A woman has opened up about the moment her partner found out that she had been involved in a near-fatal car accident by checking social media after she failed to return home.
Danielle Cordwell, 19, from Middlesbrough, was travelling to work on the morning of February 7 when she was involved in a serious collision at a junction in Harrogate.
She was rushed to hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance Service, but her partner did not find out about the incident until he logged onto Facebook and messaged Miss Cordwell’s mother.
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Danielle works as an army medic. (Image: GNAAS)
Miss Cordwell said: “It started out like any other day. I got up, got ready and jumped in the car. I’m an army medic so I was on my way to sick parade travelling through Harrogate and had stopped at a junction.
“I couldn’t see much out of the junction so started to edge out and I saw a car opposite flashing its lights. I thought this was for me, so I pulled out and that’s when I was hit.”
The 19-year-old’s car was hit on the driver’s side at around 60mph.
Miss Cordwell said: “Upon impact, the car that hit me stopped and rang the police. They thought that they had killed me, and I have since been told that emergency services believed they were attending a fatal incident.”
Three off-duty nurses were nearby who saw that accident happen and ran over to help the teenager.
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Danielle spent two weeks in hospital. (Image: GNAAS)
Miss Cordwell said: “I somehow managed to pull myself out of the car via the passenger side door. My memory after this is completely blank.”
The North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) attended the incident and immediately called on the help of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS).
GNAAS’ critical care team that day was doctor Laura Duffy, paramedics Lee Salmon and Ian Nellis, and pilot, Mik Kingham.
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The team put Miss Cordwell in a coma on scene and she was flown in the charity’s Pride of Cumbria II helicopter to Leeds General Infirmary.
Miss Cordwell said: “I had two bleeds on the brain, a collapsed lung, fractured sternum, collar bone and spine and a laceration on my spleen.
“I was in an induced coma for 24 hours and in the meantime, the police had contacted the army who had informed my next of kin who is my mum, and she lives in Essex.
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“My boyfriend found out about my accident from checking the news because I hadn’t returned home, and my phone was just ringing out. He then messaged my mum on Facebook around 11.30pm and found out from her what had happened.”
Miss Cordwell was in hospital in Leeds for two weeks and recalls her recovery as being painful.
Miss Cordwell added: “GNAAS is an amazing charity and I have so much admiration for the team and the work that they do. I wouldn’t be here without them.”
