A TEENAGER seriously hurt in a road crash has agreed to talk to students at her high school about the injuries she suffered because she was not wearing a seatbelt.

A TEENAGER seriously hurt in a road crash has agreed to talk to students at her high school about the injuries she suffered because she was not wearing a seatbelt.

Kathryn Alexander, 15, is fighting her way back to full health, with the help of her family and friends.

She sustained skull fractures and damage to her eyesight and hearing in the accident on the B1117 between Eye and the A140 junction on June 11.

Other youngsters in the car in which she had been a rear seat passenger telephoned Kathryn's father, Paul Alexander, and he got to the scene before the ambulance, finding his daughter covered in blood and showing no sign of life.

She was taken to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and spent time in Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge, before being transferred to Ipswich Hospital.

Since leaving hospital on June 26 Kathryn, a pupil at Hartismere High School, Eye, has been recovering at the Gislingham home of her father and at Occold where her mother, Gill Colchester lives.

The teenager, who was thrown from the vehicle as a result of the crash, is not expected to return to school for some months but has agreed to speak at an assembly to tell her fellow students how the seriousness of her injuries resulted from her not wearing a seatbelt.

Mrs Colchester said the whole family had gone through emotional torment in the aftermath of the crash.

"It was a huge shock for my ex-husband to see Kathryn at the scene of the accident.

"We still do not know exactly how the crash happened but at the moment we are just concentrating of getting Kathryn back to full health," she said.

The last tests at Ipswich Hospital had showed that the teenager had only 40% hearing but doctors expect it to improve gradually. An operation may be necessary.

She is due to return to Addenbrooke's in September for a further scan on her skull fractures.

"She still has painful ribs, double vision and is generally exhausted.

"I think the accident shocked her friends because it showed that people of their age can get badly injured," said Mrs Colchester.

Hartismere head-teacher, Richard Hewitt , kept in daily touch with Addenbrooke's during Kathryn's spell there – in order to keep her fellow student fully informed.

Many of the students have sent "get well" cards and she has had visits from friends.

Students have also sent Kathyrn the £75 proceeds of a collection for her and the money may be donated to Addenbrooke's .

"I can't remember the accident, which is probably a good thing, but I'm really missing going out with my mates," the teenager said yesterday.

She said she had come to terms with the prospect of a long haul back to full recovery.