Claire will walk down the aisle

A Shropshire woman who thought she would never walk again after she was hit by a car driven by a drink driver will walk down the aisle to tie the knot.

Doctors did not expect Claire Bethell to survive after she was injured in an horrific road accident in Whitchurch 16 years ago. She was in a coma for nine weeks and left in a wheelchair.

She had to learn to walk again after suffering a fractured skull, broken leg, broken arm and paralysis in the left side of her body.

Miss Bethell, who now lives in Shrewsbury, will be reunited with the nurses who battled to save her life when she ties the knot in January with her fiance Stuart Burns.

The 32-year-old said she has stayed in contact with the hospital staff since the accident, and wanted them to help her celebrate on her special day.

She said despite doctors and her family not expecting her to live, she had gone on to gain three degrees, a successful job with Shropshire Council and was getting ready to tie the knot.

"I've stayed in contact with the nurses and invited the two main ones who saved my life and also my physiotherapist too, I'm really looking forward to it," she said.

"I never thought I'd get married, it was quite a nasty accident and it's silly but I just never thought I would.

"I was told it would be hard to walk, I was in a wheelchair for almost a year and on walking sticks for another three years so I didn't think I'd walk again, I don't think the medical profession thought I'd live let alone walk, so walking down the aisle will be great."

Miss Bethell is still paralysed down her left arm and had to give up her dream of becoming a physiotherapist, but said her job was the next best thing.

"The nurses are really pleased for me, they are such brilliant nurses and I have really fond memories of them. The doctor who worked really hard to save my life is not in the area now or I would have invited him.

"I was so poorly I was in a coma for just over nine weeks."

Miss Bethell and Mr Burns will marry in Shrewsbury on January 25 before honeymooning in Barbados.

By Abigail Bates