A British grandmother is battling for survival in a Spanish hospital after a devastating taxi collision cut short her dream holiday in Tenerife.
Wendy Smith, 72, from Essex, suffered catastrophic injuries when the taxi she was travelling in collided with another vehicle on the popular holiday island. The impact was so severe that emergency services had to cut her free from the wreckage.
Family's Desperate Race Against Time
Her daughter, Emma Wilson, has flown to Tenerife to be by her mother's bedside as doctors fight to stabilise her condition. "We're living every family's worst nightmare," Emma told the Mirror. "One minute Mum was enjoying her well-deserved holiday, the next we're getting that dreaded phone call."
Wendy, described by her family as "the heart of our family," remains in intensive care with multiple serious injuries. Medical staff at the Hospital Universitario Nuestra Señora de Candelaria are monitoring her around the clock.
Holiday Horror Unfolds
The accident occurred on a main road in Tenerife when the taxi carrying Wendy and another passenger collided with an oncoming vehicle. Local authorities are investigating the exact cause of the collision, though early reports suggest difficult weather conditions may have been a factor.
"The British Consulate is providing support to the family during this traumatic time," a Foreign Office spokesperson confirmed. "We remain in contact with local authorities."
Community Rallies Behind Family
Back home in Essex, friends and neighbours have launched a fundraising campaign to help cover mounting medical and accommodation costs. "Wendy would do anything for anyone," one neighbour said. "Now it's our turn to help her."
The family has asked for privacy while they focus on Wendy's recovery, but expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support from both the British and local Tenerife communities.
