A teenage rugby player has astounded medics with her recovery from devastating injuries suffered in a car crash – and is now even back supporting her teammates on the sidelines.
Newark Rugby Girls player Victoria Lyon suffered multiple fractures to her skull in November 2015 when the car she was travelling in with her parents was in a head-on collision.
At the time the family were driving on the A617 between Mansfield and Newark after from watching the club’s men’s team play in Arnold.
Victoria, then 13, was put in an induced coma and spent weeks in intensive care at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre.
But she’s gone on to shock medical teams time and again with her miraculous recovery and is now back supporting her teammates from the sidelines and inspiring them to win national titles.
Her dad, Howard Lyon said: “We just had three months of hell really [after the crash], but we never gave up and the club never gave up.
“We knew she’d come through and we knew she’d make it. And here she is today. She’s a walking miracle. It’s incredible.”
Her teammates sent her videos of support as she began her recovery, going through intense sessions of physiotherapy.
During her rehabilitation the team went on a cup run inspired by her fight, which ended with Victoria leading them on to the pitch for the final. Victory followed and with it a national title.
Mark Dobb, head coach of the side, said: “It didn’t matter what me or any of the other coaches said on the day – all the girls wanted to see was Victoria.”
Clare Dobb, co-ordinator for the team, said: “All of a sudden a passion came from these girls it was like ‘Victoria can’t play for us but we’re going to play for Victoria’.
“And they played with such fight, such gusto, such tenacity that I’d never ever seen in a rugby team before.”
Victoria’s recovery is continuing, and she can now throw a rugby ball again and say a few words.
The driver of the other car involved in the crash was arrested and later jailed after admitting causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
