A Canadian paramedic’s “worst nightmare” happened after she unknowingly cared for her daughter in her moments of death, only to discover hours later that it was her own flesh and blood.
Montana Erickson, 17, of Winfield, British Columbia, and a friend were involved in a car accident on November 15 after losing control of the vehicle and being hit by an oncoming truck on an Alberta freeway north of Calgary.
The teenager’s injuries were so severe that she was unrecognizable to her own mother, Jayme Erickson, who tried to keep the girl alive as she lay trapped in the car.
Tragedy turned to heartache when five minutes after she returned home from her shift, police arrived at her door to tell her the teenager was in fact her 17-year-old daughter.
Jayme shared her unimaginable grief with family and friends in a Facebook post on November 18, writing: “My worst nightmare as a paramedic has come true.
“The seriously injured patient I had just treated was my own flesh and blood. my only child My mini me. My daughter Montana,” she wrote.
Paramedic Jayme Erickson (centre) was called to an accident last week, unaware she was trying to save her own daughter because the injuries were too serious. She is comforted by her husband Sean Erickson as she addresses the media Tuesday, November 22, in Airdrie, Alberta
17-year-old Montana (pictured) and a friend were driving on an Alberta freeway north of Calgary on November 15 when the car lost control on an icy stretch of road and was struck by an oncoming truck
Jayme shared a photo holding her daughter Montana’s hand
Montana and a friend were driving on an Alberta highway north of Calgary on November 15 when the car lost control on an icy stretch of road and was struck by an oncoming truck.
Jayme responded to the accident and found a girl trapped in the passenger seat, with injuries so severe she could not recognize her own daughter.
Jayme, realizing the injuries were likely fatal, gave emergency medical treatment to the girl and waited with her until she was removed from the vehicle and flown to a Calgary hospital.
“While I’m grateful for the 17 years I’ve had with her, I’m heartbroken and wondering. What would you have become my little girl? who would you have been I’ll never see you graduate and walk the stage, I’ll never see you get married, I’ll never know who you would have been. I love you more than anything in this world,” she continued in the Facebook post.
Jayme wiped away tears as she shared her grief with reporters at an Airdrie fire hall in Alberta on Tuesday.
Supported by family, friends and EMT colleagues, Jayme said: “She was a fighter and she fought up until the day she died and she was beautiful. she was so beautiful If she ever tried to do something, she would always make it.
Jayme, realizing the injuries were likely fatal, gave her medical attention and waited with her until Montana was flown
Jayme said she will remember her daughter as a “banger” and that the teen was a “fighter and she fought until the day she died.”
Jayme shared her unimaginable grief with family and friends in a Facebook post on November 18, writing: “My worst nightmare as a paramedic has come true.
“Anyone who knew Montana would call them crackers. She loved it very much if you were her boyfriend. She would love you to the ends of the earth and back and she would do anything for you.
“She was a fighter and she fought to the death,” her mother said at a news conference.
“She was beautiful, she was so beautiful.”
The successful swimmer donated her organs after her death, her mother said. Two of the organs were “life saving”.
“We are so happy to know that our little girl lives on through others,” the mother said of the would-be lawyer. “After this tragedy, she saved other people. We know that’s what she would have wanted and we’re so proud of her.”
Richard Reed, a friend and fellow paramedic, collapsed several times while standing next to Jayme.
Reed recounted what happened, saying the driver was able to get out of the car, but the female passenger was trapped with serious injuries.
Jayme was the first person on the scene. He said Jayme knew the girl was in trouble and sat there until she was freed and taken to the hospital in an ambulance, not knowing who it was.
Jayme also wiped away tears as she shared her grief with reporters at Airdrie Firehall, Alberta on Tuesday
Jayme shared her unimaginable grief with family and friends in a Facebook post. She wrote: “The seriously injured patient I had just treated was my own flesh and blood. my only child My mini me. My daughter, Montana’
Reed went on to describe how Jayme rushed to the hospital after police told her about Montana. He said: “Entering the room she was horrified to find the girl she had been keeping alive in the back of the crumpled vehicle for the family to say goodbye to, unrecognizable due to the extent of her injuries, which was Jayme’s own Daughter.
“Jayme unknowingly kept her own daughter alive.”
Alberta Health Services told Canadian media, “Alberta Health Services EMS extends our deepest condolences to the family involved in this tragic event.”
The driver of the car was also hospitalized and is in stable condition with minor injuries.
Canadian police said an investigation into the crash was ongoing.
DailyMail.com has reached out to Jayme for comment.