Kate Clayton, who grew up in Southampton, has died after being involved in a car crash in Grand Cayman

By Melanie Adams From Daily Echo

A HAMPSHIRE woman who suffered horrific injuries after a Caribbean island car crash has tragically died.

The devastating news comes just over a week after Kate Clayton was flown home to Southampton from the Cayman Islands following the crash that left her fighting for her life.

Last week her family were delighted when the 30-year-old had been successfully transferred to Southampton General Hospital, just days after launching an appeal to raise the money to fund her flight home.

But sadly, Kate, from Hedge End, lost her fight for survival, passing away yesterday morning in intensive care.

Last night her family were too upset to talk.

As previously reported, the former Wildern School pupil was left in a critical condition following an accident in her Jeep Wrangler, which careered off the road and smashed into a tree.

Kate, who her family described as easygoing and fun-loving, had moved to Grand Cayman in December 2013 to follow her dream of training as a diving instructor.

She had achieved that dream, training as a dive master and was helping people to explore in the Caribbean Sea with Tortuga Divers, part of a company called Red Sail Sport.

But that fell apart on January 11, as she drove home along Old Robin Road, on the island’s East End, having spent the afternoon watching American football with friends.

She suffered a catalogue of horrific injuries which have left her paralysed from the chest down and with possible spinal injuries.

Her mum Jo flew out to be by her side, while her family back home, including her sister Claire and step-father Michael Rocks, launched Kate’s Fighting Fund to raise enough money to fly her back home.

After just a few days, overwhelming support for the family’s appeal had been boosted by friends and relatives gathering an undisclosed amount towards flight costs and after doctors deemed her stable to fly, she headed home with her mum.

Funds still came flooding in from friends, loved ones and strangers, with more than £7,000 raised to help pay for Kate’s rehabilitation.

For more on this story go to:  http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/11806492.Hampshire_woman_who_suffered_horrific_injuries_in_Caribbean_car_crash_dies/

See related iNews Cayman story with links published February 10 2015 “Successful fundraising means Kate Clayton set to return to Southampton after Caribbean crash” at: http://www.ieyenews.com/wordpress/successful-fundraising-means-kate-clayton-set-to-return-to-southampton-after-caribbean-crash/