Manchester medical student determined to become a surgeon after surviving life threatening hit-and-run

Molly Turner, a medical student at the University of Manchester, was left with horrific injuries after narrowly surviving a hit and run.

She was a first-year at the time, on a night out in the city with friends, and had decided to walk home alone, when a car struck her while crossing the road. The driver did not stop, and Molly was left on the ground until another passerby pulled over and called for emergency assistance.

The incident left her with numerous serious injuries, including a broken collarbone and shoulder, a fractured pelvis, and internal organ damage. Quick action from medics was crucial as Molly’s extensive injuries left her in a “danger zone.”

She was rushed to hospital where she underwent twelve hours of emergency surgery and spent two days in a critical coma. During her subsequent six-week hospital stay, she required three additional surgeries.

via SWNS

Mr Joseph Alsousou, a Trauma and Orthopaedics surgeon at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, was part of a seven-consultant team who cared for Molly. The severity of her multiple injuries meant they had to act fast: “She was taken to theatre quickly for damage control surgery where we stabilised her condition and applied early surgical fixation,” he said.

“After that she underwent structured rehabilitation which is something we do to ensure the body can recover fully following such severe trauma.”

Molly remembers little about the incident: “The first thing I properly remember after coming round is being in major trauma at 4am speaking to an anaesthetist and wanting to call my mum. I was still on a spinal board, confused and unaware of the severity of my situation.”

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Six-months post-recovery, she returned to part-time work and was back doing what she loved: Hiking and sailing. “It’s a testament to modern medicine that the human body can go through all that and be back climbing mountains within half a year,” she said.

via Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust

The experience strengthened Molly’s commitment to medicine, and she is now more determined than ever to pursue a career in surgery. She described the team that saved her life as “amazing [and] insanely knowledgeable,” and mentioned that getting to see the behind the scenes of their work made her appreciate just how talented they were.

She said: “I do have a new outlook on life now, the small stuff doesn’t bother me anymore and I value just being happy much more. It toughens you up for sure, but I know I’m very lucky to have recovered like this.”

“I’m also more grateful than ever for the people I have around me. My parents and sister were constantly by my side in hospital despite living in Bristol and friends I’d only known a short time at university were coming in to visit me. I could not have asked for more and every interaction I had with them made a massive difference. I want them all to know what it means to me.”

Cover image edit via SWNS