Rory Curtis, 25, woke up from an induced coma believing that he was Hollywood actor Matthew McConaughey.

The former footballer suffered a serious brain injury and a broken pelvis after his van flipped and was hit by a number of following vehicles in August 2012.

The Daily Mail reports that Curtis did not recognise himself at first when looking in the mirror.

Speaking to the paper, he explained the bizarre result of his injury:

"When I went to the toilet I went to look in the mirror and I was shocked because I didn't look like him, I didn't know what I was looking at.

"Then slowly over time it eventually clicked and I thought 'he is an actor, what am I on about?' But at times I was in hospital thinking I can't wait to get out of here and back to filming movies."

Curtis also awoke with the ability to speak French fluently, despite not having studied it in 12 years.

The cause of all these effects was a multifocal intracranial brain haemorrhage, or a leakage of blood into the brain.

Curtis was eventually treated with an experimental drug suggested by the National Institute for Health Research Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre, and made a full recovery within two months.

"I feel it made a difference to me and because I don't remember the crash, it doesn't feel like I've had a brain injury. Apart from obviously being able to now speak French," he said.

"The accident changed my outlook on life. I can't leave the house now without telling everyone I love them and giving them a hug."