A MAN who survived a fatal car crash that killed a friend who was “like a sister” said her death “did not seem real.”
Chris Walton was a passenger in a Mercedes C Class that hit a tree on the A167 in Darlington in the early hours of Friday, June 17th.
The 22-year-old was taken to James Cook University Hospital with serious injuries, including a broken leg.
Tragically, 25-year-old Natalie Marshall, who was driving, died from her injuries.
Natalie Marshall
On Friday night, relatives released balloons in her memory at the skate park in her home village of St. Helen Auckland.
Read more: Launching a balloon in memory of Natalie Marshall
Chris, who is unable to make the event because he is still in hospital, paid his respects to the woman who is “like a sister” to him.
He said: “I’ve known Natalie for a long time. We got along well. We were up all night writing to each other.
“We were going to sit and talk all night. Whatever we said to each other, we didn’t look at each other differently.
“She was like a sister. We were called brother and sister. ”
The couple was in Middlesbrough visiting friends and were returning home when the incident happened shortly after 3 p.m.
Chris Walton
Chris from West Auckland did not remember anything about the collision and woke up in hospital.
His treatment included sutures to his head, plastic surgery on his lips and metal pins and plates in his right leg.
He also injured his arm and has bruises on his lungs.
Doctors can’t tell when he can go home and he’ll have to learn to walk first.
Chris said: “I can’t explain how I feel. It’s hard to sit here because you just think about how your body feels.
“I haven’t been out in seven days.
“What happened doesn’t feel real.”
Natalie, a mobile phone sales consultant at Bishop Auckland, was popular with a wide range of friends.
She was well known in the area and her sudden death stunned the community, devastating her loved ones.
Natalie, in the center, with Shannon, on the left, and Corina-May
She recently became the legal guardian of her younger sisters Corina-May, 17 and 14-year-old Shannon.
Read more: Fundraising to help Natalie’s teenage sisters
They are now cared for by their older sister Chloe, 28, and close friends of the Shannon Murray family, 25, from Crook, who started online fundraising.
So far, well-wishers have donated almost £ 4,000 to help them.
To donate, click here.
—
Stay up to date with all the latest news on our website or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
You can also follow our special Facebook page on County Durham for the latest in the area by clicking here.
For all the latest news from across the region right in your inbox, sign up for our newsletter here.
Do you have a story about us? Contact our news office at newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054
Add Comment