A MAN who was crushed in the horrific collision between a bus and a car during his lunch break had more than 15 hours of surgery on his legs, it has been revealed.

A fundraising appeal has been launched for 20-year-old Liam Brinkley, who was named locally as one of the surviving victims of the crash on Oxford Road on December 8, which killed Sonata Saulytyte.

Mr Brinkley had both of his legs crushed and had to be airlifted to hospital immediately after the incident, before going through an extensive 17 hours of surgery, the Chronicle understands.

Members of his family and close friends have made an appeal for funds to help him with his recovery and for the Air Ambulance Service which flew him to John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford.

A post on the funding page reads: "Liam, a fit 20 year old young man was tragically hit by a car on Thursday 8th of December 2016 whilst out on his lunch break.

Another young lady in her 40's was killed at the scene. Liam's legs were crushed and he was airlifted to the John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford - where they were amazing an spent 17 hours reconstructing his legs, ligaments and bones.

"He has a huge road ahead of him both mentally and physically. We would like to raise funds to help him financially on his long road to recovery and we will also donate a proportion of the money to help the amazing air Ambulance who saved his life."

Mrs Saulytyte died after a black Ford Focus became involved in a collision with a Reading Buses double decker bus.

The car then careened onto the footpath, striking a brick wall and three pedestrians, including Mr Brinkley and Mrs Saulytyte.

To donate a contribution visit https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/clare-ohara?utm_id=108&utm_term=pYJXxMZjq