Award for student partially blinded in car crash
City of Wolverhampton CollegeA student who was left in a coma and partially blinded by a car accident has won a national award for continuing her college education despite life-changing injuries.
Anya Clair was seriously hurt while driving with friends shortly after joining City of Wolverhampton College in 2022 to study health and social care.
The then 17-year-old lost sight in one eye and suffered short-term memory loss, but returned to college a year later.
The "incredible" student has been rewarded for her resilience as the Against All Odds winner in the 2025 NCFE Aspiration Awards.
Ms Clair said she recovered in hospital for more than two months, which left her "really depressed".
"I lost my sight in my left eye and I got a brain injury," she said. "Having one eye is really bad; it makes it so hard every day because I struggle to see and I knock into people all the time.
"And [with] the brain injury, my memory is so bad, and I get so confused."
The student was inspired by the nurses who looked after her and is now keen to support others with brain injuries.
"I was like 'they are amazing I would love to do this job'," she said.
"Car accidents are a big thing [but] you can't let it stop you," she added.
'She's just incredible'
Ms Clair attends weekly sessions with brain injury charity Headway, which works with the college to support her in overcoming cognitive function challenges.
City of Wolverhampton College lecturer Delia Whitworth said the student was "obviously very traumatised" on her return, but had been determined to thrive.
"Even getting out of bed in the morning to get to college was a really big ask for her," she said.
"But she's just incredible. She kept coming in every single day, persevered despite everything."