22-year-old Asia Harris has been talking to those who helped rescue and care for her and 2 other family members following a serious road traffic collision near Yarmouth earlier this month.
As previously reported by Island Echo, emergency services rushed to the A3054 Bouldnor Road on 2nd August when a Renault Kangoo left the road and collided head-on with a tree. Asia was a passenger in the car when it crashed and immediately burst into flames.
Now, after an extended stay in hospital, the 22-year-old is back home in the West Wight. She has been recalling the ‘simply terrifying’ incident with the Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service.
It’s believed Asia’s father, 73-year-old West Wight resident Mally Harris, had a medical episode at the wheel resulting in the car spinning out of control.
Asia has described thick black smoke rising over the bonnet of the car following the impact with a tree. Although Asia’s partner, 21-year-old Marcus, was himself seriously injured in the crash he managed to free himself from the car and drag Asia to safety.
2 witnesses to the crash, including an off-duty PCSO, have been praised and called life-saving heroes by Asia as they battled to pull Asia’s father to safety from the burning vehicle. Asia says they saved her father’s life.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance flew Asia to Southampton General Hospital, where it was discovered she had a broken coccyx and an unstable break in her back. Asia has praised the care she received from Isle of Wight Ambulance Service paramedic Emma Webb and from firefighter Phil Ryder from Freshwater Fire Station, who carried out C Spine control during the incident.
Doctors at Southampton told Asia that the actions of Emma and Phil saved her from being paralysed.
Fellow passenger Marcus has also now returned home from hospital and is continuing to recover at his home on the mainland. His injuries included displaced bones causing swelling to the legs and feet as well as an L1 fracture.
The Isle of Wight Fire & Rescue Service has shared Asia’s story with the permission of the family, who have passed on their sincere and loving thanks and heartfelt gratitude for what they describe as the life-saving actions of all of the emergency teams that attended the incident.
What a charming young lady and such a brave and spirted response from the rescuers.
Hope all make a speedy recovery.
Very lucky that there were people around early morning to help with the rescue .
Very, very lucky…. hit a tree at 40+ and the chances are you don’t survive the impact.