Crash survivor defies the odds

Kimberly McNeill (Centre) is recovering rapidly with the support of friends (L) Beka Bryant, and (R) Vicky Callinicos. Photo / Supplied

Two months after having her life support machine switched off, a Hawke's Bay woman has made another remarkable step in her recovery from a car crash - she has returned home.

Kimberly McNeill is now walking and talking, less than two months after doctors said she would never recover from her severe injuries.

The life of the Havelock North teenager was left hanging by a thread when she was involved in a car crash shortly after Christmas. Kimberly, 18, was put on life support and transferred to Auckland City Hospital. After 15 days, her doctors turned off the machine against her family's wishes.

Defying the odds, she pulled through and was transferred to Hawke's Bay Hospital to begin her recovery.

On Wednesday she returned to her parents' home where the promising actor was singing, talking and slowly regaining her independence.

Parents James McNeill and Jackie Kiddle were elated to have their daughter home. McNeill said she was making "great progress".

"To have her home so early is another outstanding milestone. Kimberly has a long way to go, but the sky's the limit," he said.

She would continue to receive treatment at home.

Her parents were positive that with the right combination of treatment, love and support she would make a full recovery.

McNeill said support from her friends, including some who have been temporarily displaced by the Christchurch earthquake, helped give Kimberly the strength to pull through.

McNeill and Kiddle have spent the past two months at their daughter's side but they are preparing to return to part-time work at their Napier acupuncture clinic.

While many of her Napier Girls' High School friends were embarking on their first year away from home and revelling in university life, Kimberly's plan to study for a bachelor of communications at AUT University was put on hold.

But her parents were confident their "extraordinary young lady" would join her friends next year.