A Shropshire man has been awarded £7.4 million in compensation after suffering life-threatening injuries in a head-on smash in the county.Chukwudi Ezugwu, 41, of Bayston Hill, near Shrewsbury, sustained a serious brain injury in the accident on the A41 in Tong in November 2003 which claimed the life of his fiancée Sarah Price.

The compensation, announced by the High Court earlier this week, is believed to be the highest ever awarded in Shropshire and Mid Wales.

Mr Ezugwu’s solicitor, catastrophic injury specialist Neil Lorimer, said: “This is a huge award but it has been carefully calculated to meet Mr Ezugwu’s extensive needs, now and for the rest of his life.

“The fund will be held and managed by the Court of Protection and will be used to meet those needs.”

Mr Ezugwu and his fiancée were involved in a head-on collision with a car travelling on the wrong side of the road.

The driver of the oncoming car, Jacqueline Platt, died at the scene of the accident as a result of her injuries. Her insurers admitted negligence. Mr Ezugwu and Miss Price were airlifted to Selly Oak Hospital where Miss Price later died.

Mr Ezugwu was in a critical condition for several weeks and will need 24-hour supervision for the rest of his life.

Speaking on behalf of the family, Mr Ezugwu’s mother Anna, said: “This is wonderful – it hasn’t sunk in yet but it is far better than we expected.

“I don’t have to worry about Chuk now if something were to happen to me, I know that he will receive the care he needs for the rest of his life.”