A CHARD family believes they are lucky to be alive after a miraculous escape from the wreckage of a car crash near Ilminster.

Mum Jessica Le-Fort and daughter Georgiana, five, are still recovering in hospital from their injuries, while Jessica’s partner, Stuart Williams, and daughter Elouise, eight, are back at home with relatives.

The incident happened at around 8.20pm last Wednesday when there was a collision on New Road in Seavington St Mary between a Renault Scenic and a Peugeot 106.

The two children were trapped inside the Peugeot and things could have been a lot worse had it not been for another motorist Billy-Joe Wilsher, of Yeovil, stopping and coming to the rescue, helping the sisters out of the car quickly with fears that the vehicle might catch fire.

Elouise has cuts and bruises and is recovering from whiplash and Stuart got out with cuts and bruises.

But mum Jessica and Georgiana are still recuperating at the Bristol Children’s Hospital. Jessica has been undergoing treatment for broken bones, cuts and bruises, while brave Georgiana has had to have an operation to repair a small hole in her small intestines.

Jessica said: “Georgiana is on the mend and is being very very brave.

“It was a horrific car accident. Thankfully and amazingly we all got out. We don’t know how or why we survived this crash, but I am very grateful to be able to be with my children.

“I am so proud of my girls.”

Jessica’s mum Victoria said: “We’d all like to thank Billy-Joe who stopped and dragged the girls to safety. We are so thankful to him because he saved their lives and we’ll be forever in his debt.

“Also thanks to a lady named Barbara who gave out initial first-aid and a couple who also stopped and helped my daughter and her partner, gave them coats and kept them and the two girls safe until the emergency services arrived.

“You are angels in human form and we cannot begin to thank you enough.”

It is expected that Jessica and Georgiana will remain in hospital for a few more days, but they would like to thank everyone for their kindness and messages of support.

Jessica told the News: “Georgiana is making a fantastic recovery after what she has been through.

“It’s only now really that I’m beginning to think back to what happened and realising that we are incredibly lucky.

“We can’t thank those who stopped to help enough for what they did.”

Anyone with information about the crash are asked to contact police on 101 and quote reference number 839 of Wednesday, August 19.

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