14
Jan
Kirkby Malzeard amputee who was told she'd never walk again to climb 199 Whitby steps
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A Kirkby Malzeard crash survivor who was told she would never walk again is hoping to climb 199 steps for charity.
Lucie Maguire, 24, suffered life-changing injuries, including her right leg being amputated and part of her pelvis removed, after she was struck by a tractor near Ripley in January 2021.
Her bladder and uterus were removed, she had a stoma fitted, and her back and ribs were broken.
Despite being told she would never walk again, Lucie has now made it her mission to climb the 199 steps leading up to Whitby Abbey to mark the fifth anniversary of the crash.
Lucie said:
My life changed in an instant. What began as an ordinary day became one of the most frightening moments I’ve ever faced. The pain, fear and uncertainty that followed were overwhelming, and the road to recovery was far harder than I ever imagined — physically, mentally and emotionally.
The months after my accident tested me in ways I can’t fully put into words. Learning to live with trauma, rebuild strength and find hope again took time, resilience and support. In my darkest moments, I learned just how vital trauma services are for both patients and their families.
Lucie Maguire outside her home in Kirkby Malzeard.
Lucie has already managed to climb 50 steps and is hoping to tackle all 199 on January 27.
She is raising money for Day One Trauma, a national charity that helps people affected by traumatic injuries and their loved ones.
Lucie told the Stray Ferret:
I want to turn the worst day of my life into something positive. By climbing the steps, I am overcoming everything I thought would never be possible, all while raising money for an amazing cause.
Lucie has so far raised more than £1,800 of her £2,500 target. You can donate to her fundraiser by clicking here.
Lucie climbing steps after being told she would never walk again.
The accident
Before the crash, Lucie was a normal 19-year-old.
On the evening of January 27, 2021, Lucie’s mum’s car had broken down near Ripley and began to fill with smoke.
As Lucie helped her mum out of the car, she was hit by an oncoming tractor and dragged down the road beneath its 10-tonne trailer.
In a tragic twist of irony, Lucie thought someone had been coming to help her and her mum when she saw the headlights approaching her.
Lucie previously said:
The next thing I knew, I’d been run over by a tractor. I was stuck under there, continuously going around with the wheel. It spat me out slightly down the road.
Whilst I was there, I kind of accepted the fact that I was probably going to die.
Lucie in Leeds General Infirmary
Emergency services arrived within 15 minutes, but Lucie said it felt like forever.
Due to covid restrictions still being in place, she had to travel in the ambulance alone.
Lucie woke up a month later to her dad stroking her hair and her mum seated at the foot of the bed. They had been told to say goodbye to her several times before she woke up.
She spent 18 months in an intensive care unit, where she was treated for injuries likened to that of bomb blast victims.
When Lucie could finally go home, her parents had to convert their dining room into a bedroom as she couldn’t go upstairs. She later moved into her own bunglow near her parents' home.
Four years on, Lucie last year said she was “really enjoying my life”. She added at the time:
I cook, I bake, I’m working really hard on my rehab, I’m going out with my friends.
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