Sharon Odell was in a coma for more than a fortnight
13:22, 08 Oct 2025Updated 14:23, 08 Oct 2025
Sharon Odell before the crash(Image: Irwin Mitchell/SWNS)
A traumatised teaching assistant has told how she woke up after a horror head-on car crash to find her leg had been amputated. Sharon Odell, 55, suffered life-changing injuries when her Volkswagen Up! was smashed into by Milosz Malkowski, 34, who was attempting to overtake a car and a bus.
The mum-of-one was travelling on the A170 near Thornton-le-Dale, North Yorkshire, on April 17, 2024, when the incident happened. Following the crash, Sharon was airlifted to the hospital, where she spent two-and-a-half weeks in a coma.
But it was only when she woke did she realise doctors had been forced to amputate her right leg above the knee – she had also undergone other operations, including surgery to her left leg and foot. At a hearing at York Crown Court in July, Malkowski was jailed for 18 months and ordered to serve a two-year driving ban after previously pleading guilty to causing serious injury by careless driving.
Sharon, from Pickering, North Yorkshire, said: “The past year has been nothing short of traumatic. Waking from my coma to find doctors had been left with no choice other than to amputate my leg was devastating.
“I really didn’t know how I was going to adapt to that, but I knew it wasn’t something that I wanted to stop me from getting my life back on track. I’ve spent a lot of time in hospital and, while I appreciate the incredible care and support I’ve received, at times I still struggle to comprehend everything.”
Sharon Odell in hospital(Image: Irwin Mitchell/SWNS)
Sharon remained in hospital for three months after the crash, with her injuries leaving her unable to do things she used to enjoy with the school children, such as dodgeball. She has also since revealed she can no longer take long country walks with her dog, Jasper.
She said the support she had received from her family and friends – including her husband, Frank, and son, Joseph – had been a huge support. She has also since managed to get her life ‘back on track’ by returning to her job as a teaching assistant.
Sharon said: “Getting back to the school I work in has been a milestone achievement for me as it means I’ve regained a lot of my independence and shows how far I’ve come.”
Sharon Odell after the crash(Image: Irwin Mitchell/SWNS)
Solicitors at Irwin Mitchell successfully secured funding from Malkowski’s insurers for her to be admitted to STEPS Rehabilitation. Sharon now has access to the lifelong support she requires, including a prosthetic leg designed specifically for her.
Peter Lorence, the specialist serious injury lawyer at Irwin Mitchell representing Sharon, said: “The past 17 months have been incredibly difficult for Sharon and her family as they come to terms with the life-changing severity of her injuries. While nothing can make up for what happened, through early access to rehab, Sharon has made remarkable progress in her recovery.
“In the meantime we hope that Sharon’s case acts as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences innocent people can be left facing due to the actions of other road users.”
Milosz Danisz Malkowski(Image: Irwin Mitchell/SWNS)
Sharon has recently completed a 5km parkrun as part of a small group of patients from STEPS Rehabilitation, where she walked part of the distance and used a wheelchair for the rest. She also said she hoped that, by sharing her story, drivers would think twice and take further care while on the road.
She said: “By sharing my story, I want others to see that there is life after a life-changing injury – I’m proof of that – and there’s support out there to help get you through it. I also hope that it will make others think twice and take care on the roads. What happened to me was down to another driver and I wouldn’t want anyone else suffering the same.”
