Kentish Express Ashford & District
Young mum dies months after serious car crash
Campaign raises hundreds after 29-year-old’s tragic death
A young mum from Ashford died in hospital after a serious crash left her with a traumatic brain injury.
Tributes have been flooding in for Laura Dunk, 29, whose car left the road and hit a tree on the Old Ashford Road near Brenzett on the Romney Marsh.
The 29-year-old was airlifted to King’s College Hospital in London following the crash on Sunday, August 25, but her condition deteriorated and she died in hospital on Tuesday, October 8.
A fundraiser has now been set up for Miss Dunk’s funeral, and to care for her child.
Her son’s third birthday was just three days after she died.
The fundraiser, titled ‘Laura Dunk, who was and is one in a million’, bears a tribute from Miss Dunk’s best friend, Shannon Benstead.
The tribute reads: “A horrible accident took the life of a very special person.
“The fundraising is to allow Laura to have a very good send off and also to allow her little boy to be comfortable.
“She was such a loving and funny mum, daughter, sister and best friend.
“No one had a bad word to say about her and she was loved by many.
“We want her to have the best send off, and for her little boy to have the best start in life.”
The Facebook fundraiser has so far seen 47 donations, reaching a figure of £820.
The overall goal for the campaign is £5,000, and Ms Benstead says that the closer they can get to that goal, the more they can honour Laura.
“Money doesn’t mean anything but a funeral and everything else that comes with it is not cheap,” she added.
“If every person can donate one or two pounds each, every pound will add up to support her family through such a horrible time.
“Laura was so kind, funny and she was there for all of us.
“She was unique and I’m not just saying that because she was my best friend. She made you smile even if she was sad herself.”
Miss Dunk’s father, Paul, said his daughter’s partner, Wayne Bourne, has been a great support to the family.
The pair had been together since Miss Dunk was 15 years old.
Last Thursday morning, an inquest opened into her death at the Archbishop’s Palace in Maidstone.
The arcade attendant previously attended the Christ Church school in Stanhope, now known as the John Wallis Academy.
She was travelling in her blue Vauxhall Astra when it left the road in Brenzett at about 1.40pm on August 25.
At the time of the crash, police appealed for a cyclist and the occupants of a small dark hatchback car who were in the area at the time to contact them.
The inquest was adjourned until January 20.
If you would like to donate, visit bit.ly/2MrlaXi
‘A horrible accident took the life of a very special person... Laura was a loving and funny mum, daughter, sister and best friend...she was unique’ - friend Shannon Benstead