A crash victim has been found dead weeks after she bravely spoke out about being trapped in a car with her dying colleague.
Gema Love tragically passed away at her home in Airdrie. Police were called to a property in the Cromarty Road area on Thursday, November 21.
Her death is not being treated as suspicious.
The 27-year-old spoke to the Record in September and called for better support for car crash victims after she was involved in a horror incident that left her unable to walk and claimed the life of fellow South Lanarkshire Council carer Mary Logan in January 2019.
Gema and Mary, 62, had stopped to help an injured animal on the road near Biggar when they collided with a car and a Jeep.
Gema’s hip was crushed in the smash and she was stuck inside the vehicle while Mary lay dying in her lap.
They were rushed to hospital, where Mary passed away two days later. Following the accident, Gemma was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit at Wishaw General Hospital for a week. She underwent a seven hour long surgery to have her hip and pelvis reconstructed as she’d suffered a “complex break”.
Opening up on the ordeal, Gema told the Record: “It was dark and I was trapped in the van. Mary was lying on my lap.
“My left hip took the full impact of the crash and now I can’t walk without the help of crutches. I can’t stand up for more than ten minutes and I live in chronic pain every single day.
“I have severe depression, ongoing grief, PTSD and I have also developed an eating disorder.
“I live every day in that crash – I’ve had to learn to try and cope with the trauma myself. It has ruined my life.”
The former council employee called for victims of car crashes to be provided with discharge treatment plans that check in on individuals in need during their recovery.
She revealed she had reached out to a mental health helpline through her employers, but was informed her case was “too in-depth”.
At the time, she said: “I’m not aware of any online support groups, nor have I been offered any crash victim recovery support. I don’t know anyone in my position or similar. I’ve felt very alone through the process.”
Gema’s brother, George Stanfield, led tributes to her and described his sudden loss as “devastating”.
He said: “We are beyond heartbroken.”
Jemma Hopkins said: “My heart is absolutely broken. She was one in a million.”
Veronica Rolink said: “Gema was an absolute legend of a girl and will most definitely never be forgotten. Rest in peace beautiful girl.”
Sinead Quigley said: “Rest in peace, Gema. Sad news.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Around 10.25am on Thursday, 21 November, 2024, were made aware of the death of a 27-year-old woman in the Cromarty Road area of Airdrie.
“Enquiries are ongoing to establish the full circumstances however the death is not being treated as suspicious. A report will be submitted to the Procurator Fiscal.”
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