As a 20 year old, I was in a taxi on my way home from a night out when we spotted someone on the road, with his friend howling next to him. I asked him what his friends name was.
"Austin, austin, can you hear me? Open your eyes!"
I put my hands on his shoulders to shake him, and in an instant my hands turned red. The gutter was full of blood and Austin was not breathing.
I furiously did CPR until the ambulance arrived with an AED. Austins heart was restarted and he was rushed off to A+E. I scribbled my number down on a bloodied bit of paper and passed it to a paramedic, pleading with them to call me and let me know how Austin was.
I went home and put my shoes, tights, dress and coat into a black sack, and showered for an hour as I was covered in congealed blood.
The next day, I had a phone call. It was Austins mother. Sadly he had not survived ,he had been announced brain stem dead and his ventilator was to be switched off later that day. His mother explained that Austin, 17 years old, had been hit by a drink driver, who had fled the scene. He had been picked up 2 miles away by police who noticed he was driving erratically and had a massive dent in his car.
I still cry now thinking about it, over 10 years later. When I shut my eyes, I can see the blood up my arms, in my hair. I can smell it.
And THIS, OP, is why I completely agree with your decision. If I EVER found out my DP had been drink driving, it would be an instant deal breaker for me...
