Bell Park man Henry Jaruga loses leg after second motorcycle crash

A Bell Park man who has survived two separate crashes says you can’t be too careful on the roads after losing his leg. Read his story.

Henry Jaruga was left broken and “bleeding to death” in the middle of a rural road after a collision on his motorcycle earlier this year.

The 72-year-old lost his left leg due to the crash, which changed his life within seconds and left him with permanent scars.

It comes after a Whittington man died in a motorcycle crash on the Surf Coast on Sunday.

The 21-year-old was riding along Cape Otway Rd when he crashed near Dysons Lane in Wurdiboluc near Winchelsea.

Western Division 1 tasking and co-ordination Inspector Matt Trask said the tragic fatality had led to another family’s Christmas dinner table missing a loved one.

From January to May this year, 21 people were taken to hospital and made a claim to the Transport Accident Commission after motorcycle crashes in Greater Geelong (14) and the Surf Coast (7).

On January 27 this year, Mr Jaruga was riding his motorcycle along Ballan-Geelong Rd near Anakie.

He had been visiting friends in Ballarat and was on his way home to Bell Park, but didn’t make it back.

He collided with a car and was thrown from his red motorcycle.

“My left leg was badly smashed up and I was lying on the road semiconscious,” Mr Jaruga said.

“My bones had been crushed, I was bleeding to death.

“Luckily an off-duty paramedic was driving past and they stemmed the bleeding and saved my life.”

Footage from the scene of Mr Jaruga's crash in January this year. Credit: 7News

Mr Jaruga was flown to the Alfred hospital in Melbourne but suffered three staphylococcus bacterial infections which led to his left leg being amputated below the knee.

“They were trying to save my leg but I had a decision to make,” he said.

“Save my leg and risk losing my life or chop it off and save my life.

“It was a no-brainer for me.

“I was on my death bed for about a week (but) it was strange because the day after my leg was taken off, I felt better.”

Mr Jaruga also broke his ribs, sternum and “smashed up” his left shoulder in the crash.

His right leg was also severely injured and he is working with physios to rebuild his strength.

About four months ago, he received his prosthetic leg and still uses a walker to get around daily.

Henry Jaruga was left an amputee after a motorcycle accident. Picture: Brad Fleet

But the crash was not the first time Mr Jaruga has been a victim of road trauma.

In April 2018, he was riding his motorcycle along Anakie Rd near the Bell Post Hill Shopping Centre when a vehicle failed to give way and collided with him.

He spent two weeks in intensive care and broke several bones.

“I felt like I died then,” he said.

“My wife had only recently just passed away (from motor neurone disease) and I’d wanted to join her but she said ‘you’re not going anywhere’.”

Despite the life-changing impacts of both accidents, Mr Jaruga tries to stay positive and hopes to get back on his motorcycle one day.

“You can let yourself get depressed but I try not to,” he said.

“I’m still independent to a certain extent but there are some things that I can’t do and I have to rely on other people.”

“I’ve just got to get on with it and forge forward

“I’ve seen people in the past who I didn’t even know had a prosthetic leg on and they walk normally and they ride motorcycles too.

“I’ll get to that stage eventually.”

He said you “can’t be too careful” on the roads.

“Somebody’s incorrect decision in the moment can be the end of it … you can’t be too careful,” he said.

The Geelong Advertiser’s ‘End the carnage’ pre-Christmas road safety series will continue this week.

Originally published as Bell Park man Henry Jaruga loses leg after second motorcycle crash