Christopher Peck. A man has lost a leg in a motorbike crash while on holiday in Brazil. See ROSS PARRY story RPYCRASH. Christopher Peck, 34, from Workington, Cumbria was involved in a head-on crash with a drunk driver, his family said. The keen motorcyclist has life-threatening injuries and his left leg has been amputated, they said. His sister, Natalie Taylor, from Cockermouth, said he had taken out three insurance policies to be "well covered" but all three were "trying not to pay for this". "We have a huge fight on our hands, but not the time to wait, he needs treatment now," she said. The family said they only found out about the accident on 20 April through a hostel owner Mr Peck mentioned before he lost consciousness. This man was contacted by the Brazilian authorities and in turn called relatives in the UK, who informed a local police officer, who notified told the family.
Christopher Peck remains in a critical condition in hospital after being knocked off his bike (Picture: SWNS)

A man is still fighting for his life after having his leg amputated when he was mowed down by a drunk driver who had been let out of prison days earlier for the same offence.

Christopher Peck was two weeks into a four-month biking holiday around Brazil when he was knocked off his bike on April 20.

His injuries were so severe that paramedics were forced to cut off his left leg just below the knee at the scene.

The man who hit him was found to be over the drink drive limit and had been out of prison for just four days for a similar drink drive offence.

He was not injured in the crash, according to local media in Corumba, Brazil.

But the crash left Christopher, 34, from Cumbria, in a critical condition in hospital, where he remains.

He urgently needs to be moved further specialist care – but his family claim his insurance company is refusing to pay.

Christopher’s sister Natalie says the family only found out about the tragic accident thanks to a local hostel owner, named only as Pablo.

Christopher Peck. A man has lost a leg in a motorbike crash while on holiday in Brazil. See ROSS PARRY story RPYCRASH. Christopher Peck, 34, from Workington, Cumbria was involved in a head-on crash with a drunk driver, his family said. The keen motorcyclist has life-threatening injuries and his left leg has been amputated, they said. His sister, Natalie Taylor, from Cockermouth, said he had taken out three insurance policies to be "well covered" but all three were "trying not to pay for this". "We have a huge fight on our hands, but not the time to wait, he needs treatment now," she said. The family said they only found out about the accident on 20 April through a hostel owner Mr Peck mentioned before he lost consciousness. This man was contacted by the Brazilian authorities and in turn called relatives in the UK, who informed a local police officer, who notified told the family.
Motorbike fan Christopher lost a leg in the crash, two-weeks into a four-month biking trip (Picture: SWNS)

Chris was able to tell paramedics he was staying with Pablo before he lost consciousness at the scene.

Brazilian authorities then contacted Pablo who in turn called Chris’ cousin in London, who alerted British police.

The family found out the devastating news some hours after the accident, at around 10.15pm on April, 20.

Natalie, from Cockermouth, Cumbria, said: ‘It is devastating, it is the phone call you never want to receive. Especially with him being so far away, I just felt helpless.

‘He is such beautiful, loving lad. It’s heartbreaking.

‘We had been keeping up with his adventures on a family Whatsapp group. I knew in my gut that something was wrong when he hasn’t received a message from him that day as we’d heard from him every day until then.’

Cyclist on pathway around Botafogo Bay with Christ the Redeemer statue (Cristo Redentor) in the background, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, South America
Christopher had been biking across Brazil when he was hit in Corumba, close to the country’s border with Bolivia (Picture: Robert Harding)

Christopher’s mother Sylvia, 72 and brother Sean, 47, have since flown out to Brazil to be with him.

They say he is being kept in intensive care but has yet to wake up despite being taken out of an induced coma on April 24.

‘They have had some language barriers but the surgeon speaks a little bit of English and said Chris knows they are there which is reassuring,’ Natalie said.

‘He moved his right arm slightly when he heard my mum and brother in the room which was the biggest reaction he had until that point.’

Chris – who broke all his ribs in the collision – has opened his eyes just once, she added.

‘The fact [the driver] had done it before and was then able to just go out and do it again is disgusting,’ Natalie said.

‘My brother Sean lost his 17-year-old son, Jordan, who was knocked off his motorbike after only having it two days seven years ago, so this is devastating.’

The family is now trying to crowd fund the money to be able to get Chris the treatment he needs, claiming they have been told that despite taking out three travel insurance policies, Chris is not covered.

You can visit the fundraising page here.