A CAR crash survivor has thanked firefighters for saving her life after four-year battle to recover.

Candace Emptage, 40, of Burnopfield, County Durham, drove herself to Swalwell Community Fire Station, Gateshead, to catch up with some of the watch who rescued her after her horrific crash in September 2010.

The former model was left in coma after she lost control of her Toyota MR2 and crashed into the path of an oncoming ambulance on the A694 Lintzford Road, near Rowlands Gill, Gateshead.

Candace said: “I wanted to meet the firefighters who came to my rescue that night. I wanted to say a huge thank you, I owe them my life.

“I can’t remember anything about the crash and I need to know what happened. It has been a huge comfort to know that I wasn't alone that night.”

Watch manager Mark Westgarth, the Tyne and Wear Fire and Rescue Service officer in charge at the incident, said: “It is fantastic to see Candace today.

“We often don’t hear how people are doing after we rescue them so it has been an absolute pleasure to meet her at the fire station.”

He added: “We vividly remember this crash.

“As we removed the roof of the car to gain access to Candace, crew members sat inside and talked to her throughout the rescue.

“She was losing a lot of blood and her lower leg was trapped by the buckled metal caused by the impact to the front end of the car.

“We thought we’d lost Candace and fought hard to rescue her, we needed to get Candance to the awaiting police helicopter to airlift her to Newcastle General Hospital.”

On the brink of death, Candace was put on a life support machine and her family were told she was unlikely to survive the crash, which left her in a coma for two months.

She suffered memory loss from her severe brain injuries and had to learn to walk and talk again, with regularly physiotherapy; she is still having speech therapy.

She said said: “I couldn’t remember who my parents were or my daughter which was heart breaking and it has taken a long time to rebuild our relationship.

“I am so happy to be alive.”

Station manager Gary Yates said: “It was fantastic to see Candace and it was very brave of her to come along on her own to meet the firefighters who attended the scene of the crash.”