Mum and daughter suffered severe injuries after life-changing crash near Truro
The head-on collision took place on New Years Day in 2020
A family from Truro were left with life-changing injuries after a near-fatal car crash in Cornwall.
On New Year's Eve 2020, a mum and two daughters experienced a head-on collision which left two of them suffering severe injuries - after being saved by crew from the Cornwall Air Ambulance.
Tarryn said: "I just remember screaming and my sister telling me it’s going to be okay. I blacked out, woke up again then blacked out again. It was kind of scary because I didn’t know what was happening."
Shelley and her youngest daughter, Tarryn, both suffered life-threatening injuries at the scene.
Tarryn, who was eight at the time, dislocated her neck and suffered a bleed on the brain. She had to have a plate fitted to reconnect her head to her spine.
Shelley Taylor was travelling along the A39 at Calenick - with Tarryn and Caitlin in the car - when they were hit by a speeding driver who was travelling at speeds of more than 90mph along the 60mph road.
Tarryn said: "I woke up in hospital, but I thought it was a dream. It was scary because I didn’t know what happened and I was so confused. I remember having the halo on and lots of machines either side of me.
"I had a broken neck, fractured pelvis, fractured ribs and I also broke my collarbone. I was sad because I couldn’t go and see my horses and ride them anymore."
Tarryn had to learn to walk again. She spent three months in hospital and will never be able to fully participate in physical activities.
Shelley suffered a lacerated liver, a lacerated lung, two fractures to her lower back, a broken femur, the steering column went up through her knee, she had a broken arm and ribs, and after the accident she lost her vision for a bit, through shock and trauma. She is now registered disabled and will never fully recover.
She said: "I woke up and was told my daughter is in Bristol Children’s Hospital. It took a while for it to sink in, what had actually happened, it didn’t feel real. And with Covid you couldn’t have any visitors, that was hard".
Due to the severity of their injuries both needed specialist treatment; the crew travelled with them to Royal Cornwall Hospital, while arranging transfers for both patients to facilities out-of-county. Due to poor weather, search and rescue helicopters were tasked to provide onward transfers. Shelley was flown to Derriford Hospital, while Tarryn was taken to Bristol Royal Children’s Hospital.
Both underwent lifesaving operations at hospitals over 100 miles apart.
Shelley added: "I went through a phase of blaming myself, could I have done anything to prevent the accident, could I have swerved or braked, I’m told there’s nothing I could have done, but you still carry that guilt."
The driver pleaded guilty to two counts of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. Appearing at Truro Crown Court on 10th February 2023, he was jailed for three years and disqualified from driving for 54 months.
Shelley said: "We wouldn’t be here without Cornwall Air Ambulance, without a doubt, they will always be our heroes. I will never be able to thank them enough for what they’ve done, I just hope they realise how important they are to everyone that they help.
"You never know when you’re going to need them, you need the heroes in the sky."
To support Cornwall Air Ambulance Trust you can visit their website.