A MOTHER who was left in a coma following a horrific car smash shortly after Ilminster Carnival last year has said that it was a miracle that nobody was killed.

Lisa Stoneley, 34, has spoken publicly for the first time about the nightmare which unfolded on the night of October 6 when she and her family were travelling home after watching the Carnival and enjoying the funfair.

Their car was involved in a terrible collision with another vehicle at Bay Hill near Dillington and it resulted in a major emergency operation with four helicopters, including two police aircraft and a search and rescue helicopter, taking casualties to four different hospitals across the region. Firefighters from Ilminster, Chard, Taunton and Yeovil also attended.

Amazingly nobody was killed – and Lisa’s five-month-old daughter Faith miraculously escaped unharmed.

And Lisa, who was driving one of the cars involved, said: “It was a nightmare, but I just feel so lucky to be alive.”

 

IT is little wonder Lisa Stoneley says she is lucky to be alive after reeling off the injuries she sustained in a horrific car smash on the outskirts of Ilminster.

Lisa, 34, was in a coma for a week and underwent a number of operations after suffering swelling of the brain, fractured ribs, a cracked elbow, fractured spine, a shattered pelvis, two broken legs, knee injuries, a broken ankle and a dislocated toe.

She was driving a Vauxhall Corsa along the B3168 at Dillington after the Ilminster Carnival on October 6 when she was involved in a collision with another vehicle which sparked a massive emergency operation.

Travelling in the car with her was her partner Louis Wood, 36, their five-month-old baby daughter Faith, her 16-year-old son Ryan Wroe and his friend Jamie Steer, also aged 16.

Luckily Louis and Ryan got out of the car with minor injuries and Faith was miraculously unharmed, but Jamie suffered more serious injuries.

Lisa said she found herself trapped with the front of the car pushed back so hard it was ‘on top of my lap’ and she was airlifted to hospital along with Jamie and the driver of the other vehicle.

“I spent a week in a coma after stopping breathing on arrival at Derriford Hospital in Plymouth,” she said. “My outcome wasn’t looking very promising and my family were informed of this.

“Luckily I pulled through and although I am still in a wheelchair, I am beginning to learn to walk again.”

Lisa has said that the months following the car smash have been a nightmare, but each day she has reminded herself of how lucky she is.

And she said: “I haven’t spoken about what happened before but I really would like to thank the emergency services for what they did that night because they were fantastic – they saved my life.”