It is Molly Burton’s 25th birthday today. The young woman from Vancouver Island was celebrating with a party, but there was one big reason to celebrate today.
Almost two months ago, Burton was struck by a car as she was walking along a road in Courtenay. The driver fled, and Burton lay injured in a ditch for almost four hours before she was discovered by 21-year-old Brody Fullerton.
“I don’t even think the word friendship applies,” says Burton of their relationship now. “I think that with the limitations with the English language defy description. I just know it’s really special for me.”
Burton laid in the ditch for hours, bleeding, drifting in and out of consciousness and crying for help.
Fullerton lives on his boat across the river. He heard the pleas for help, and jumped into action.
“I heard her screaming and the first thought that entered my mind was that it’s probably just kids drinking,” says Fullerton.
“I didn’t know what I was walking in on.”
Burton was in bad shape with major injuries to both leg and one arm. She spent weeks in hospital, and is now recovering at home still in a wheelchair.
Her family knows how easily this story could have had a different outcome.
“When I think about what might have happened that day,” says her mother, “the tide coming in or Molly being left any longer and bleeding further, she wouldn’t have had this day and so we’re a bit overwhelmed with gratitude for Brody that he found her when he did.
These two people, who under different circumstances likely would never have met, are now are inextricably linked together.
This is a birthday party neither of them will soon forget.
A 16-year-old boy has been arrested and is facing charges in relation to the hit-and-run.
– With files from Aaron McArthur.
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