‘Firefighters saved my life after car crash’

And Natasha Griffiths has issued an emotional plea to help save Battle Fire Station from being downgraded to retained status, under controversial proposals from the East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service.

Natasha was just 17 when she was involved in the crash in January 2010.

A deer had run out in front of the vehicle being driven by Natasha’s mother.

She swerved to avoid the animal but lost control and collided with a tree in Marley Lane.

Natasha bore the brunt of the impact and suffered internal bleeding, a smashed pelvis, 11 broken ribs and a broken wrist, arm, leg, ankle and finger.

She was airlifted to the Royal London Hospital, where the doctors did not think Natasha would survive the night.

She was in a coma for five weeks and was not released from hospital until the end of April 2010.

Natasha then had to learn how to walk again.

Following her recovery, Natasha, now 21, went on to study at Sussex Coast College and has recently got engaged.

But if Battle’s firefighters had not arrived on the scene quickly, it may have been a different story.

Natasha, from Battle, said: “From this crash I was stuck in the car against a tree, so stuck that I couldn’t just be helped out of the car.

“I had to rescued and cut out of the car by Battle’s firefighters.

“If they weren’t that close and able to get there in time for me that day I may have died then.

“This is because I suffered serious injuries and was then airlifted to London.

“But it was down to the firefighters to get me out of the car in the first place so they helped to save my life.

“The Battle Fire Station needs to be kept so they can continue to save others that are close!

“Hastings may be too far away to get to someone who needs the help.”