Colleagues rally round hero nurse who lost leg in car crash after saving her baby

Hospital staff in Liverpool are fundraising to help support a colleague who had her leg amputated after throwing her baby to safety before she was crushed between two cars.

Ruby Flanagan, a nurse at Arrowe Park Hospital, was seriously injured in a crash outside an Aldi supermarket in Wirral last month.

Ms Flanagan, 24, from Wallasey, who was due to return to work from maternity leave, had gone shopping to an Aldi store in Bidson Moss Retail Park.

She was carrying her baby son Leon in his car seat over a zebra crossing when she was caught between a Mercedes and Volkswagen.

As soon as she realised they were in danger, she was able to throw the five-month-old out of harm’s way, according to her sister-in-law Chelsea Clarke.

AGoFundMe page set up to raise money to help with Ms Flanagan’s care has raised over £86,000 so far.

Ms Flanagan and her partner Leon Clarke are described on the page as the “kindest caring people”.

Colleague support

Tracy Fennell, Deputy Chief Nurse at Wirral University Teaching Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, said: “We have written to Ruby on behalf of her colleagues and fellow nurses at Arrowe Park Hospital to say how sorry we are to hear of the incident and to wish her well in her recovery.

“We shared the fundraiser page in staff communications so that colleagues can contribute to the appeal to support Ruby’s recovery – many have done so and are also fundraising themselves in support of the appeal.

“Our thoughts are with Ruby, Leon and baby Leon at this difficult time.”

Fundraising page

A statement on the GoFundMe fundraising page said: “Ruby has experienced life changing injuries, she has shattered her pelvis, her right leg has been amputated and her left leg has been fractured in multiple places. She is awaiting several more operations and once over she will require a long rehabilitation process.

“Ruby’s injuries may leave her in need of specialist medical care which could incur extremely high private medical bills, multiple therapies and prosthetics.

“Ruby’s home also needs adjustments made to ensure she has the best possible recovery and the most smooth transition back home when she can eventually return.”

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