Brave mother loses a leg but throws her baby to safety in terrifying accident

The horrific accident happened at a retail park where the mum had been shopping.

A UK mother who threw her baby to safety from an oncoming car accident has suffered life-changing injuries that included losing her leg. Ruby Flanagan, from Wallasey, had travelled to Bidston Moss Retail Park in Merseyside with her grandmother and her five-month-old son, Leon, the day the accident occurred earlier this month. The 24-year-old was carrying the tot over a zebra crossing towards Aldi when she noticed the oncoming crash and was forced to throw him out of harm's way. The collision left her crushed between a silver Mercedes and a blue Volkswagen. Shop workers from the retail park immediately ran to Ruby's aid before emergency responders arrived. One worker wrapped her legs up and provided bedding quilts for comfort as police officers got blankets and dummies for her son. [caption id="attachment_396553" align="alignnone" width="418"] GoFundMe[/caption] The brave mum was then airlifted to Aintree Hospital, where she had her right leg amputated and the left put into a stabilising cage. Her sister-in-law Chelsea Clarke said Ruby was "traumatised" when she awoke. Speaking to the Liverpool Echo, she said: "It's so sad because she was so excited to go to Aldi and get avocados, broccoli and all the foods to blend together and wean baby Leon. "She went there so excited and was involved in such a traumatic and tragic accident." Chelsea added that on waking up, Ruby was "worrying about how she would be able to pay the mortgage, bills and look after her baby." The mum, who herself works as a nurse at Arrowe Park Hospital, was supposed to return to work this month after being on maternity leave but now instead faces a long recovery process. "Her partner Leon Clarke will also be unable to work as he will need to care for their little boy while she stays in hospital and even when she’s home recovering," Chelsea said. "It's going to be a long rehabilitation process with more surgeries, physio and prosthetics." When she noticed what was about to happen, Ruby, who works as a nurse at Arrowe Park Hospital in the UK, had the presence of mind to throw her baby out of harm's way, according to her sister-in-law Chelsea Clarke, Liverpool Echo reports. Chelsea and her sister Carly decided to set up a GoFundMe page for Ruby as the specialist medical care, therapies and prosthetics she'll need are likely to run up costly bills. "Ruby’s home also needs adjustments made to ensure she has the best possible recovery and the smoothest transition back home when she can eventually return," Chelsea continued. "I know money doesn't solve everything, but in this situation it really will as it will give the family the best possible chance. "Ruby adores her partner and baby and is the kindest person you would ever meet, she would do anything for anyone. We're heartbroken after the crash and just want to put her at ease. "The way she threw baby Leon out the way of danger was amazing and heroic. It just shows the type of person she is, always putting other people before herself." Since the fundraiser page went live, almost than 4,000 people have donated a total of over £84,000 to the family.