"Many Photos" - Woman hit by car at more than 100mph which killed her friend reveals how she rebuilt her life

A young woman who was hit by a car racing at 101mph while she and a friend were waiting at a bus stop is learning to manage her life-changing injuries five years on.

Harriet Barnsley, 26, had travelled home to Birmingham for a hen party on May 31, 2014 when she and pal Rebecca McManus were struck by a car that was racing another vehicle.

Beccy, 21, died on impact but Harriet bounced off the car three times and was left severely injured on the side of the road.

When she woke up from a coma six weeks later at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, she couldn't move and had no recollection about what had happened.

Harriet Barnsley, pictured left, now 26, was waiting at a bus stop with her friend Rebecca McManus, right, in May 2014 when a car driving at 101mph hit them. Beccy was killed instantly 

Harriet, pictured in hospital after the accident, bounced off the car three times and was in a coma for six weeks at The Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham

Since then Harriet, who had only finished her philosophy degree at Reading University the day before the crash, has undergone more than 70 hours of surgery and been forced to learn to live with a brain injury. 

But despite her traumatic ordeal, Harriet is determined to keep Beccy's memory alive and is determined not to spend her days 'upset or angry'.

She said: 'The most important thing is to accept what's happened to you. This is necessary if you ever hope to be able to move on. 

'I don't spend my days upset or angry about what's happened, and because of that I am able to be happy and make the most of surviving for the both of us.'

Since the crash almost five years ago, Harriet has undergone numerous operations and lost the use of her left foot.

At one point she was at risk of losing her foot altogether when she contracted sepsis and narrowly avoided having it amputated. 

Harriet, pictured now, would like to be a writer and works with charities to educate others about brain injuries

Harriet recalled: 'I was in hospital for five months initially then several times since. I have lived in hospital for several weeks following each new surgery. 

'I've had over 70 hours of surgery so far, and I go back whenever there is a crisis with my left foot. So a fair bit at the moment.

'I'm trying to keep my leg away from requiring amputation for as long as possible. So far I've had my little toe and fifth metatarsal removed.'

Harriet, pictured after waking up from her coma in 2014, has lost the use of her left foot which narrowly missed amputation after she contracted sepsis

Everyday tasks such as walking to the shops are now extremely tiring for Harriet, pictured with her best friend Jack after the crash. She can't walk for longer than 20 minutes a day

As well as dealing with the physical aspects to her injuries, Harriet was left with a brain injury and has had to dramatically change her lifestyle.

She explained: 'I can no longer run (which I loved doing) and can walk for no longer than 20 minutes a day five years later. 

'Learning how to live with a brain injury and fatigue is my new life goal. Even getting up out of bed every day is always a challenge, let alone anything else. 

'Holding myself upright in a chair is beyond tiring for me, and I fear it always will be.

Since the crash, Harriet, pictured in hospital, has had more than 70 hours of surgery and has learned to live with a traumatic brain injury

Although it is hard to talk about losing her friend Beccy, Harriet, pictured now, is determined to keep her memory alive and 'make the most of surviving for the both of us'

'Walking to the shop for some milk is too big a task most days, so I wait for someone to bring the things I need to me. 

'Working full-time is now impossible, and jobs suitable for my needs are few and far between.'

Harriet admits she didn't have a particular life goal when the crash happened but she would now like to educate others on brain injuries.

'I had only just finished my degree the day before the crash and hadn't got any specific life plans,' she said. 'Fortunately for me, this works in my favour.

Before the crash in May 2014, Harriet, pictured with her father before sustaining her injuries, had just finished studying Philosophy 

'A brain injury is for life, but it doesn't mean I'm a different person. I'm just more direct and less inhibited.

'I have a very dark sense of humour as a result of all the trauma. That's how you can tell if someone's suffered, by how they handle themselves.

'I also want to continue to help and educate others. I intend to be a writer, as well as volunteering for several charities and exercising as much as possible with my fatigued body and mind.'

Harriet started a masters in The Philosophy of Health and Happiness at University of Birmingham last September, but had to drop out due to her brain injury. 

Despite her devastating injuries, Harriet, pictured with her mother, is determined not to spend her life feeling 'angry' all the time

She said: 'I intend to go back when I've learnt to cope with the most recent stage of my recovery.'

Although it is difficult to talk about what happened, Harriet is determined to keep Beccy's memory alive.

She said: 'I still talk about it with my friends regularly as I still have a lot of trauma to work through.  

'Losing Beccy is too close to my heart to be able to talk about that pain, but I speak about her to her mother regularly.

'I intend to keep her memory alive with me and our story.' 

Since the crash, Harriet, pictured after one of her operations, said she's developed a dark sense of humour and has been trying to learn to live with her brain injury

The men responsible for the crash were both jailed in 2015. During the trial, witness Lindsey Grant described their driving as like 'a scene out of the film The Fast and The Furious'.

Sukvinder Mannan, 33, from Halesowen, West Midlands, admitted causing death by dangerous driving and pleaded guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving and failing to provide a blood sample following the crash.

In November 2015 Mannan was jailed for eight years at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Inderjit Singh, 31, of Wolverhampton, West Midlands, was cleared of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.

However he had previously admitted dangerous driving and was jailed for one year.  

As well as the jail terms, Mannan was banned from driving for 10 years and Singh was disqualified for three. 

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