CAFÉ Owner’s ‘Life Changed Forever’ After Back Broken In Crash

7 June, 2023 | Local

John Rasmussen at his cafe in 2020
John’s car after the collision

AN Inverclyde cafe owner is having to give up his career after his back was broken in a crash. He’s now trying to get in touch with a woman who came to his aid following the collision at Wemyss Bay.

John Rasmussen of Wemyss Bay, who runs JJ’s Fast Food (formerly John’s Joint) in Greenock, is still being treated at Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock, after suffering the serious injury when a van hit his car with such force that his back was fractured.

He will be in a back brace for 12 weeks and will then have a year of physiotherapy but will still need to walk with a stick

He said: “My life has changed forever. I obviously can’t be on my feet 10 hours a day working in the café so that’s me retired. My career is over.

“I was told by the surgeon that if the injury had been two inches lower I would have been paralysed. Two inches higher and I would have lost the use of my arms.

“So it could have been worse. That’s how I’m looking at it.”

The van which was involved in the crash

John (58), who had John’s Joint for 23 years, was just turning into Pearson’s Garage on the A78 at Wemyss Bay when the crash happened on Friday afternoon.

He said: “I got out of the car and was lying on the ground trying to breath when a woman helped me. She put a jacket under my head and tried to keep me calm

“She was a total stranger but she stayed with me for 40 minutes until the ambulance came. Her name was Carol. I want to thank her properly. She was an absolute angel.”

John’s wife Maureen also works in the café at Laird Street which has had to close for now, leaving the couple with no income. John is hoping it can re-open soon with a new chef.

The woman who helped John is asked to contact Inverclyde Now on 07724 089589 or contact@InverclydeNow.com so we can put her in contact with John.

Police Scotland said today that no one has been charged in connection with the incident.

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