Crash victim relives life-changing ordeal

Amy Duncan lost her leg after being hit by a car which spun out of control during an illegal street race 15 months ago. Photo / Richard Robinson

A woman who lost her leg after being struck by an out-of-control car will face her second court ordeal when one of the drivers goes on trial.

More than a year has passed since Amy Duncan's dream of joining the Navy was crushed by the crash.

Ms Duncan, 19, had to have her left leg amputated below the knee after being struck on Bayview's Manuka Rd in April last year.

The former Glenfield College student was on a night out with friends, just days before she was to start training as a Navy communications specialist.

One of the drivers involved in the accident, Raymond Marsh, 19, is on trial later this month after pleading not guilty to unlawful drag racing causing injury.

"I've started writing the victim impact statement," she said. "When I had to read one at Kahn's [hearing for the other driver Kahn Roper] it was really nerve-wracking in front of everyone ... I got really nervous."

Roper was sentenced in March to 11 months' home detention, ordered to pay $8000 and disqualified from driving for two years. "I lose my leg and he gets a slap on the wrist," she said after his sentencing.

It has been a tough road to recovery.

Ms Duncan has been on the sickness benefit since, but this week she got her break - a job as a telemarketer.

"I call people up and convince them they need an HRV [home ventilation unit] in their home," she told the Weekend Herald. "I've been so bored, it's great," she said.

It was just the lift Ms Duncan needed as she mentally prepares herself for court again.

In and out of clinics and hospitals, Ms Duncan has undergone multiple procedures, had several prosthetic limb changes and has to follow a painstaking rehabilitation regime.

And while she is walking well and back behind the wheel, running is not yet an option. "There's this one stupid exercise, well, I think it's stupid," Ms Duncan told the Weekend Herald with a giggle, "where I have to pretty much stand there and just slam the heel of my prosthetic on the floor so that my stump gets used to the pressure that will be there when I run."

The pain could be intense, she said, particularly during a "nerve storm".

"I don't really understand what happens but to me they [nerves] like freak out and it just makes my leg really, really painful. It feels like someone's just stabbing my foot, it's just really intense pain, I can't do anything."

The storms lasted anywhere between 10 seconds and 10 minutes, she said.

"But I don't get it that often, thankfully."

ROAD TO RECOVERY
(April 09 - July 10)

* Ms Duncan hit by car, leg severely damaged.

* Left leg amputated below knee.

* Fitted with prosthetic limb.

* Limb changed as stump shrinks.

* Extensive daily exercises and rehabilitation, building toward running.