An elite armed cop broke his neck in a horrific motorbike crash as he escorted King Charles III to Windsor Castle.
Darren Smith was riding a motorbike as apart of the armed Special Escort Group convoy taking the King from London to his residence on February 20.
Just two miles away from the castle, Darren was involved in a collision with a car in Datchet, Berkshire, and was rushed to hospital.
In a GoFundMe page, set up by friend and colleague Dean Reynolds, it reveals the motorcyclist suffered ‘significant injuries’ including broken bones in his legs, sternum and neck.
It adds that Darren now faces a ‘long road to recovery’ where he will have to undergo physiotherapy to ‘learn to walk properly again’.
The fundraiser has raised more than £1,600 in seven hours with the money to provide financial support to try and take some of the strain away’ whilst he unable to work.
Darren has since been released from the hospital and is back home with the Metropolitan Police saying his injuries have been determined as ‘non-life-threatening’.
Formed in 1952, the Special Escort Group (SEG) is a department within the Royalty and Specialist Protection of the Metropolitan Police.
Darren Smith was riding a motorbike as part of the Special Escort Group convoy taking the King from London to his residence at Windsor Castle on February 20
The Special Escort Group (SEG) is a department within the Royalty and Specialist Protection of the Metropolitan Police
Just two miles away from Windsor Castle (pictured), Darren was involved in a collision with a car in Datchet, Berkshire, and was quickly rushed to hospital
The GoFundMe page reads: ‘This event has caused Darren multiple, significant injuries including broken bones in his legs, sternum and neck.
‘Although he is home from hospital now it will be a long road to recovery, including physio to learn to walk properly again.
‘I have set up this Go Fund Me in order to help Darren and his family with financial support to try and take some of the strain away whilst he is away from work and recovering from his injuries.
‘Darren is friends with many people and is an incredibly popular man amongst us all!
‘His talent and skills reach far outside the SEG and the Metropolitan Police Service, so we’d love to see as many people donate as they can! Thank you very much in advance.’
A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police said: ‘We are aware of an incident in Datchet, Berkshire, on Thursday, 20 February, in which a Met Police motorcyclist with the Special Escort Group was in collision with a car.
‘They were taken to hospital, where their injuries were assessed as non-life-threatening and non-life-changing. There were no other injuries.’
The MailOnline has approached Buckingham Palace for comment.
