A student who was left paralysed after the car she was travelling in veered off a cliff was told to consider ending her life by a doctor before fulfilling her dreams of becoming a catwalk model.

In November 1995, aspiring model and PhD student Claire Freeman, now 41, and her sister were being driven by their mother Barbara to Auckland from Whangeri on New Zealand's North Island.

During the two-hour drive Barbara fell asleep at the wheel and the car veered off the road before rolling down a cliff.

Claire was 17 at the time and sustained a severe spinal cord injury, having to be airlifted to Auckland Base Hospital where she was put into an induced coma for two weeks. 






In November 1995, aspiring model and PhD student Claire Freeman (pictured), now 41, and her sister were being driven by their mother Barbara to Auckland from Whangeri on New Zealand's North Island







The two hour drive caused Barbara (pictured with Claire) to fall asleep at the wheel and the car veered off the road before rolling down a cliff







Claire was 17 at the time and sustained a severe spinal cord injury, having to be airlifted to Auckland Base Hospital where she was put into an induced coma for two weeks


For a year she was in and out of hospital where doctors told the family she had just a ten per cent chance of surviving.

'I spent a year in and out of hospital before starting my design degree in Wellington,' she said.

'I completed my degree four years later, started working full time as a designer while completing my masters in health science.'

Despite doubts from doctors, Claire made it through three surgeries, including an operation to stabilise her neck - a 14-hour surgery where a screw was placed into her spinal cord but caused further damage to her wrist and triceps.






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'I then had surgery to connect my bladder to an external bag so I could manage toileting,' she said.

'Unfortunately, they used the wrong tubing at the hospital in Auckland and a week or so later, I fell into a coma.'

Claire was paralysed from the neck down and has been in a wheelchair ever since, and she often felt like a 'freak'.

'Growing up after the accident was extremely difficult,' Claire said.

'The university campus was totally inaccessible, and I spent the first three years not talking to a single student due to being extremely shy, depressed and embarrassed about having to use a wheelchair.

'I also didn't have any finger function so the design work was very challenging as much of it was not on a computer.'






In February 2018 she was approached by Italian modelling agency Iulia Barton which kick-started her career as a catwalk model







While she was studying design in Christchurch an earthquake hit in both 2010 and https://betterlesson.com/community/lesson/693072/microsoft-mb-330-exam-dumps-success-secret 2011 which triggered post-traumatic stress disorder from her accident







The trauma was so bad she attempted suicide six times within five years, each time falling into a coma


Claire said she didn't return home after the accident because she felt too humiliated and didn't want anyone seeing her in a wheelchair.

'I felt like a total freak; I didn't know anyone who was disabled, and I hated the fact I couldn't walk,' she said.

'I despised my new broken body and would wear black baggy clothes and hide when I could.' 

While she was studying design in Christchurch an earthquake hit in both 2010 and 2011 which triggered post-traumatic stress disorder from her accident.

The trauma was so bad she attempted suicide six times within five years, each time falling into a coma.

She was then told to look into assisted suicide overseas.






Claire (right) was paralysed from the neck down and has been in a wheelchair ever since, and she often felt like a 'freak' 







She spent years feeling insecure about her disability but put herself out there with the social media account and tried to connect with new people


'I was encouraged by the suicide outreach clinic to "look into assisted suicide overseas" as the psychiatrist said he "wouldn't want to live with my disability",' Claire said. 

Claire suffered from depression for 15 years and said she often felt disconnected from the outside world and started an Instagram account so she could talk to people. 

She spent years feeling insecure about her disability but put herself out there with the social media account and tried to connect with new people.

Little did she know that this would boost her spirits and even her career. 

Claire now identifies as a 'cyborg', as her wheelchair is a part of her.

'The recovery process has been ongoing, over the twenty years since the first accident. I was very depressed for around fifteen years,' she said.






Claire quickly built a following on Instagram and finally felt like she had a sense of purpose







Claire suffered from depression for 15 years and said she often felt disconnected from the outside world and started an Instagram account so she could talk to people







Claire says her mother has been her biggest supporter and despite being behind the wheel of the crash, has been 'her rock' through everything


'Five years ago, after another neck surgery (this one went terribly wrong) I lost my job as a designer and started my PhD.'

Claire quickly built a following on Instagram and finally felt like she had a sense of purpose. 

In February 2018 she was approached by Italian modelling agency Iulia Barton which kick-started her career as a catwalk model.

She has since been on the catwalk in Milan for fashion week.

'The irony of being there didn't escape me as for so many years, I had hid from people, ashamed of using a wheelchair, yet now, I call myself a survivor and I only feel pride in who I am and where I've been,' she said. 

'My wheelchair is a part of me, I am a cyborg and embrace life.

'My body doesn't end at my flesh, I consider my wheelchair a part of who I am, much like an amputee feels like their prosthesis is a part of their body.






Claire quickly built a following on Instagram and finally felt like she had a sense of purpose







Claire has since fulfilled her dreams of becoming a catwalk model and now embraces her wheelchair


'The fact I model is somewhat ironic but it's fun and I feel it's important for people to see disabled models like myself out there loving life.' 

Claire says her mother has been her biggest supporter and despite being behind the wheel of the crash, has been 'her rock' through everything.

'She broke up with my dad (who had a twenty-six-year relationship) to be with me in Wellington and has always supported me,' Claire said.

Despite spending 15 years hating her life, at 41 Claire now believes she has lived a 'spectacular life'.

'I have lived the most spectacular life in many respects. It has had its dark moments, but they have taught me so much,' she said.

'I feel I am a better person having had this injury. I'm not saying it's easy, it's not, but it is rewarding and through studying, I have realised how much work needs to be done regarding society's perceptions of those with disabilities.'