SO WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED?
In February 2003, Gavin and Duncan were among a party of teachers from Reigate Priory School in Surrey reconnoitring a ski resort in France for a school ski trip. Due to post-traumatic amnesia, Gavin and Duncan’s recollections of what happened are unclear, but from information pieced together from eye witness accounts, it appears they collided while traversing a ski run.

Gavin was airlifted to hospital where it transpired that he had suffered extensive facial, head and brain injuries, as well as breaking his leg and tearing my anterior cruciate ligament. If it hadn't been for the quick thinking and actions of members of the ski party, pisteurs and mountain medical staff, the outcome would have been significantly worse.

Fortunately, Duncan’s injuries were less severe, although he suffered cuts to his head and leg, and several cracked ribs.

At the Hopitaux Universitaire (University Hospital) of Geneva, Gavin underwent a 19-hour operation performed by head of Maxillofacial Surgery Professor Michel Richter and his team. Among his injuries were major and multiple fractures of the cranium, frontal bone, nose, orbits, ethmoid bones, mid-face and anterior skull base, together with damage to his brain and leg.

Gavin’s head injuries were so extensive that 130 screws and around 21 plates were used during his surgery – believed to be the highest number used in surgery in Europe.

The standard of care he received at the Hopitaux Universitaire of Geneva was first rate, and Gavin credits Professor Richter with saving his life.

A month after the accident, Gavin was deemed fit enough to be transferred back to Wales, where he was put under the expert care of Mr Adrian Sugar, consultant cleft and maxillofacial surgeon at Morriston Hospital and honorary senior clinical lecturer at the Swansea Medical School.

Mr Sugar and his team at Morriston worked closely with the Medical Applications team at the National Centre for Product Design and Development Research at the University of Wales Institute, Cardiff (UWIC), using cutting-edge 3D scanning in the planning of Gavin's surgery. The follow-up surgery and aftercare he received from the hospital was exceptional and, he believes, instrumental in his recovery.

Earlier than predicted, he was able to return to work in September 2005 as a supply teacher in South Wales, and is now employed teaching seven to nine-year-olds (Years Three/Four) at Bryncethin Primary School.

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