A POPULAR hairdresser who suffered life-threatening injuries in a hit-and-run in Cambodia is battling back to health.

Chantel Prince, who formerly worked in Level Hair Salon in Bournemouth, suffered a skull fracture and a brain haemorrhage after being struck by another vehicle while riding a moped.

Her injuries were so serious that her friends and family feared she would die, but Chantel has been fighting to recover since the incident last November.

Now her former brother-in-law Richard Swift, who lives in Westbourne, is planning a parachute jump to raise money for her.

Mr Swift, a telephone engineer, said: “Chantel was a very well-known and popular hairdresser in the Bournemouth and Charminster area.

“Three years ago, she went travelling and made the decision to stay in Cambodia.

“While she was there, she was involved in and hit and run – it was very serious, and for a while, it was touch and go whether she would pull through.”

Chantel was wearing a helmet at the time of the crash, but it came off because of the impact, and she hit her head on the pavement.

She faced a serious operation to remove clots from her brain, as well as extensive physiotherapy, and has had to rely on the kindness of friends and family since she was injured as her hospital bills are so expensive.

Mr Swift said: “She just really needs all the help she can get, which is why I want to do the parachute jump.

“If anyone wants to give sponsorship, it will all go towards helping Chantel get better. Her family and friends have been contributing towards all of her bills, but she will need to pay everyone back, so this is really to help her out. Whatever people can give would be so welcome.”

Mr Swift will jump out of a plane at the end of the summer.

He said: “Even thinking about it is making me shake.

“I can’t believe I’m going to do it, but I really want to help.”

For more information, or to donate, visit laurenswif8.wix.com/support-chantel-prince