A human rights activist who was thrown from his moped after being hit by a car says he is struggling to cope with his “life-changing” injuries which have left him bedridden.

Osama Qashoo was on his way to buy a birthday present for a friend when he was hit by a car in Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow on the afternoon of Thursday August 10.

The Palestinian film-maker who runs a production company in Walthamstow has criticised police for their response, claiming it took them over two weeks to visit him to obtain a statement.

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“I feel abandoned by the police,” said the 36-year-old.

“It took them weeks to get my statement after we called them six times.

“I feel completely drained and shocked. My headache is continuous. My right knee has been shattered and it’s hard to cope.

“I will not be able to walk for a very long time, around two years.

“It is making me feel down and it’s not exactly a nice world here. It’s the new reality I am trying to adapt to.

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“I can’t go to the toilet and I miss going outside to meet people and to see my friends and to just do normal stuff.”

After falling unconscious shortly after the incident, Mr Qashoo of Haringey awoke in the Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel a few days later.

He has since undergone an operation to reconstruct his knee and faces a long road of intense physiotherapy sessions.

The artist who is co-founder of the International Solidarity Movement (ISM) which is dedicated to raising the profile of the Palestinian cause, also sustained head injuries and is suffering from post-traumatic amnesia.

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Adam Sadler came to the aid of Mr Qashoo after witnessing the crash when he was giving a driving lesson to a colleague.

The 34-year-old bus driver who works for Stagecoach said: “I have seen some accidents before just after they have happened but I saw this unfold and predicted it.

“I watched as he was about to get hit - there’s nothing you can do and that’s the worst bit.

“I saw the moped coming towards the car and I shouted ‘bike’ and then it hit and I was like ‘ouch’.

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The crash happened in Blackhorse Lane, Walthamstow near the Jet petrol station. Picture: Google Maps.

“I held his hand for half an hour before he was taken to hospital.

“He was just lying there screaming in absolute agony and then he started to go to sleep and I was trying to keep him awake.

“There was blood on his head and it looked quite bad.”

Mr Qashoo’s parents who live in the West Bank have applied for travel documents to allow them to come to the UK to visit their son but are still waiting to receive them.

The Waltham Forest Guardian has contacted the Metropolitan Police for a comment.