr experienced a difficult winter, signing for Coventry before finding out that the Bees’ licence had been put on ice due to problems over the club’s Brandon headquarters.

The 27-year-old was never formally contacted by Coventry officials and he admitted the lateness of the club’s withdrawal had left him with a struggle on his hands.

He added: “It was on and off all winter and it was no good. If it had happened earlier then I might have been able to get fixed up somewhere else. But three weeks before the start of the season, it came out.

"It was a bit of a shock and I still haven’t spoken to anyone (at the club) about it.

"My mechanic messaged me so I went on Twitter straight away and it was all over there. It wasn’t what I wanted to wake up to on a Sunday morning.

“I messaged who I could but everyone was full up.

"I just had to be positive and focus on hitting the ground running with Scunthorpe, and be hopeful my form would get me in somewhere.”