Heartbroken mum's tribute

Illona Culver, 18, who lived in Clarendon Road, Worthing, suffered severe head injuries after the Toyota Corolla she was driving crashed on the A281, in Lower Beeding, days before Christmas.

Fighting back tears, proud mum Bev said: "She hung on for two days so that everyone she loved could say goodbye.

"I wouldn't let go of her hands until her very last heartbeat. I wouldn't let her go alone because she didn't like being on her own."

Beautiful Illona, a former Davison School pupil, was "the ultimate party girl", who touched the lives of everyone she met with her warm, outgoing, bubbly personality, her mum said this week.

After the accident, on December 19, she was rushed to Hurstwood Park neurological centre, in Haywards Heath, where she died on December 21.

Friend Sophie Knowlton, 21, who was in the passenger seat, escaped the crash with serious injuries.

Ms Culver, 36, spoke of Illona as a daughter, sister and best friend she could never replace.

"I just thank her for being my daughter because I couldn't have wished for a better one.

"She was perfect in every way. From her sense of humour to her outgoing personality, she overflowed with confidence."

Lo, as Illona was affectionately known, was close to her sister Carly 16, and brother Charlie who turned 12 on the day of her accident.

She loved to go out with friends to bars in Worthing including the Toad, Lush and Eden.

Ms Culver said: "She was out every night partying with friends. She lived for her friends and they loved her.

"She was the most vivacious girl. A real people person who would do anything for anybody."

Illona, who also attended Whytemead First and Downsbrook County Middle schools, dreamed of becoming an accountant after she studied business at Worthing College.

She "adored" her job as personal banker at Barclays Bank, in Worthing.

Devastated staff say she spent hours helping customers who all knew her by name and sometimes went into the bank just to see her.

Colleagues paid tribute to her on Christmas Eve when they wore sparkly clothes to work.

Months before her death Illona met boyfriend James Randall, 20, who sat beside her hospital bed with Ms Culver.

She said: "Illona told me she loved him. He is heartbroken because he loved her so much."

Illona attended the funeral of friend Hayley Owen, 23, of Littlehampton Road, Worthing, who died as she tried to cross railway lines in Chichester just two days before the crash.

Ms Culver said: "When she came back from Hayley's funeral she said, 'I want my funeral to be a celebration with everyone in their clubbing gear'.

"It is a twist of fate because she had never talked about her funeral before."

Ms Culver said Christmas was unbearable without her beloved daughter, as presents meant for her remained wrapped.

She said: "We just tried to keep it as normal as possible. It was low key but it was still Christmas for Charlie, we had to make it special for him."

Up to 300 family and friends, including 20 staff from Barclays, are expected to attend Illona's funeral tomorrow (Friday) from 1.30pm at Durrington Cemetery.

She will be buried dressed in her favourite turquoise prom dress covered in sequins and black stiletto shoes.

Mourners will wear their best clubbing gear to celebrate of her fun-filled life.

Donations to the Hurstwood Park neurological centre should be made through Dillistone Funeral Service,

South Farm Road, Worthing, telephone: 01903 200835.