Survivor of Cardiff car crash releases first statement from hospital in tribute ... trends now
One of the Cardiff car crash survivors, who spent two days clinging to his life in the wreckage, has spoken for the first time from hospital.
Shane Loughlin, 32, was seriously injured in the fatal smash and said he 'can't believe' what happened and is 'gutted'.
Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Rafel Jeanne, 24, were killed, while Mr Loughlin and Sophie Russon, 20, were injured during the crash on the A48 in the St Mellons area of Cardiff, on March 4.
Mr Loughlin said: 'Only just found out what happened just want to say sorry to everyone and thank you everyone who helped with the search party and thank you for everyone wishing me well I'll be back soon love you all.
'Rip Rafel, Eve, and Darcy. Can't believe it gutted is an understatement heart goes out to all families and friends of the people that have passed. Long way to recovery mentally and physically but we'll get there.'
Shane Loughlin, 32, (pictured) also spent nearly two days critically injured in the car. He said he was 'gutted' after finding out about the crash
Mr Loughlin said: 'Only just found out what happened just want to say sorry to everyone and thank you everyone who helped with the search party and thank you for everyone wishing me well I'll be back soon love you all'
Pictured: The scene in the St Mellons area of Cardiff where the car was found
Three young people died and two were injured during the crash on the A48 in the St Mellons area of Cardiff, on March 4
Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Ms Russon, 20, were friends since infant school and had been at the Muffler bar in Newport, where they met Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Shane Loughlin, 32, for the first time, before they all left together at around 11.15pm on Friday.
They are then thought to have driven 36 miles to Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl, where Mr Loughlin's family had a caravan, but left after an argument, it was claimed.
They travelled 28 miles back to Cardiff, where they are said to have dropped off a sixth member of the group.
Mr Loughlin added: 'Rip Rafel, Eve, and Darcy. Can't believe it gutted is an understatement heart goes out to all families and friends of the people that have passed. Long way to recovery mentally and physically but we'll get there'
It was almost two days before the wreckage was found and Mr Loughlin and Ms Russon, the only survivors of the crash, were taken to hospital
Mr Loughlin has remained in hospital, where he is being treated for serious injuries following the crash
They were last seen in the car at 2am on Saturday in CCTV footage taken at a petrol station in the Pentwyn area of Cardiff, not far from the crash site.
It was almost two days before the wreckage was found and Mr Loughlin and Ms Russon, the only survivors of the crash, were taken to hospital.
Trainee bank manager Sophie Russon, 20, had life-saving surgery after fracturing her skull in the incident, which led to a bleed on her brain.
Her mother Anna Certowicz, 41, stayed by her daughter's side and alleged that 'policemen on foot had searched the area but didn't find anything' prior to the discovery of the wreckage on Monday.
Ms Certowicz, from Newport, said 'you can't recognise' Ms Russon, who was sedated in hospital, because of her injuries from the crash, which left one man and two women dead.
She said her daughter was 'cold, scared stiff, not able to reach her mobile phone' while in the ruined car.
Sophie Russon, 20, is sedated in hospital after going through life-saving surgery after fracturing her skull in the crash, which led to a bleed on her brain
Anna Certowicz, 42, (pictured with Ms Russon, right) believes her daughter and her two friends met Rafel Jeanne and Shaun Loughlin for the first time on the night of the tragedy
Ms Certowicz said her daughter Sophie Russon was suspended upside down in the wreckage for two days and is 'unrecognisable' from her injuries
Pictured: The scene in the St Mellons area of Cardiff where the car was found
The trees meant the site of the fatal crash was hidden to motorists passing nearby
Eve Smith, 21, (pictured) whose sister Xana was killed by a drug and drink driver in 2015, died in the crash
Darcy Ross, 21, (pictured) was also killed in the incident. The group was last seen in the car at 2am on Saturday in CCTV footage taken at a petrol station in the Pentwyn area of Cardiff, not far from the crash site
Shane Loughlin, 32, (left) also spent nearly two days critically injured in the car. His friend Rafel Jeanne, 24, (right) was the son of former Cardiff City and QPR footballer Leon Jeanne, who was once dubbed Wales' most promising footballer
When the five were found at the side of the busy A48, on the outskirts of Cardiff shortly after midnight on Monday, it was 46 hours since they had last been seen.
Ms Certowicz told The Sun of her daughter: 'She had panic attacks throughout the night when she came round so they sedated her.
'She's in shock and has a lot of injuries.'
The 20-year-old trainee bank manager was sedated in hospital after having panic attacks through the night
Ms Russon's mother Anna Certowicz, 41, (left, with her daughter) has stayed at her daughter's bedside
She said her daughter was 'cold, scared stiff, not able to reach her mobile phone' while in the crashed car
Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Ms Russon, 20, were friends since infant school and had been at the Muffler bar in Newport, where they met Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Shane Loughlin, 32, for the first time, before they all left together at around 11.15pm on Friday.
They are then thought to have driven 36 miles to Trecco Bay caravan park in Porthcawl, where Mr Loughlin's family had a caravan, but left after an argument, it was claimed.
They travelled 28 miles back to Cardiff, where they are said to have dropped off a sixth member of the group.
They were last seen in the car at 2am on Saturday in CCTV footage taken at a petrol station in the Pentwyn area of Cardiff, not far from the crash site.
Eve Smith, 21, (pictured), Darcy Ross, 21, and Sophie Russon, 20, were friends since infant school
Ms Smith was good friends with Darcy Ross (left) and Sophie Russon (right). The three had known each other from a young age
Pictured: Mr Jeanne partying on Friday night in Newport with Darcy Ross. Both youngsters were killed in the crash
Best friends Eve Smith, 21, Darcy Ross, 21, and Sophie Russon, 20, met Rafel Jeanne, 24, and Shane Loughlin, 32, at a social club in Newport
Eve Smith, 21, (second from left) Darcy Ross, 21, (far left) and Sophie Russon, 20, (centre) were friends since infant school and had been at the Muffler bar in Newport, where they met Rafel Jeanne, 24, (second from right) and Shane Loughlin, 32, (far right) for the first time, before they all left together at around 11.15pm on Friday
Ms Certowicz said police did not take her seriously when she contacted them numerous times from Saturday lunchtime.
Yesterday Lewis Pace, 26, who found the car involved in the crash, slammed police for not acting quickly enough – as he revealed he was best friends with one of the victims.
The 26-year-old and his father Matthew, 45, were searching for the missing group of five when they spotted tyre tracks across the grass at a roundabout.
They investigated and found the white Volkswagen Tiguan wedged behind trees.
Lewis was close friends with Mr Jeanne.
Yesterday he told Sky News: 'As soon as they were reported missing they should have been out there looking for them, at the end of the day they were missing so there should have been a search there and then.
Lewis Pace, 26, and his father Matthew, 45, were searching for the missing group of friends in Cardiff when they spotted tyre tracks across grass at a roundabout
Lewis was best friends with Mr Jeanne (pictured), one of three young people who died in the crash
'Obviously I didn't think anything of it until I saw he was reported missing, I saw comments on Facebook that the police were not taking it seriously, obviously they definitely should have been.'
The father and son had only been looking for 15 minutes when they came across the car, according to The Sun.
Lewis said police were searching 'literally next' to where the vehicle was, so he is unsure why it was not found sooner.
'When I saw them skid marks, obviously I was praying that it was nothing to do with it and it turns out it was, but the police were searching
