A BRIDE-TO-BE who lost both legs in a horrific accident on her wedding day, joked that she would go parachuting next time.

Former Huddersfield woman Dawn Auty hopes to be out of hospital by Christmas.

Dawn, 42, was on her way to church on a motorised tricycle in her new home of Blackpool when her gown got caught in the machinery.

Doctors had to amputate both legs at the scene to save her life.

She is being visited in hospital by Edward Furness, of Thomas Street, Lindley, who describes himself as her "adopted father".

His own daughter Jeanette is due to marry in two weeks.

"Dawn asked Jeanette if she was doing anything special for her wedding," said Mr Furness, a retired engineer.

"I said `not anything like you Dawn'.

"Dawn said `I'm thinking about parachuting next time'.

Mr Furness said that Dawn was bearing up at the Victoria Hospital, Blackpool, where she was taken after the accident.

"She's on morphine in a room on her own," said Mr Furness.

"She still has a sense of humour.

"She hopes to be out of hospital in two weeks. It is not decided where she is going to live when she comes out.

"We have to see whether the house she was living in with her fiancé can be converted for a wheelchair."

Mr Furness said Dawn's children, Peter, 2,1 and Laura 19, were taking things well so far.

Mr Furness said Dawn's fiancé Stephen Flood was having difficulty coping.

"He does not known whether he is coming or going."

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