Doncaster woman hit by gas cannister is back home and "overwhelmed to be alive"
A Doncaster woman - whose family were told she wouldn't survive after a freak accident in Greece - is back home from hospital and "overwhelmed to be alive".
A Doncaster woman who survived a gas canister falling on her head in a Greek nightclub is apparently "overwhelmed to be alive" after returning home from hospital.
Laurie Balfour suffered serious head injuries and was in a coma for a month after the freak accident during a holiday with friends in Zante back in August.
Nine weeks on and she's home from hospital here in South Yorkshire and well on the way to making a full recovery.
Lauren Brown is one of her friends who was with her when it happened - she's told Hallam Laurie's made a miraculous recovery:
"The doctors told her family and Laurie that 99% of people with that specific brain injury wouldn't make it. She is the 1% to tell the tale.
"Nine weeks on, it's amazing to know that she's in the comfort of her own home, and she's with her family and no more hospital nights for her, she's in the comfort of her own bed and eating nice food and she was overwhelmed at the fact that she was home.
"When I visited her she couldn't believe what it is that she's gone through and I don't think she realises how poorly she actually was. It's still a long road but she's just overwhelmed that she's alive - just looking at the social media with all the support that she's had that's made her realise she is lucky to be alive."
After the accident happened, Laurie was treated in a hospital on the Greek island before being transported to Athens for specialist treatment there.
Last month she was flown home to the UK and treated at Doncaster Royal Infirmary and last week she was allowed to return home.
Lauren says Laurie's been so strong to make it through:
"It is just baby steps but what she's got to realise is she's already come so far in leaps and bounds - she doesn't realise that I don't think. I think Laurie herself has already proved to us that she is determined to make a full recovery and I am 100% behind that - that she will. Definitely.
"I don't think it's sunk in with any of us yet just how quickly she's managed to get out of hospital since the accident happened from what we were told the first week - the fact she wasn't going to make it. It is a relief that's she's out now and we're all so happy for her and her family."
Since the accident, Laurie's friends have raised hundreds of pounds to support her and her family through fundraising events, gaining support from celebrities such as Gaz from Geordie Shore.
And it's not over yet - there'll be a Spook Fest event at the end of the month which is expected to raise over ÂŁ10,000 for the appeal.
There's more information on the fundraising on the appeal's .