'Every time I close my eyes I hear it again' — cyclist faces long and expensive road to recovery after terrible accident with lorry
A Fife woman whose life was left hanging by a thread after a devastating accident in Italy now faces an agonising battle to fund critical medical care.
Mary during her long hospital recovery and (right) her bike wedged under the lorry's wheel.
English teacher Mary Strutt suffered appalling injuries when she was hit by a lorry as she cycled through rush-hour traffic in the outskirts of Milan in May.
Having won her fight for survival, the 21-year-old must launch a new battle to meet treatment costs which run into many thousands of pounds.
One of Mary's ears was sliced off as a result of the collision. She also suffered a broken pelvis, multiple fractures to her shoulder, broken vertebrae and a punctured intestine.
Shocked doctors initially believed that Mary, from Strathmiglo, had no chance of survival. They were amazed when she responded to treatment following several days in intensive care.
She recounted the terrifying moment when the lorry struck — crushing her beneath.
"I was conscious throughout and I felt the wheel running over my body," she said. "I heard the grinding, crunching sound as it went over me — and every time I close my eyes I hear it again.
"I thought I was going to die and so did the doctors. When I initially asked if I was going to survive, they said it was too early to tell."
Mary received an emergency blood transfusion and said doctors later branded her recovery "a miracle."
Talking to The Courier from her sister's home in Italy where she is recuperating, Mary admitted everyday life remains a struggle.
"I should be able to walk properly again eventually and at the moment I can take a few small steps. However, it is painfully slow and I have to rely on my fiance, Daniell, to get around.
"Obviously, I cannot work and he has had to give up work as well to look after me, so things are a real struggle at the moment."
Having moved to Italy to help seriously ill children before teaching English, Mary admitted being so far from her family was particularly difficult.
"My parents would really love for me to be at home just now and I would like that too but it is impossible because of my injuries. There is no way I could travel that kind of distance — even getting to the doctors is an ordeal."
She added, "It will certainly be a while until I am fully fit again. The doctors have not really been able to give me any kind of indication of when that might be."
Meanwhile, Mary faces agonising daily physiotherapy, which costs up to £40 a time. She needs to find around £5000 for her healthcare bill and an extra £1700 for emergency dental treatment.
The Italian authorities will not meet the costs and provide no financial support for accident victims, so family members at home, including father Stephen, have set up a fund in her name.
- To learn more, visit the Mary's Road To Recovery Facebook page or email marysrd2recovery@hotmail.co.uk.
08.06pm - 29.06.2011 Richard Bijster - Rotterdam, The Netherlands Report This
An horrific accident indeed. However, I cannot understand why, if she is a British citizen, she does not return to the UK and continue her treatment to recovery there. It would be paid for by the NHS. If she was properly insured before going abroad, she could have been repatriated to the UK.
01.56pm - 01.07.2011 Stevi Wood - Winnipeg, Canada Report This
@Rishard Bijster - pain is an incredible immobilizer. Until she is able to move more than a few feet she is not able to make the journey home. Most of her bills are already established and while she might save on physio, the other bills still stand. I wish you a speedy recovery Mary.
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