‘Miracle’ man, 30, who woke up from 244-day coma is killed by pickup truck
Drew Kohn defied expectation when he woke up months after being hit by a car
A man whose recovery was described as a 'miracle' when he woke up from a 244-day coma has tragically died after being hit by a pickup truck.
Drew Kohn astounded medics when he woke up from his coma in late 2017, 244 days after he'd got on his motorcycle in Florida to head to the gym.
It was just days before his 23rd birthday, and Drew was struck by a car in an accident that left him unconscious.
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The impact knocked off his helmet and one of his shoes; he suffered a traumatic brain injury, two impaled lungs and a broken shoulder, pelvis and ribs, as well as other injuries.
He was rushed to hospital, but tragically doctors initially thought Drew was brain dead and would never walk or talk again.
His mother, Yolanda Osborne-Kohn, told First Coast News that doctors would have 'harvested his organs', but she didn't want to give up on her son.
Doctors continued caring for Drew for five months, before he was moved - still in a coma - to his mother's house, where she relied on her faith to help her stay hopeful.
“It was because of my faith that gave me the boldness to speak up and push back and let them know 'you’re not getting a toenail or an eyelash'," she said.
Drew showed no signs of life for months until, after 244 days, he woke up and told his mom he was 'okay'.
"I love you, mom," he added.
That was seven years ago, and Drew then set about learning how to walk again with the help of a team at Brooks Rehab.
Tragically, however, his life was cut short on Friday (27 July) when he was hit by a pickup truck at around 5:30am local time.
The incident took place just days before Drew's 30th birthday.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office have said the driver involved in the incident did not see Drew walking on the road, and immediately stopped to call 911 after the accident.
The driver is now fully cooperating with police, who have said they do not believe speed or impairment played a role in the crash.
Though Drew's death is a tragedy, his mother has been able to gain some comfort from the fact he's no longer suffering.
“Drew is healed, walking, not struggling to keep his balance," she explained. "His arm is probably lifted so high saying ‘Thank you, Jesus!’ Drew probably has a football in one hand and a Bible in the other."
“God honored my request, and I’m not mad," she continued, referring to the extra years she got with her son after his first accident.
In the wake of Drew's death, his family has set up a GoFundMe page to help cover the costs of funeral expenses and the medical bills Drew received for his time in hospital.
Emily Brown