A devastating car crash last year left Abbie Hayes trapped in the vehicle’s wreckage with her life on the line.
Last night Abbie visited one of her local fire stations to be reunited with the heroes who had spent three hours battling to rescue her.
The crews from Fleet, Hartley Wintney, Rushmoor and Basingstoke were rewarded with commendation awards presented to them by Abbie and Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin.
Abbie thanked her heroes on the night by saying:
“Words can’t describe how thankful I am for each and every one of you!
“If it wasn’t for you guys and your incredible skill and resilience I wouldn’t be here today.
“You are all true heroes and deserve everything and more.
“I wish I could somehow repay you for what you did that night.
“Thank you for being so brave and dedicated , and just absolutely incredible people.”
Chief Fire Officer Neil Odin said:
“Our crews acted professionally and courageously in very testing circumstances during a difficult incident, and these efforts have not gone unnoticed.
“This is just one example of the incredible work our firefighters do each day to make a difference and shows how highly regarded our teams are within their local communities.”
The skills demonstrated by the HIWFRS firefighters on the night of the complex rescue ensured the then teenager wouldn’t lose her leg which was trapped in the wreckage.
Suffering a broken back, femur, elbow, hand, rib, tibula and fibula in the incident, Abbie was taken to Southampton General Hospital for spinal surgery and has since embarked on a remarkable rehabilitation process.
The former bar worker now wears an ilizarov frame on her leg which has helped to grow 4cm of bone lost in the collision.
Joined by some of the firefighters who had saved her, Abbie undertook a five-mile walking challenge with the 9kg metal frame on her leg, raising more than £4,500 for The Fire Fighters Charity back in October.
You can show your support for Abbie’s fundraiser on her Just Giving site.
