A FORMER British Airways worker has broken her silence over a horror Hogmanay crash that killed three of her pals and left her in a coma.
Lauren Feeney, 29, was given just 0.5 per cent chance of survival after the motor she was a passenger in collided with a 32-tonne truck near Heathrow Airport on New Year’s Eve in 2019.
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She suffered a horrific catalogue of injuries including 26 broken bones and brain damage.
Lauren, from Glasgow, had moved to London to complete her training as cabin crew for British Airways.
She was just a month into her dream job jetting around the world when the accident happened.
Speaking for the first time four years after the horror crash, she said: “I can’t remember anything.
“When I hear about what happened, it’s like listening to a story about someone else, or watching a TV show. It was horrible, so maybe it’s better that way.”
Lauren was in a car along with three friends Rachel Clark, Joseph Finnis and Dominic Fell on New Year’s Eve four years ago when their white Toyota Yaris collided with a white Mercedes HGV.
Lauren’s injuries were so bad that when the police officer who was first on the scene pulled her from the car, her body was “like jelly”.
She spent a month in a coma.
Sadly, the other three people in the car died in the crash.
Lauren spent two months in hospital in London before being transferred back to Glasgow just as COVID struck.
She spent four months in the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital (QUEH), first in the orthopaedic department and then in the Neurorehabilitation Unit.
She then continued her rehabilitation at home with her mum Pauline and dad Kevin.
“I spent two years receiving a range of therapies,” Lauren said.
“Mum and dad had been told not to get their hopes up, that my life would be severely limited. They were planning for a life of care.
“But the staff who cared for me were just fantastic. They were such an amazing support for me that I’m not sure where I’d be without them.”
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Lauren now lives with a brain injury, sight problems, reduced function in one leg, which means she needs a brace, and other permanent injuries following the horror crash.
As she started to make a recovery, Lauren knew she couldn’t go back to the job she loved.
Rather than sitting feeling sorry for herself, she got up and got active.
She now volunteers two days a week helping staff at the QEUH.
Lauren added: “I started volunteering at the QEUH R&R Hub just over a year ago and, to be honest, I feel so lucky to be here. Before cabin crew I worked in hospitality, and I just love being around people and helping them, so being here is perfect.
“Don’t get me wrong – it’s not easy. The aftermath of the accident means as soon as I get stressed or overwhelmed, it gets really tough. Plus I can’t walk as well as I used to, and I’ve got constant problems with my sight, so days can be a bit of a challenge.
“But I don’t want sympathy, or to make a big deal of things.”
Lauren wants to become a motivational speaker so she can inspire others to overcome their own challenges.
“I was offered the chance to speak at a conference recently, and I absolutely loved it,” she said.
“People like me wouldn’t normally be able to speak, but that has made me even more determined to share my story. In fact, it feels like I have a responsibility to make the most of that to help others who have been through similar.”
She’s also resurrected her teenage hobby of swimming – and she now trains regularly with the Scottish National Para Swimming Squad.
Lauren has also taken up running, recently completing her first 5km and with the ultimate goal of taking part in duathlons – even though she can’t feel her leg unless weight is going through it.
“It’s difficult right now,” she said.
“I have to concentrate really hard on where my foot is going to land and with my sight issue it can be a real challenge. But I’m stubborn so I won’t give up, and I’m learning to manage pretty well.”
Dr Teng Cheng Khoo, Lead Clinician and Consultant in Rehabilitation Medicine at the NRU (formerly PDRU), paid tribute to Lauren and the work she has put into her recovery.
He said: “It is amazing how far Lauren has come. She sustained significant traumatic injuries from her accident, and not every person who went through what she did would be able to bounce back in such a way.
“One of the main reasons for Lauren’s phenomenal recovery and re-integration is her ongoing motivation and the hard work that she has put in over the years. Staff at the then PDRU found her a joy to work with despite the challenges she had to face at that time. She worked with staff to set goals that consistently pushed the boundaries of her recovery and what she was able to achieve.
“We also have to remember that this happened at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, which makes her achievements all the more impressive.”
Mary Nolan, Interim Volunteer Manager (South Sector) with NHSGGC, described Lauren as “an amazing person – quick, funny, sharp, and always smiling”.
Workmate Caroline Maxwell added her own tribute and said: “It’s a pleasure volunteering alongside Lauren. We bounce off each other and the hours just fly by.
“Lauren likes to ensure that the front-line staff are well looked after, and always makes time for a chat.
“Oh, and she makes a great coffee!”
Speaking about her life now, Lauren added: “I bear no ill will. I am where I am and my life’s great now. I just want to be the best person I can be and to help others.
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“In fact, if you have challenges in your life and aren’t sure you can take on something new, look at me – don’t let anything hold you back. In fact, I’d say even more that you should go for it.
“You’ll always be glad you did!”
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