A teenager would not have survived a road crash which killed her two friends without the response of an air ambulance service, her aunt has said.
Ellis Marr, 18, and friends Skye Mitchell, 18, and Caitlin Huddleston, 18, all from Millom, Cumbria, were heading for a meal out when they were involved in a collision with a van travelling in the opposite direction on the A595 in Bootle on July 14.
The driver, Miss Mitchell, and front seat passenger Miss Huddleston were pronounced dead at the scene, while back seat passenger Miss Marr was treated for critical injuries by the North West Ambulance Service and the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
Skye Mitchell (Cumbria Police/PA)
Miss Marr was airllifted to Royal Preston Hospital where she is still recovering from fractures to the pelvis, leg and back, a brain injury and bruised ribs.
Her aunt, Leanne Cummings, 43, said: “Ellis remains in hospital where she was airlifted but has progressed from critical care through various units and currently is in the neurological rehabilitation unit where she is receiving excellent care in terms of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy and sessions with the psychologist.
“Without GNAAS I am certain that Ellis wouldn’t be here today. We’re just so grateful for what they have done for us and can’t emphasise enough how vital this service is to us all.”
Andrew Barrington, GNAAS doctor said: “Ellis had a very difficult and prolonged extrication after which she was immediately anaesthetised to provide some stability and protect her brain from further injury.
“She’s very much in the category of ‘unexpected survivors’ so we are absolutely delighted to see her doing so well in her recovery.
“We’d like to invite Ellis along to our airbase when she’s ready. It would be great to see her.”
Following the tragedy her family collected her A-level results which revealed she achieved the grades needed to secure an apprenticeship at nuclear site Sellafield ,which she hopes to take up next year.
Her uncle, Louis Cummings, 41, was among a team of cyclists who recently took part in a sponsored 135-mile bike ride from Millom to Penrith to raise money for GNAAS, a registered charity, and the final total will be matched by his employers, the National Nuclear Laboratory.
GNAAS fly three air ambulance helicopters across the North East, North Yorkshire and Cumbria.