BEING shot upwards at 160mph in a giant inflatable ball is not everyone's idea of fun, but crash victim Andria Smith, 29, of Coleford, sees it as her chance to reclaim the life she almost lost.

When Andria was 22, a collision with a lorry left her in a coma for three weeks, gave her permanent double vision and almost resulted in her ankle being amputated.

Andria finished a series of post-crash operations last year and now she is determined to experience some of the youth she feels she missed out on.

"I spent one birthday in hospital and I remember very little from the year after the accident," she said.

"I have not been able to do a lot of things young people take for granted like wearing high heeled shoes, driving or going clubbing.

"Now I don't want to grow up and my whole outlook on life has changed. A lot of people think I would wrap myself in cotton wool after suffering such serious injuries, but in reality, I am just more aware than ever that you only live once!"

Andria has done several sponsored events in the past to raise money for the firefighters who cut her out of the car.

"If the firefighters hadn't rescued me, my injuries would have been a lot worse. My ankle fused and the doctors wanted to amputate. I believe if it hadn't been for the quick action of the fire-crew I would have lost my foot." The money will be used to buy a new heart rate monitor which will save more lives.

Andria's friend Stella is raising money for the Air Ambulance – although they were not able to get to Andria at the time of the accident as there was no suitable landing site nearby.

The friends are going to Milton Keynes to take part in a new extreme sport – air zorbing. The pair will be strapped into a padded ball in a vertical wind tunnel and launched into the air stream at speeds of around 160mph.

Andria said: "We will be bouncing off the walls and hovering around in an indoor skydiving unit – I'm not sure what to expect but I've been told it feels a little like being in a dishwasher.

"I have tried sponsored zorbing at Chepstow before which seems to take no time at all when you are watching it! I have also done a charity bike ride to raise money for the firefighters."

The air zorbing will take place on Saturday, April 25 and there is a collection tin for donations at Broadwell Working Men's Club.