A YOUNG mother relived the horror of a helicopter crash in which she and her son narrowly escaped death.

The helicopter smashed into the ground near Noke, when returning to Oxford from a day trip to Wales.

Now Caroline Clasper, who has been left permanently disabled, is suing the helicopter pilot George Warren, of Nethercote Road, Tackley, for substantial damages.

Ms Clasper, 32, told the High Court how she lay trapped in her seat with aviation fuel pouring over her and her son Oliver, five.

She said: "My initial response was to get my son out as soon as possible. I tried to undo the seat belt, which I managed to do but then realised that I could not move from the waist down. "I began to panic as I realised that I seriously could not move and the pain was very intense.

" I was very afraid. There was fuel pouring all over me. Everyone seemed to be able to get out of the aircraft apart from myself. I was trying to cry out, but there was no energy in my lungs to make a sound beyond a whisper."

Ms Clasper, of Fulham, suffered a burst spinal fracture in the accident in August 1993. The helicopter was carrying a crew of two and four passengers.

Her counsel, Harry Trusted, told the court: "This was an accident which could have been fatal. She was in a helicopter which hit the ground at speed with a small son who mercifully survived more or less uninjured.

"But it was a catastrophic accident. It has had permanent and debilitating effects on her life."

Mr Trusted said that despite surgery she is still plagued by agonising back pain and had suffered post traumatic stress disorder and depression.

The court heard that Mr Warren's responsibility for the accident is not in dispute and it is Judge Hutton's sole task to assess the amount of Ms Clasper's compensation.

The hearing continues.

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