'New face' giving man life back

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A former fisherman who suffered serious head injuries in a boat accident has said new facial reconstruction technology has given him his life back.

Donald Sutherland, from St Fergus, was left badly disfigured 14 years ago.

The 68-year-old suffered multiple skull fractures, and also lost an eye. He had to wear an eye patch.

Aberdeen Royal Infirmary experts have used artistic, engineering and scientific skills to rebuild his face, including using water-based silicone.

He has spent years getting his face rebuilt after the accident left him physically and emotionally shattered.

Silicone, steel, magnets, acrylic, plaster of Paris, and gold have been used.

'Streets ahead'

Mr Sutherland told BBC Scotland: "It was horrible, I had this massive great patch.

"The technology is streets ahead of what it was years ago."

"They have given me my life back."

Karen Boyd, a maxillofacial prosthetist on the ARI lab team, said Mr Sutherland first came to them eight years ago.

She said progress in this field was being made all the time.

The technology can be used to treat accident victims such as Mr Sutherland, those who have suffered burns, and people being treated for cancer.