Young Ilminster mum recalls moment she was rescued from car crash

Abigail Brown, 22, of Ilminster was involved in a single-vehicle accident on Greenway on Saturday night (October 22) and was airlifted to Musgrove Park Hospital in Taunton.

She has praised Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service for coming to her aid, adding the firefighter who jumped in to rescue her was ‘her saviour’.

She said: “I was absolutely petrified. I’m just grateful my kids weren’t in the car with me at the time.

“When the firefighters arrived at the scene they jumped in straightaway. They supported me and helped me, they held my head up high.

“The one who was closest to me was my saviour really, trying to keep me awake, keeping me distracted, and talking to me.

“I was hurt and confused. They were cutting up the car, cutting up the doors rescuing me.”

Abigail said she is now recovering from her back injuries but added her “mental state needs to get back to normal”.

The air ambulance at the scene of the accident (Image: Ilminster Fire Service)

She said: “I am still very shocked about it, I can’t put it into words. Everyone was amazing. I remember I wanted my phone and they found it for me. They were just lovely, absolutely lovely.

“The fire service was very fast. There were also a couple of drivers trying to help me. A man was holding the windscreen that was smashing in, and a lady was holding my hand trying to reassure me.

“I felt safe in their hands.”

A Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service spokesperson said: “On Saturday night, (October 22) a crew from Ilminster were supported by a crew from Chard Fire Station and the heavy rescue tender from Taunton Fire Station at a RTC on Greenway.

“Cutting equipment, airbag covers, sharps protection, small tools, stabilization and glass management gear were all used to help safely extricate the casualty under the guidance of the air ambulance crew.”

A South West Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 21:19hrs on Saturday 22 October to an incident near Ilminster. We sent an air ambulance and a hazardous area response team and conveyed one patient by air ambulance to Musgrove Park Hospital.”