A model says she ‘doesn’t recognise herself’ after being left with a series of life-changing injuries when she crashed her motorbike into a car following a clash with a pigeon.
Bike enthusiast Mercedes Valentine, from Brighton, had been racing down a residential street at high speed when a pigeon ‘swooped’ down and hit her helmet.
This impact startled the 25-year-old, who then swerved and crashed her bike into a parked Volvo at the side of the road.
The neuroscience graduate was ‘flung’ 260ft into the air and many bystanders feared she was dead after she landed six house lengths away from where she was riding.
Luckily, her family of qualified doctors were in a car right behind the biker and her father was able to resuscitate her at the scene, before she was taken to hospital unconscious.
When she arrived, doctors found that the biker had suffered four broken ribs, a broken nose, skull, and shoulder from the crash, as well as a smashed eye socket and shattered pelvis.
Ms Valentine also had to be resuscitated again and remained unconscious for two days, with everything very touch-and-go for the next week. But after a number of surgeries and procedures, she was discharged a month later.
Despite now being ‘basically half metal’, Ms Valentine says the biggest issue from the crash has been her memory – with everything a month before and after the ordeal completely lost.
Bike enthusiast Mercedes Valentine, from Brighton, recalls being at the peak of her career prior to the accident in summer 2024
Doctors found that the biker had suffered four broken ribs, a broken nose, skull, and shoulder from the crash, as well as a smashed eye socket and shattered pelvis
Ms Valentine had been racing down a residential street at high speed when a pigeon ‘swooped’ down and hit her on the head.
‘When I open my eyes, I sometimes don’t even recognise myself,’ Mercedes said.
‘Because I function differently and can’t remember most things, it’s like my brain is someone else’s.
‘It’s been really confusing and emotionally challenging to come to terms with.
‘I’ve had to start living, and adapting to doing so, as a different person.’
Ms Valentine, grew up ‘obsessed’ with motorbikes, often riding around with her dad when she was only a little girl, before buying one of her own when she left home.
She recalls being at the peak of her career prior to the accident in summer 2024, having just bought a five-bedroom house for £700,000 and a Porsche Taycan Turbo in blue for £80,000.
But then, everything came crashing down.
Ms Valentine had spent the day before the crash celebrating her parents’ 60th birthdays and retirement.
Prior to the accident, the model had just bought a five-bedroom house for £700,000 and a Porsche Taycan Turbo in blue for £80,000
Ms Valentine also had to be resuscitated twice and remained unconscious, with everything very touch-and-go for the next week
Despite now ‘being half metal’, Ms Valentine says the biggest issue from the crash has been her memory
The 25-year-old swerved and crashed her bike into a parked Volvo at the side of the road
The next day, she and her family were on their way back home, but instead of going in the car with them, Mercedes wanted to ride her motorbike.
This decision, though, almost cost her life.
She said: ‘I wasn’t being clever and was going very fast down a residential street where there was a pigeon on the lamppost above me.
‘As I approached, it swooped down and not knowing what it was at the time, I tried to avoid it. But then it hit me head on and I swerved.’
Ms Valentine’s mother, father and older sister are all qualified doctors and were right behind her when she crashed.
This saved her life, as they were able to offer help immediately.
The model said: ‘I was lying in the road for about two minutes before they arrived.
‘I was blue and not responding, my pupils were dilated and it was assumed I was dead.
The neuroscience graduate was ‘flung’ 260ft into the air and many bystanders feared she was dead as she landed six house lengths away from where she was riding
Ms Valentine one week post crash
It was found that Ms Valentine had lost over three litres of blood – with two litres usually fatal.
Mercedes (pictured four months after the crash) also suffers from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which causes weak joints and bones
‘My dad ultimately saved my life, as he took off my helmet to stop it from choking me and stop the bleeding as best he could.’
Ms Valentine was then escorted to hospital where scans and MRIs were carried out.
It was found that she had lost over three litres of blood – with two litres usually fatal.
Mercedes, who also suffers from Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome which causes weak joints and bones, said: ‘I was literally on death’s door when I arrived at hospital.
‘For the next two days, they hacked away at my face, stomach and pelvis, trying to stitch everything up.
‘I’m basically half metal now because of all the pins and plates in me.
‘It was expected I could go blind, if not have double vision, once everything had healed and that I’d have total limb numbness.
‘So it was likely that I’d need full-time care, as I wouldn’t be able to function independently.
Ms Valentine’s Pelvis injuries the day of the crash and seven months after.
Ms Valentine says her father ultimately saved my life, as he took off my helmet to stop it from choking her (pictured: Ms Valentine’s helmet after her crash)
The scene of Mercedes Valentine’s crash
‘But when I woke up, I was as chill as can be. Everyone around was completely devastated, worrying if I’d ever be the same again.
‘Yet, I was on cloud nine, probably because of all the morphine I was on.’
As memory loss was expected after all Mercedes had been through, she claims doctors ‘weren’t concerned’ about this.
She remembered her boyfriend’s name, Mark, 34, and all her family; though friends and other events, including the incident, were a miss.
After one month, though, she was discharged and allowed home to readjust to the real world.
But it quickly became clear how bad her memory loss was.
She said: ‘It was shocking and traumatising. I’d be at the gym, and someone would say hello and I’d have no clue who they were.
‘I quickly had to come to terms with the fact that my memory was never coming back.
One month after the accident, it quickly became clear how bad Ms Valentine’s memory loss was
Ms Valentine’s head injuries following the crash
Despite the struggles of getting to grips with her new normal, Ms Valentine has tried to go back to her career in content creation
Ms Valentine one month after the crash, recovering with her mum
Ms Valentine says people often commenting on her looks, such as asking why her eye is bruised, her weight gain, or on her scars
‘Time is completely warped to me now. I forget what day or month it is regularly.
‘My boyfriend has to give me a run every day of what I’ve got on, otherwise I’d forget.’
Despite the struggles of getting to grips with her new normal, Ms Valentine has tried to go back to her career in content creation.
Although it’s not been easy, with people often commenting on her looks, such as asking why her eye is bruised, her weight gain, or on her scars.
It’s made her question whether she’s ready for her old life again, but her determination throughout all of this has made her stronger than ever.
She added: ‘I’ve been really stubborn, not letting anything stop me from doing what I want to do.
‘Even after I was able to walk again, the first thing I did was jump back on my bike.
‘Obviously now when I ride my bike, I’m very careful – always going the speed limit and have someone with me at all times.
Ms Valentine says she is ‘basically half metal now because of all the pins and plates in me’
The crash has made Ms Valentine question whether she’s ready for her old life again, but her determination throughout all of this has made her stronger than ever
‘It was an unlucky coincidence, as if the pigeon had flown down a millisecond earlier or later, none of this would’ve happened.
‘I’ve realised, though, it was my stupidity that landed me here and I really hope people learn from my ordeal to take care when riding motorbikes.
‘There’s a very slim chance between surviving and not knowing how much your life will change – or it being taken away completely.
‘Be aware of your surroundings, know your limits and always wear a helmet; it ultimately saved my life.
‘It’s a really horrible thing I’ve been through, but I’ve come out the other side with a lot of things being better.
‘In a way, I’m grateful for the near-death experience as it’s taught me a lot in resilience and what my body is capable of.
‘But I never want to put my family through that devastation again.’
