Newport man John Conibeer searches for justice one year after hit-and-run

One year – and 58 hours of surgery – later, and the identity of those responsible for the hit-and-run is still unknown.

On Friday, John’s father, Anthony, wrote an impassioned Facebook post about his son’s ordeal.

“It’s now been nearly 12 months since our son John was left for dead on the side of the road at the top of Pwllmeyric Hill near Chepstow,” he wrote.

“He was left choking on his own blood, his leg smashed behind his back, broken and damaged – his body damaged in so many ways it was unbelievable.

“He was just left there like a piece of discarded meat.”

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In the early hours of February 17 last year, Mr Conibeer’s son was the passenger in a car travelling towards Newport on the A48.

When that car crashed into a wall, Mr Conibeer said his son got out and was trying to move the car when her was struck by a passing van.

He was rushed to the Royal Gwent Hospital in Newport, and later transferred to the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, where he was placed into an induced coma.

An appeal launched by Mr Conibeer was shared widely on social media in the days following the incident, but nobody has ever admitted responsibility.

“This year has been the worst year of our lives,” Mr Conibeer, from Newport, said. “The pain that John has gone through, only he can tell you.

“The heartache and stress that myself and our family has gone through [is] sometimes unbearable, the tears by the bucketful.”

Mr Conibeer thanked people for the “great support” people had shown the family since the crash.

“We would like to thank the people on Facebook and people who contacted us from around the world for the love you have shown John and ourselves,” he said.

Mr Conibeer said his son would undergo another operation in London on March 21.

“John will never, never be the same person he was,” he added. “He has now had 58 hours of surgery and still has more to come.”

And speaking to the South Wales Argus this week, Mr Conibeer said: “John’s still got a few minor issues. He’s struggling along, but getting there slowly.”

Mr Conibeer then renewed his appeal for someone to come forward with information.