A YOUNG woman has been left in a coma and fighting for her life after being struck by a crane while working in Southend.

Shannon Brasier, the main breadwinner for her family, has been left with a brain injury, severe damage to her facial bones, and a broken back after she was hit in the head with a JCB crane while working on a site in Southchurch Boulevard on Tuesday.

The 20-year-old was rushed to A&E and now remains in a coma on life support at the Royal London Hospital.

Her family have now launched a desperate fundraising appeal to help pay costs for the hospital.

Miss Brasier, who works for Ace Demolition, was airlifted to hospital after being struck.

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Shannon Brasier

A probe has been launched into the incident and police detectives have arrested a 55-year-old man on suspicion of grievous bodily harm, who has since been released under investigation.

Miss Brasier’s cousin Scarlett Smith, 28, said: “This has been shocking for the entire family and we still don’t know exactly what happened.

"Shannon was much older than her years, really mature and looked after everyone in the family.

"She was the most wonderful, beautiful person. Every day we are praying."

Miss Brasier’s younger siblings Riley, 18, and Bailey, 11, have only been allowed short visits to the hospital because of the restrictions put in place by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Miss Brasier’s mother, Lena, suffers from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and had been shielding.

The family has started an online fundraising campaign to help them pay for the cost of hospital visits and bills for Miss Brasier, who lives in Dagenham.

Ms Smith said: “Shannon has been working since she was 15 ad is the main worker in the family. She was paying the majority of the bills and looking after her mum.

"She really looks after her siblings as well and was well known in the local community as someone who would help anyone in need.

"This is a really difficult time with Lena’s illness and everything else going on in the world.

"It’s horrific that the family have to worry about feeding their children while Shannon is fighting for her life.

"We don’t have any news on her recovery or how bad her brain injury is."

A spokesman for Ace Demolition said the company was working with police and the Health and Safety Executive.

Donate at shorturl.at/HSZ27.

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Shannon with her mum Lena