Story by Brian Boyle (with photos submitted by Boyle)

A month after I graduated high school in 2004, I was coming home from swim practice and was involved in a very serious car accident with a dump truck. The impact of the crash knocked my heart across my chest, breaking most of my ribs/clavicle/pelvis, collapsing my lungs, losing 60% of my blood, severe nerve damage to my left shoulder, and in a coma where I was on life support for over two months at Prince Georges Hospital Center in Cheverly, Maryland.

I died eight times while I was in the intensive care unit and even when I woke up from my coma, I couldn't talk or communicate. The day that they knew that I would live was the day that I either left my room in a wheelchair or a body bag.

As far as the future, it didn't exist.

Walking was never going to happen again due to all the extreme injuries and because of the shattered pelvis. The thought of swimming was just that, only a thought. Just like my body, my dreams were shattered. But, the one thing that kept me alive from the beginning is what keeps me going today, help and support from family and friends. They never gave up on me and I can't give up on them. Everything that I do and try and accomplish is for them and because of them.

After spending two months in a coma, having 36 blood transfusions, and 13 plasma treatments, I lost a total of 100 pounds and had to go to a rehabilitation center in Baltimore, MD.

I had to re-learn how to talk, eat, walk, shower, and live independently again. After that agonizing experience, I went to outpatient therapy in Waldorf, MD.

I spent a few months in a wheelchair. It took many baby steps to walk on my own.

I wanted to prove the doctors wrong and not only walk, but run. I also wanted to get back in the pool again.

It was a miracle that I could even walk.

A few lung tests later, I was able to go in the pool for little bits at a time each week. Swimming a few months and laps here and there with my training partner and good buddy, Sam Fleming. I decided that I was not going to let my injuries stop me from living my dream.

Six months later I began my freshman year at St. Mary's College of Maryland and became a top swimmer on the team.

With the 50 year life expectancy I was given from the doctors, I am just trying to live each day to the fullest, trying to motivate and hopefully inspire others.

Two months ago I successfully completed the Steelhead 70.3 half-ironman race in Michigan. I was awarded the Inspirational Athlete Media Slot which has enabled me to compete in the Kona Ironman World Championships. My story and race footage will be broadcasted when the Ironman premieres on NBC, December 1, 2007 between 430-6pm Eastern Time Zone.

I just got back from the Ford Ironman World Championship in Kona, Hawaii and I actually FINISHED! It took me 14 hours and 42 minutes. I came to the finish line full steam ahead, using every last bit of strength and emotion that I had; which wasn’t too bad after only training for this race for 6 weeks.

It was the greatest day of my life.

I tried to savor every second that I could, but as I look back at those 14-hours the memory lasts only minutes.

I felt great on the swim, coming into the transition with the elite age group, I had a pretty good transition time. Then I power-housed the bike as best as I could, while headwinds gave me a hard time all the way through. I just kept it steady and stayed positive to come back down to the next transition in 7 hours and 30 min.

The run started out great with about a 10 minute mile pace and I stayed strong. With it being my first marathon and first Ironman I really didn’t know how to pace myself, but I just kept it going as best as I could.

I had three different NBC news crews following me during the day; one group in a red mustang, one in a silver mustang, and one was even on a moped. There were helicopters following me on the bike in certain areas - the feeling was intense!

I surprised everyone when I came in around 14 hours because my lifesport coaches were predicting 16. For the last few miles of the marathon I had a news crew on my right, both of my coaches running with me, and my Cannondale bike sponsors following me in their SUV.

Thank God for my parents

We were all just pumping to the line and the feeling coming down to the finish for me just can’t be explained. The crowd went absolutely crazy!

Watch me Finish on this video from Iroman.com.

The funny thing is, I could have went so much faster, but I held back because I knew it was going to be a long day. In the swim I ended up pulling my right hamstring, but I just tried to focus on the positive and use mind over matter to push through it all. I ended up really hurting it on the bike and run, and when I got to the finish line and was able to finally sit down in the rest area, I couldn’t get back up.

I went to war with the human spirit... and won again (lol), and I can't even describe the feeling.

My next goal is to turn pro in the next 5-10 years because I don't want the story to end here.

Next year I would really like to do the Ironman race with my Dad because he's a cancer survivor, my biggest factor of motivation (especially when I tried to give up in the hospital), and my training partner for the past 6 weeks leading up to this race. Until then, I am just going to take it easy and wait until the swelling in my legs goes away.

Links, information, and stories about Brian Boyle:

• Video/YouTube.com: NBC News Segment - Brian's Triumph
• 2007 Ford Ironman World Championship Press Conference with Brian Boyle
• 4everfit profile of Boyle
• Kona Q & A: Brian Boyle
• Mr. Miracle: Brian Boyle was nearly killed when a dump truck blindsided his car. Three years later, he'll compete in Hawaii's Ironman triathlon individual.com
• Brian’s Myspace
• I Owe My Life to Prince George's Hospital The Washington Post
• Anything is Possible Cannondale Community