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Crash victim Charles Sage minutes from death after crash with off-duty police officer in Maidstone

Charles in hospital after being injured in the motorbike crash
Charles in hospital after being injured in the motorbike crash

A teenage boxer who was “two minutes from death” after a motorbike crash has been told he will never compete again.

Charles Sage Jnr, known as Charlie, was rushed to King’s College Hospital in London with bleeding on his brain after the smash in Armstrong Road, Maidstone.

The 19-year-old, of Courtenay Road in the town, came off his black Yamaha XT660 after colliding with a silver Skoda Octavia estate driven by an off-duty Kent Police officer.

Charles's injuries are visible
Charles's injuries are visible

Sister Kerri Sage, 23, said: “We didn’t think he had been seriously hurt but then the paramedics noticed he was bleeding from his ear and he was taken to King’s Hospital.

"He suffered a seizure and the doctors took him straight to the operating theatre.

“They said he was just two minutes away from death. They didn’t even have time to get my mum to sign the consent forms.”

Charlie, a former pupil at Maplesden Noakes School, in Buckland Road, spent five days on life support before he was transferred to Maidstone Hospital.

He was discharged two weeks later and has been recovering under the care of dad Charles Snr, 49, and mum Kathleen, 47.

The teen mechanic suffered a broken jaw, has been left with scars from surgery and suffers with seizures.

The scene of the crash where Charles Sage was knocked off his motorbike
The scene of the crash where Charles Sage was knocked off his motorbike

He is now recovering at home but is unable to work at Inta Motorcycles in Upper Stone Street, for at least six months.

This week he was dealt another blow when doctors told him to hang up his boxing gloves for good.

“They said he was just two minutes away from death. They didn’t even have time to get my mum to sign the consent forms" - Charlie's sister Kerry

Charlie, who is the youngest of four siblings, has been training at Westree gym in Longshaw Road, Park Wood, for just over a year and hoped to continue his family’s legacy in the ring.

Kerri said: “Boxing has always been in our family. Most of the boys and men are boxers and Charlie wanted to do it as well. We’re all really gutted for him.”

A spokesman for Kent Police said an investigation into the April 24 crash is ongoing.

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