Devizes good Samaritan praised

10:01am Thursday 15th May 2008

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The father of a seriously injured young driver has publicly thanked the Good Samaritan he believes saved his son's life.

Shane Grant, 23, from Seend Cleeve, is now recovering at home from the injuries he sustained when his Renault Clio was in collision with a Saab driven by a special constable in April. The accident happened the A361 between Caen Hill and Seend Fork.

His father Chris says that if it was not for the swift action of passerby Carol Cross from Poulshot, his son could have died in his vehicle or been paralysed.

Mr Grant said: "Shane suffered multiple fractures in three of his vertebrae as well as serious cuts and bruising. Carol supported Shane's head until the emergency services arrived and even after they got to the scene.

"I am absolutely convinced that, if it hadn't been for her, we wouldn't have had a son, or he might have been left a paraplegic.

"I would also like to thank the fire and rescue services who attended the scene of the crash for being such a professionally outstanding team and getting Shane out of the car as quickly as possible and getting him off to hospital in the air ambulance."

Mrs Cross, pictured inset, a trained first aider, was modest about her efforts.

The mother of seven said: "When I got to Shane he had a neck wound and he was bleeding from that and trying to get up. He was still in his car strapped in. I told him I was going to support his neck."

Mrs Cross, who coaches the under 14s at Bromham Football Club, added: "I'm a bit embarrassed about being called a good Samaritan. I did what I thought was needed. More people should learn emergency first aid."

Shane, a former Devizes School pupil, spent 12 days in Frenchay Hospital following the accident on April 12. His family have added their support to the Gazette's appeal to save the air ambulance.