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Paralysed Chanelle Higgins in Crimewatch hit-and-run appeal | Paralysed Chanelle Higgins in Crimewatch hit-and-run appeal |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A mother paralysed from the waist down in a hit-and-run collision has told BBC's Crimewatch she wanted "to die there and then". | A mother paralysed from the waist down in a hit-and-run collision has told BBC's Crimewatch she wanted "to die there and then". |
Chanelle Higgins was on a night out in West Norwood, south-east London, in May when a car mounted the pavement, struck her and a friend, and drove away. | Chanelle Higgins was on a night out in West Norwood, south-east London, in May when a car mounted the pavement, struck her and a friend, and drove away. |
Ms Higgins now uses a wheelchair and has limited upper-body movement. | Ms Higgins now uses a wheelchair and has limited upper-body movement. |
Her case will be featured on Crimewatch later and she will appeal for anyone with information to contact police. | |
Ms Higgins told the show: "The last thing I remember was going in the ambulance and screaming about my legs hurting, and trying to reach for my legs, and then blacking out and waking up in a hospital bed with all tubes in my mouth my neck my nose. | Ms Higgins told the show: "The last thing I remember was going in the ambulance and screaming about my legs hurting, and trying to reach for my legs, and then blacking out and waking up in a hospital bed with all tubes in my mouth my neck my nose. |
"And they told me that I was paralysed and I had very limited use to my hands - it was just horrible. | "And they told me that I was paralysed and I had very limited use to my hands - it was just horrible. |
"If I'm honest I just wanted to die there and then." | "If I'm honest I just wanted to die there and then." |
A dark grey BMW 3 series hit Ms Higgins and her friend at about 04:40 BST on 29 May last year. The car mounted the pavement on Norwood High Street, near Scandals Night Club. | |
In June a 25-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder. He has been released on bail until mid-April. | |
When the Met Police launched an appeal last November for witnesses, Ms Higgins said: "I have spent five whole months lying in a hospital bed, missing my children and wondering what type of future I will be able to have. | |
"As a single mother, I was devastated to miss my son's birthday." | |
She added: "That night has changed me in just about every way. I'm not the person that I used to be and I'm just so unhappy. I used to be active, fit and bubbly. And so independent, I didn't have to rely on anyone. Now I need care 24 hours a day and due to my disability, I can't look after my children by myself and they have to stay with my family. | |
"This is what hurts the most. It has been so painful being away from them yet they are the only thing that keeps me going now." | |
Monday's special episode of Crimewatch will focus on the consequences of road crime after the law was toughened for using a mobile phone while driving. | Monday's special episode of Crimewatch will focus on the consequences of road crime after the law was toughened for using a mobile phone while driving. |
Last week, penalties and fines for offenders were doubled to six points and £200 respectively. | Last week, penalties and fines for offenders were doubled to six points and £200 respectively. |
Following what happened to her, Ms Higgins told BBC Crimewatch her children were her motivation. | |
She said: "If I didn't have kids I would have given up because it was so hard, so painful. | She said: "If I didn't have kids I would have given up because it was so hard, so painful. |
"I am not going to let them see Mummy's weak. Mummy's too strong. I'm a fighter." | "I am not going to let them see Mummy's weak. Mummy's too strong. I'm a fighter." |
Ms Higgins' appeal will air at 21:00 GMT on BBC One. | Ms Higgins' appeal will air at 21:00 GMT on BBC One. |