AN INSPIRATIONAL young woman has landed her dream job to support others.

Catrin Pugh, from Rossett, was just 19 when she was involved in a coach crash near Alpe D'Huez in France back in 2013.

Now, after completing her degree, she has landed a job as a physiotherapist with the Katie Piper Foundation where she will able to make a difference to the lives of other survivors.

Sharing the news on Instagram, Catrin said: "When I started getting better and working out what to do with my life after my accident, the only thing I knew I wanted to achieve was to make a difference for future survivors. I started by giving motivational talks and providing peer support to others, working with charities and being honest about my journey. But I wanted to do more…

"Studying physiotherapy wasn’t in my original life plan. Completing my degree and hospital placements during a global pandemic was unimaginable. But we got there!

"And now I’m absolutely elated to have secured my first physiotherapy job with a charity who were there for me from the beginning @kpfoundation 

"We provide rehabilitation and other supportive services to survivors of burns and traumatic scarring, giving each and every one of them the opportunity to enhance their future and thrive in whatever way they want to.

"As a survivor myself, I know how crucial this service is and I cannot wait to work with such a committed, caring team. I look forward to enhancing lives not only through speaking out on here and in the media about my own journey, but by actually being a part of the recovery of survivors!

"Also shoutout to @katiepiper_ for noticing this gap in services years ago and using your connections and talents to set up the foundation to address this need!"

Katie Piper welcomed Catrin to the team.

She said: "And we got our dream physiotherapist. Welcome aboard- here’s to the future."

In 2013, Catrin suffered 96 per cent burns, with severe damage to her hands and eyesight. Her chance of survival was given as one in a thousand.

Only the soles of her feet and a few patches on her scalp were untouched by the fire.

Catrin, 27, spent more than eight months in hospital following the crash and was in a coma for three of those.

Catrin has defied the odds and following more than 200 operations and procedures, she has now gone on to graduate with a first class honours degree in physiotherapy from King's College, London.

The former pupil of Darland High School in Rossett, Castell Alun High School in Hope and Coleg Cambria in Wrexham is now keen to use her skills and lived experience in her new role to help others.

The Katie Piper Foundation is currently running an emergency appeal and Catrin is hoping to drum up some local support.

The coronavirus pandemic has seen the decimation of funds to the foundation that would be used to give survivors of their chance to thrive.

The Foundation said: "Catrin survived a coach fire, against the odds, having had 96% burns, so she understands, firsthand, how it could affect survivors of burns and people with scars from traumatic incidents if services have to be cut.

"Five times more survivors are coming to us for help than before the pandemic. Over half of them suffer with thoughts of suicide. But we only have half the funds than we used to.

"Please support survivors in crisis. We cannot contemplate turning survivors away over Christmas.

"It takes only seconds for burns to alter a life. It takes only seconds to donate."

To donate visit https://katiepiperfoundation.enthuse.com/donate#!/