Heysham woman who lost her eye in serious crash pays tribute to 'outstanding' emergency services who came to her rescue

Megan Barker was involved in a serious crash on her way to work, which resulted in the loss of her right eye and fractures to her face.
Megan with PC Katie Foster and Jack Ineson.Megan with PC Katie Foster and Jack Ineson.
Megan with PC Katie Foster and Jack Ineson.

The Lancaster and Morecambe College photography student, 19, who also works as an online delivery picker at Tesco in Carnforth, was on her way to her shift at around 3am on Saturday morning, April 11, when the accident happened.She was driving along Oxcliffe Road in Heysham when her Citroen C3 hit a hedge and wooden fence, before ending up back in the carriageway.

Megan lost her right eye in the crash and also suffered multiple fractures to her face.

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She underwent emergency facial reconstruction surgery, and doctors were able to preserve some of the muscle in her right eye socket, which she hopes will enable a new artificial eye to move as her left eye does.

Sgt Matt Entwistle, Megan Barker, PC Katie Foster and PC Jack Ineson.Sgt Matt Entwistle, Megan Barker, PC Katie Foster and PC Jack Ineson.
Sgt Matt Entwistle, Megan Barker, PC Katie Foster and PC Jack Ineson.

Despite the life changing injuries, Megan remains in high spirits, and has praised the actions of police officers PC Jack Ineson and PC Katie Foster, as well as Royal Lancaster Infirmary and Royal Preston Hospital staff, who provided care and specialist surgery in the wake of the accident.

She posted a photo on Facebook, and said she wanted to draw attention to the amazing people that have helped her so significantly.

She said: "On the far right of this photo is a man called Jack, who was the first responder to a car accident I was involved in early Saturday morning.

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"Although I flagged him down looking like the character ‘Two Face’, he kept me collected and distracted, before his colleague Katie arrived - who is stood next to him - they are both exceptional individuals and without them I would have undoubtedly gone into shock and been a bigger mental mess than I was a physical one.

"Although I couldn’t help Katie much with getting her a click & collect slot at Tesco ha, she was a lot of use to me.

"These are just two outstanding people of many that arrived on the scene and aided me in any way they could."

She also paid tribute to a lady called Jan, who was on her way home from a shift at the RLI, and also stopped to help.

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"Absolutely going out of her way to help, after undoubtedly doing enough as it was," she said.

"I am so lucky to have been met by such a force of support.

"I would also like to thank the paramedics that took me to Preston Hospital and apologise for causing bother about them cutting my best bra!

"I’m sure all of you enjoyed my waffling.

"The NHS staff I was met with were something else, specifically the trauma ward nurses, I truly was made to feel as comfortable I could.

"I can’t thank any of you enough for how at ease I was made to feel, especially with the hardship of Covid-19 and not really being allowed visitors.

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"Whilst in surgery I was operated on by three specialist surgeons, that have completely reconstructed the right side of my face from fractures, splinters, glass and even managed to preserve some of the muscle in my right eye socket so that when I eventually get an artificial eye it may move as my left eye does.

"A massive thank you to my parents as well, for everything.

"These are the people I want attention to be drawn to, these are the people I would not be as well off without.

"Also, yes my fringe is horrific."