'I was left for dead': Woman hit by drink driver in Cornwall backs Christmas appeal
Sue Bradbury suffered critical injuries and says she owes her life to our air ambulance
A woman who survived a hit and run in a Cornish village which left her with critical injuries is backing a campaign to help save lives this Christmas.
On 5th December 2020, Sue Bradbury was walking her dog at Perranwell Station when she was run over by a drink driver who was later jailed.
She hit the windscreen before being thrown on to the road, suffering a serious head injury, a punctured lung, and multiple broken bones.
Sue was airlifted to Plymouth's Derriford Hospital by Cornwall Air Ambulance, to have further treatment.
The mum has shared her story to support the charity's Saving Lives at Christmas Appeal and says she owes on-board medics Kris Lethbridge and Lisa Ball her life.
"I went through his windscreen and he then left me for dead"
Sue said: “I was out with the dog; I’ve done that walk hundreds of times. You never ever think something like this is going to happen to you.
"It has been life-changing, not just for me, the impact on the whole family is enormous. My daughters didn’t know if I would survive".
Sue spent 10 days in Derriford Hospital and was unable to drive for seven months.
She has received ongoing support for the physical and mental effects of the incident.
Sue said: “I am incredibly lucky- wrong place, wrong time- but I have lived to tell the tale”.
She added: "I was given the opportunity to spend Christmas with my family last year, which was even more important as my mum has since passed away.
"I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped, if I hadn’t got to hospital as quickly as I did who knows what would have happened.
"No one knows when they might need the air ambulance. It is so important to have this team on stand-by ready to help".
Cornwall Air Ambulance was tasked to 14 incidents over the festive period in 2020, including three on Christmas Day.
The charity has now launched the Saving Lives at Christmas Appeal, which will run between 1st and 15th December.
Tim Bunting, Chief Executive of Cornwall Air Ambulance, said: "The crew are on call responding to incidents across Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly every day of the year, including Christmas.
"As a charity we rely on donations to fund lifesaving missions like Sue’s.
"If you can support, please do, every donation no matter the size will have twice the impact this Christmas".
More information about the Cornwall Air Ambulance Saving Lives at Christmas appeal can be found on the charity's website.