Heidi Banks, 54 and from Upton, had no history of seizures or symptoms before she blacked out and began fitting while driving near Wimborne.
On Sunday, March 8, at around 10pm Heidi was returning from visiting her son in Southampton when she lasts remembers turning right on Palmersford Roundabout in Ferndown, from St Leonards, and joining the A31.
Heidi Burns (Image: Heidi Burns)
“The next thing I know I’m being taken out of my car by a paramedic,” she said.
“How I got to that stage, who knows.”
Heidi said she must have driven along the A31 towards Canford Bottom and navigated a roundabout before the road narrows to single lanes.
However, Heidi did not make it to Canford Bottom Roundabout before her car veered off the road and crashed on the right-hand side.
“I don’t even remember getting that far,” said Heidi.
After appealing for witnesses on social media, a driver came forward who was behind Heidi at the time of the episode.
“Apparently I went over onto the left-hand verge and then violently over onto the right-hand side,” she said.
“Luckily there was nothing coming the other way because that could have been horrendous.”
Heidi said the other driver noticed she was driving slowly moments before the crash, which he did not think much of until she began swerving.
“The guy who rang the ambulance said he and the car directly behind me pulled up when they saw me swerve across to the right and they ran to my car where apparently I was fitting,” said Heidi.
“I’ve never had a fit in my life, I’ve never even fainted.”
Heidi said she felt “completely fine” driving home and had no warning signs before the seizure.
When paramedics and police arrived, Heidi said she could not even answer what year it was.
“I had no idea, I just couldn’t think. I was absolutely gone.”
She was taken to A and E where she underwent a CT scan, ECGs and blood tests, all of which came back normal.
Heidi has now been referred to a seizure clinic and has been temporarily banned from driving.
“It was really scary.”
She added: “I just want some answers, I’m totally baffled by it.”
Heidi said she loves driving, but she ‘needs to know it will not happen again’.
“Physically I’m fine but mentally it’s like a bad dream,” she said.
Heidi said there was reportedly a couple who sat with her while she was slipping in and out of consciousness who she would like to thank for their help.
She also wants the incident to warn other drivers that medical episodes can happen without any warning on the roads.