One of the two survivors from the Cardiff crash has been left "unrecognisable" from her injuries after she was left for nearly TWO days in the wreckage, her mum has revealed.
Sophie Russon was one of the five victims of the horror smash which killed three of her friends over the weekend, only for the car they were in to lie undiscovered for over a day as police launched a search.
The 20-year-old's mum has been keeping vigil at her bedside as she remains in a critical condition in hospital after the wreckage was discovered in woodland off a dual carriageway in the St Mellon's area of the capital in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Sophie, along with pals Eve Smith, Darcy Ross, Rafel Jeanne and Shane Loughlin had been travelling from Porthcrawl to a nightclub in Newport on Friday evening when the crash occurred.
The bank worker suffered a fractured skull and bleed to the brain, as well as breaking her neck and spine, mum Anna Cerowicz said.
Anna believes the impact of the crash left Sophie with burns from her seatbelt and that she was left suspended inside the car, after it came to rest at a steep angle pointing downwards.
Despite her horrendous injuries, Sophie survived the crash and laid alongside Eve, Darcy and Rafel - all of whom tragically were killed - as well as pal Shane for 46 hours.
Anna, 41, from Newport, said: “She doesn’t know where she is or what happened.
“She had panic attacks throughout the night when she came round so they sedated her.
"She’s in shock and has a lot of injuries. You can't recognise her.”
Eve and Darcy, both 21, and 24-year-old Rafel were all killed in the crash after the Volkswagen Tiguan. Shane, 32, also remains in a critical condition at the University Hospital of Wales.
Mum Anna said her daughter would have been "petrified" laying there for nearly two days with such horrendous injuries.
“She was in the car with bodies all around her, that’s a lot for anybody.
“She was in a small space, cold, scared stiff and not able to reach her mobile phone.”
Speaking to The Sun, She added: “There’s no words to describe it. I can’t imagine how long it’s going to take for her to get over this. She’s going to need a lot of support.
“I’m heartbroken for the families of Eve and Darcy. They’ve lost a child at the end of the day, I nearly lost mine.”
Both South Wales and Gwent Police have referred the case onto the Independent Office of Police Conduct.
Questions have been raised as to why it took so long for the car to be found, while Anna says she wonders whether the three who died may have survived their injuries had they been reached sooner.
Police told the mum the three had died on impact, but she said "the only people who will know that are Sophie and Shane".
“Policemen on foot had searched the area but didn’t find anything," Anna said.
“It was on a main road, next to a roundabout and opposite a garden centre. It doesn’t make sense.
"When I got to the scene of the crash there were 40 officers there.
“Where were they on Saturday when I first reported Sophie missing?”
A vigil was held at the scene of the crash on Tuesday evening, where crowds let off balloons.
Assistant Chief Constable Mark Hoborough of Gwent Police said: “This is an extremely sad situation, and our thoughts are with the families and friends of each of the young people involved.
"We will continue to support the investigation and would ask members of the public to refrain from speculation during this period."
Assistant Chief Constable Jason Davies of South Wales Police said: “Our thoughts continue to be with the families and all those affected by this tragic incident.
"Specialist officers are carrying out a detailed investigation to piece together what has happened. Family liaison officers are supporting the families involved at what must be a hugely difficult time for them.”
