THE SURVIVORS of a horrific car crash near Yarmouth have told their stories and thanked rescuers who saved them.

Following the horrific collision and subsequent car fire on August 2, resulting in a multi-agency response and three casualties being hospitalised, the Isle of Wight Fire and Rescue Service spoke to 22-year-old Asia Harris about the experience.

Freshwater Fire service shared the story today.

Asia was a passenger in the car when it crashed and burst into flames and yesterday she finally returned to her West Wight home after leaving hospital.

Asia described the incident as “simply terrifying”.

Asia’s father, 73-year-old West Wight resident Mally Harris, is believed to have had a medical episode at the wheel resulting in the car spinning out of control and hitting roadside trees and then immediately bursting into flames.

Asia described thick black smoke immediately rising over the bonnet of the car and although Asia’s partner Marcus, 21, who was also a passenger in the car, was himself seriously injured he managed to free himself from the car and drag Asia to safety.

Two witnesses to the crash, known as Steve and Steve, have been praised and called life-saving heroes by Asia as they battled to pull Asia’s father to safety from the burning vehicle and in Asia’s words they saved her fathers life.

Asia was flown from the scene by Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance to Southampton General. She had a broken coccyx and an unstable break in her back.

She praised the care she received from Isle of Wight Ambulance paramedic Emma Webb, who tended to Asia at the scene, and firefighter Phil Ryder, from Freshwater Fire Station, who carried out C Spine control during the incident.

Asia’s doctors at Southampton told her these actions saved her from being paralysed.

Marcus has also now returned home from hospital and is continuing to recover at his home on the mainland. His injuries included displaced bones causing swelling to legs and feet as well as an L1 fracture.

Asia and her family pass on their sincere and loving thanks and heartfelt gratitude for what they describe as the life saving actions of all of the emergency teams that attended the incident.

The fire service spokesperson said: "We wish Asia and her family all the very best as they continue to recover."

All images and details published with the kind permission of all involved in the incident.