Hit-and-run survivor, Joanna Dowle-Moore of Tasburgh, loses the fat that saved her life in crash

A woman, who was told her fat saved her life in a serious hit-and-run incident nearly 20 years ago, has lost four stone to hit her target weight.

Joanna Dowle-Moore, from Tasburgh, was hit by a drink-driver, who mounted the curb whilst she was working in America in 2005.

This incident, which also saw her heart stop twice on the way to hospital, was the beginning of a two-decade fight to get fit again.

“It was March 9 and I was working as a producer for Anglia TV in Houston,” said Mrs Dowle-Moore. “We were filming the Animal Cops Houston show for Animal Planet.

“I do not remember much of what happened, but I was told we had been out filming an adoption sequence and, after sending off the video, were going to meet some colleagues across the road at a Mexican restaurant for dinner.”

The driver hit her and a colleague, before speeding off, with other drivers coming to their aid.

Mrs Moore added: “A woman in her car saw us, called 911 and moved her vehicle to block my body. She was a lifesaver.”

Having hit the car’s windscreen, she suffered brain damage, a broken tibia and fibula, a broken jaw and a fracture to her lower spine, alongside other injuries.

“I was a bit of a mess and, by the time the paramedics got to me, I had died in the road and was brought back,” said the 50-year-old. “I also stopped breathing in the ambulance, so I died twice.”

She spent two weeks in an induced coma and then 10 weeks in an intensive care unit.

Mrs Dowle-Moore said: “During my recovery, I gained weight through lack of movement and comfort eating due to being severely depressed. My whole life had completely changed.

“I was about a size 18 when it happened but found myself up to a size 22. Learning to walk again became difficult due to the added pressure on my knees.”

After flying back to England and continuing her rehabilitation with two months at a neurological unit in Norwich, Mrs Dowle-Moore decided to take action.

“Doctors in the US told me my fat had saved my life, as it absorbed some of the impact,” she said. “But I’d had enough.”

The former TV producer said she had tried a string of yo-yo diets, before joining Slimming World in Long Stratton two years ago.

“I tried shakes; I tried a cabbage soup diet – all the fads,” said Mrs Dowle-Moore.

“I finally decided to do something about it as I refused to be fat at 50. So I joined the club in May 2022 when I weighed 17 and a half stone.”

Thanks to the club, she is set to hit her target of 12 stone 12 ounces, and is hoping to become involved with the brain injury charity Headway as a motivational speaker.

“To anyone thinking of making their lives better by losing weight for whatever reason, just do it,” she said. “My group is so supportive and has helped me get to where I want to be.

“I hope my story will inspire others as what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.”