A MOTHER has spoken of her relief now her three-year-old son has been discharged from hospital after he was badly injured in a head-on crash near Romsey.

Natasha West was driving with her son Anthony Hamlett-West, two daughters and fiancé back home to Hythe when the family were hurt in a collision with a van on the A3090 at East Wellow on Tuesday, January 26. The 28-year-old mum said her car later “exploded” after her family were freed from the wreckage.

After tests at University Hospital Southampton, Anthony was rushed to King’s College Hospital, London, for expert care and an operation on his pancreas and spleen.

Natasha said her son was finally given the all-clear to return home on Wednesday afternoon after spending two weeks in hospital. She explained: “I was expecting him to still be in hospital until the end of the week or the beginning of next week, so it was a surprise when he was discharged on Wednesday afternoon (February 10). “The hospital arranged transport for him and he left London at 4.30pm and arrived in Hythe at 7pm. “I am relieved he was discharged and I am just glad all of us are together again, so we can try to move on from this and forget about it. “Anthony was happy to be home after being in hospital since January 27 and at the moment we have got to keep him on soft food.”

The mother of three added her beloved boy will be reunited with his father [Wayne Hamlett], who lives in Wales, after he was unable to see him because of lockdown restrictions. She said: “He is planning on coming down to see Anthony this week, because he has not had the chance to see him yet. “He is happy and relieved. Anthony is looking forward to seeing him.”

Natasha said Anthony will be returning to King’s College Hospital in six weeks so NHS workers can monitor his health.

Natasha’s partner and two girls, who were battered and bruised from the crash, are expecting a call on Monday to arrange physiotherapy treatment. Her girls have now returned to school.

Hampshire police said enquiries into the crash are ongoing.