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Mum Babs Nolan reunited with toddler son after A2 horror crash that killed husband Paddy

By: Gerry Warren gwarren@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 00:01, 13 October 2016

A mum who survived a horror crash which killed her husband has been reunited with her “miracle” toddler son in hospital.

Babs Nolan was critically injured in the accident four weeks ago, with her husband Paddy pronounced dead at the scene and their two-year-old son David left fighting for life.

Doctors gave the youngster little chance of survival, but he has so far beaten the odds and continues to make small steps towards recovery.

Watch: David Nolan's family filmed him grabbing a toy boxing glove

On Sunday, his mum – who was being treated in a separate London hospital – saw her son for the first time since the tragedy, with family members in tears at his bedside.

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Paddy’s brother Felix has described David’s recovery as a “miracle”, but says the reunion was “bitter sweet” for 21-year-old Babs and the family because of Paddy’s death.

He said: “It was the first time she had seen him since the accident and it was very emotional - everyone was in tears.

“It looked very bad for David at first because the scans on his brain were not good and doctors weren’t hopeful he would survive.

“But it’s like a miracle, because although the scans still say one thing, the physical signs are saying something else.

“It was obviously bitter sweet, though, because we have lost Paddy.”

Watch: Tragic Paddy with his son David

Babs has now been moved from King’s College Hospital to St George’s Hospital so she can be close to David.

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A remarkable video posted by the family on Facebook shows the youngster seemingly alert and clinging onto a toy.

But Felix, 30, who lives in Buckinghamshire, says the family are still cautious about the toddler’s recovery.

He said: “He’s now breathing for himself, which is a good sign, and has some movement, but we won’t know for a while precisely what his future holds.

"His recovery will be a long process and he will be in intensive care for quite a while longer.”

Ground worker Paddy, 29, who lived with his family near Faversham, was driving a black pick-up and towing a caravan when he crashed near the Canterbury slip road on the A2 on September 15.

Patrick Nolan with wife Babara and little son David

The family were on their way to Germany and planned to travel around Europe.

Paddy died at the scene and both Babs and David were airlifted to separate London hospitals.

Babs is still recovering from her injuries and is due to undergo another operation on her leg later this week.

Felix said: “All the family loved Paddy very much. He was a generous man who always looked to keep the peace and was always there for you.

“I loved him with all my heart. If I lived to be 500, I’d never be half the man he was.”

Paddy’s funeral service is to be held in High Wickham, where he grew up, on Wednesday next week.

There will be a traditional horse drawn carriage, followed by a burial at Teddington cemetery.

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