Mum of Jerry Cash, speaks of her son's 'miracle' recovery, after crash near Headcorn, which killed four men
Published: 05:00, 26 November 2021
Updated: 15:26, 26 November 2021
A "miracle boy" who is the only survivor of a crash near Headcorn which claimed four lives has spoken for the first time since the collision, after spending six weeks in hospital.
Jerry Cash, 15, was taken to King's College Hospital in London with a serious brain injury, a broken pelvis, a punctured lung and a damaged liver, after a collision which killed four members of his family on October 10.
His mum, Winnie Cash, was told there was nothing the doctors could do for him, and she should say her goodbyes.
However, now the teenager, from Bicester, in Oxfordshire, is defying expectations, and spoke for the first time since the accident last week.
He hasn't been told about the accident and doesn't know his relatives died yet, with family members wanting him to focus on his recovery.
Mrs Cash shared the good news that her "miracle boy" is now talking, thanking God and all those who prayed for him.
She added: "He's a modern day miracle thanks be God."
When Jerry was admitted to hospital he was placed in an induced coma.
Mrs Cash and family members urged people to pray for his recovery as Jerry continued to fight for his life.
Three weeks later he came out of the coma and opened his eyes.
His first words were "mum", then his own name, and his brother and sister's name.
Mrs Cash said: "He was in a bad way, the doctors didn't think they could do anything for him, they told me to say goodbye to him. Six weeks later he's sitting up in bed, saying 'I love you'.
"He's able to speak but not hold a conversation. He's coming round, slowly and surely."
Because of his progress, Jerry will soon be moved to a hospital closer to his Bicester home.
Mrs Cash said she also wanted to thank the hospital staff who looked after her son.
As well as tending to Jerry, the mum is mourning the loss of family members who died in the crash.
Johnny Cash, 44, and his son Johnboy Cash, 19, both of Martins Gardens, Lenham Road, died in the collision, as well as Miles 'Smiler' Cash, 25, of Campion Crescent, Cranbrook, and Jacko Cosgrove, 18, of of Woodland Vale, Shadoxhurst.
Johnny was Jerry's second cousin, while the younger men were his first cousins.
Mrs Cash said: "It has been dreadful, unimaginable, it has been like a horror film, if you saw it on TV you would change it."
The group had been on their way to watch the heavyweight clash between Tyson ‘Gypsy King’ Fury and Deontay Wilder when their Toyota Hi Lux hit a tree in Lenham Road, just outside Headcorn.
Jacko had been a member of Tenterden Amateur Boxing Club and had recently learned his wife was expecting. Johnboy had become a dad just six weeks ago.
There was an outpouring of grief after their deaths, with flowers laid at the scene of crash, and hunderds of people attending their funerals.
Tyson Fury also paid tribute to the four men in a video message.
Johnny, Johnboy and Jacko were laid to rest at the Holy Family Church in Park Wood, while Miles' funeral was held in Reading.
The separate ceremonies followed a mass held at St Francis Church, in Week Street, Maidstone, for all four victims in October.
More by this author
Katie Heslop