'It’ll never happen to me – but it did’

March 4, 1999 – the day began just like any other.

Laura Torrance was a happy, bubbly 16-year-old with the world at her feet as she set off for school in East Kilbride that Thursday morning.

Little did Laura know that later that evening she would make a life-changing decision by getting into a car with a newly passed driver.

It was cold and dark as the group of five pals set off for a tour around the single-lane farm roads – their 18-year-old friend at the wheel – excited having just passed his test just a few days earlier.

It was around 8.30pm when Laura regained consciousness, lying in a field and unable to move her legs.

The inexperienced driver was travelling at around 40mph when he failed to negotiate a sharp bend and the car spun out of control, rolling over and over and onto the farmland.

Laura wasn’t wearing a seatbelt and was flung 20 yards clear of the vehicle.

“It was cold and dark and apart from the radio still playing in the car it was quiet for a while.”

The others had escaped relatively unscathed, a broken collar bone and a few cuts and bruises – the same could not be said for Laura.

“I sat up not thinking about the potential for a spinal injury. It felt as though my legs weren’t attached but when I looked down, they were there.”

The paramedics arrived. Laura’s parents arrived – her dad helped carry her to the waiting ambulance and on to hospital.

Laura spent 6 months in hospital, initially in the high dependency unit and then rehabilitation.

She doesn’t recall the moment that the news was broken to her and her family that she wouldn’t walk again.

“My parents and my younger sister who was 12 at the time were at my bedside when we were told that I would be in a wheelchair for the rest of my life. I don’t remember but apparently I cried and then made a joke about being prioritised when getting on any rides at a theme park!

“I do remember feeling like I had extreme pins and needles in my legs and that gave me a sense of hope that something may come back – I suppose I didn’t want to give up hope. As time passed there was a gradual acceptance that I wouldn’t walk again.

                                                                                                                    “Seeing my dad cry was the worst”

“I would cry because I couldn’t do the things my friends were doing. Dad would cry with me – seeing him cry was the worst. My mum was devastated but it was like she stepped up and found this extra strength to try and keep everyone else strong. I had a conversation with my big little sister recently which was very emotional. She had really been passed around to other family members at the time of my accident as my parents’ focus had been on me. I had thought she was ok, but she missed out on a year of her life because of what happened. It was hard to hear.”

Her hopes of being a hairdresser and beautician were also dashed for it was simply too physically demanding. However, after a spell volunteering with the Spinal Injuries Unit she was offered a job as a Peer Support Co-ordinator for Spinal Injuries Scotland covering the Glasgow area.

Her work can take her around the country giving talks from her own experiences in a bid to raise awareness and discourage careless and dangerous driving and to make people consider their choices.

Laura will be in Orkney to speak at the Road Safety Event on Kirkwall’s Broad Street on Saturday 2 July.

“My best friend, Peter, warned me not to get in the car all those years ago but I didn’t listen. He knew the driver would be showing off. I said it will be fine you think it will never happen to you – but it did.

“You cannot live your life in fear or never get into a vehicle, but you do need to be aware that it can happen to you, and it does happen to many people. I have provided peer support to many others with spinal injuries and will continue to do this as accidents- many preventable – still go on.”

Laura continues to be that happy go-lucky person and enjoys life with her partner of seven years.

Asked if she feels resentment towards the driver, she said: “At first not really, we even had nights out in among groups of friends. Then the anger set in as I realised how challenging my life was but I don’t have that anger anymore. I like to think I am now kinder, more patient and more appreciative of my family and friends. The driver moved away from our area many years ago as he could not cope, he was on anti-depressants. This affects everyone in different ways. Lives have been thrown into turmoil by one stupid act of showing off.”

Head along to Broad Street on Saturday morning from 9.30am (2 July) to hear Laura share her story.