A woman has told how she "flatlined for five minutes" and was left in a coma after she was hit by a van on a girls' holiday abroad.
Becca Herlingshaw, from Middlesbrough, and friend Georgia Mills were having an "amazing" trip in Bucharest, Romania, when she was involved in a road accident that has left her grateful to be alive.
They were walking back to their apartment when Becca was hit by a van at around 4am on February 27.
The 21-year-old suffered brain damage and is being treated at the Spitalul Universitar de Urgenta Bucuresti hospital, in Bucharest.
Becca, who is a duty manager at Tomahawk Steakhouse, will have to remain in Romania for the next month until she is well enough to return home.
She told TeessideLive she has been overwhelmed by the response to a GoFundMe page set up Georgia to help pay for her costs abroad and is taking everyday as it comes.
She says she has been told she will not need further surgery but is unable to fly home for around a month due to medical risks.
"I'm currently taking every day as it comes, I flatlined for five minutes and was in a coma so fair to say my breath at the minute is a blessing. I had a brain scan and got the all clear on more surgery," she said.
"I've had a better evening today than I've been having though, I've been walking and eating which is good. I'm still here for a month as I'm too much of a flight risk considering the level of brain damage."
Georgia said they had been out to watch the Tommy Fury v Jake Paul fight and were walking back to their apartment when Becca was hit by the van at a pedestrian crossing.
Emergency services were called and Becca was rushed to hospital were she underwent surgery on her brain.
"We'd had an amazing day beforehand. We were at a crossing and I remember my phone flying out of my hand where the van had hit me," said Georgia.
"I turned around and saw Becca on the floor. It was horrific."
The 25-year-old, from Berwick Hills, set up the GoFundMe to help the family with their mounting bills while Becca recovers in hospital. The Teessider has already raised £4,385 and has set a target of £5,000.
