A STUDENT who returned to complete her degree studies after losing a leg in an horrific road accident has been honoured by her college.

Vanessa Robinson, who lives in East Morton, won two prestigious accolades at Craven College’s annual awards evening.

The Skipton college presented Vanessa with both its Award for Academic Excellence and its Director’s Prize on Friday.

Vanessa had to take a year out of her studies to receive hospital treatment following the accident, before beginning the long road to recovery.

Despite her ongoing rehabilitation, the 31-year-old quantity surveyor went on to gain a First Class Honours Degree in Combined Studies, only a year later than expected.

Vanessa, who was born in Portugal and grew up in Riddlesden, was four years into her part-time degree course when she was involved in a collision with a motorcyclist while out running.

She lost a leg at the scene of the accident, but her life was saved by a doctor who had been driving past.

Vanessa decided soon after the accident that nothing would get in the way of her recovery.

She said: “Even in hospital I was very positive. I just wanted to overcome each obstacle as I came across it.

“I’m not saying it was easy. I was surrounded by people who were very poorly. I was really glad to be alive.”

Vanessa said she received “tremendous” support from family, friends and her employers, Skipton construction company JM Bentley.

Unable to return to running yet, Vanessa has taken up horse riding and plans to compete in para-dressage competitions. She is also starting an online equestrian clothing business.

She added: “I knew I needed to do as many things as possible. I still haven’t fully recovered, but so long as I’ve got all these great things going on, I’m fine.”

Vanessa’s Craven College course involved English literature and history, and she achieved an exceptionally high grade for her dissertation, an analysis of Charlotte Brontë.

Jane Rogers, higher education development manager at Craven College, said Vanessa had been an inspiration to other students.

She added: “Vanessa has been the catalyst for others to finish their course through her dogged determination to achieve.

“Staff have been motivated by Vanessa’s fighting spirit, using her story as perspective to other students who may well have given up on their studies.”

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