Terrifying
She said: “The children have been through such a traumatic experience as they were initially stuck in the car whilst it was on its roof and had to be rescued by friends smashing the windows to get them out.
“It was a terrifying experience for everyone but Ben and Olivia have shown so much courage throughout this whole situation.
“I am so proud of them both. Ben said he ‘can’t think about the good times before the accident’ – all he can remember is the accident.”
Jules broke her ribs, right leg and two vertebra in the crash and her toes were dislocated. Her left arm was injured and her hip fractured.
A GoFundMe page has been set up in a bid to raise £15,000 for the family.
In a statement on the fundraising page, family friend Alan York said: “It was supposed to be the holiday of a lifetime but whilst going out for dinner one evening with friends, a vehicle travelling in the opposite direction crossed over the central line and collided with Kerry and Jules’ car.
“Kerry was pronounced dead at the scene and Jules was rushed to hospital. Thankfully, neither Ben or Olivia were seriously harmed, but the memory of that awful event remains at the forefront of their minds.
“Jules is recuperating in New Zealand with the friends she went out to visit and will need a substantial period of recovery before the family can return to England.
“Until then, Ben and Olivia have been schooled in New Zealand while Jules undergoes physiotherapy before the doctors can assess whether she is fit enough to take the children on their long journey home.”
Mr York said the money will be used to provide “magical moments” for Ben and Olivia – such as days out and holidays – to “provide light during the darker times”. Hundreds of supporters had yesterday donated more than £8,000.
He added: “Jules’ recovery period is expected to be very lengthy and we, as friends of the family, want to help Ben and Olivia get through what will inevitably be some very tough times over the next few years, given how involved their mums were in all aspects of their lives.
“With your support, we want to help get the whole family safely home back to the UK and give Olivia and Ben experiences that will enrich their childhood and transform their lives for the better after this terrible experience.”