TRIBUTES have been paid to a crash survivor dubbed a loveable 'big puppy' who died nearly a year after the fatal incident which killed his best friend.
Rob Payne survived a crash on the A44 Pitchers Hill, near Evesham but suffered catastrophic injuries in the crash which killed his best friend, James Caine.
Despite his ordeal he remained positive and grateful to the emergency services who saved his life and wanted to raise funds for the firefighters who helped him.
The 35-year-old died at home at Willersey on Friday, July 12. His death is understood to be connected to complications relating to pain medication although an inquest has yet to take place to establish the full facts.
Mr Payne was a front-seat passenger in his best friend's car when they were in collision with another car on the A44 Pitchers Hill, near Evesham.
His friend, a father-of-two, died in the crash as their Mini was struck at around 8.30pm on Thursday, August 10 last year.
Mr Payne's partner of 12 years, Becky Gill, said: "He was so full of life. He exuded life. It poured off him. He was like a big puppy. All he wanted to do was make people happy around him," she said.
Miss Gill, 33, also spoke of his humour - and he even had a scar tattooed with 'cut here' just to make his surgeon laugh. He had had a number of operations but the bone was dying in his left hip because of the injuries he sustained and, when he died, he needed further treatment.
She described how he was full of plans, even when he could not get out of bed because of his injuries. He wanted to set up his own business and was 'always on the go, even when he physically could not move'.
Born in Chipping Norton (and raised in Chipping Campden), had worked in property management and security and ambitions to work in security again. He had no children but was loved by his nieces and nephews for whom he was always the 'fun-loving uncle' they called 'Uncle Bobby'.
He loved ice cream and friends are going to have tattoos of ice cream as a way to remember him. Two friends, Daniel Horne and Chris Smith, are due to complete a sky dive this Friday to help raise funds for funeral costs (gofund.me/6ae419a7).
She described his love of music and he also worked as a DJ. In particular, she said he had been grateful to the firefighters who saved his life after the crash, describing them as 'amazing' and how they had been a good support system before and after the crash.
Because his body has yet to be released to the family, they have yet to arrange his funeral but donations are expected to be given to a firefighters' charity at the service.
He had been going to the gym three times a week (before he developed issues with his hip) to build up his muscle and was described as being 'really determined to get better'.
In the aftermath of the crash Mr Payne spoke about his ordeal from his bed in the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, praising the high standard of care he has received.
Mr Payne has had both hips and his ankle reconstructed in surgery at the QE.
He said at the time: "I'm lucky to be alive and the doctor said I was lucky to be here."
His iPhone automatically dialled 999 and also alerted his emergency contact, a feature he described as 'amazing' and 'incredible'.
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Even before the surgery was performed at the QE, traction was used at Worcestershire Royal Hospital to pull his hips back into place as they had been not only shattered but dislocated.
He also suffered four broken ribs on his right-hand side and a broken sternum.
Mr Payne is survived by his parents, Christina and Paul Payne and siblings Jake, Paulie and Chantelle, brother-in-law Ricky and nieces and nephews Tyler, Dean, Layna, Phoebe, Evie and Carly.
* Wayne Godrey, 48, of Linnet Rise in Kidderminster, has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving. The case is still going through the courts and a trial is due to take place.
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