Grace Tutt, who was seriously injured in A227 Meopham bus crash, meets Prince Harry after winning at 2025 WellChild Awards

A schoolgirl who was left with life-changing injuries after a crash met Prince Harry after winning a prestigious award.

In May last year, the bus taking Grace Tutt from Wrotham School to New Ash Green was involved in a crash with a tractor on the A227 South Street in Meopham, near Culverstone Green.

Twelve children and the driver were taken to hospital, three of whom had serious injuries, and four others were treated by paramedics at the scene.

Grace was airlifted to King’s College Hospital in London in a serious but stable condition, but given just a 20% chance of surviving.

Speaking to KentOnline previously, her dad, Andrew, said: “I will never forget the day we saw her in the emergency department. You could not even see her, there were so many consultants and trauma surgeons working on her.”

Grace had severed her spinal cord, had a fracture where her skull joined her spine, and had a three-inch blood clot on her right-hand side, which caused her to have six mini-strokes.

She suffered 23 separate injuries, including a fractured eye socket and right cheek, seven ribs that were broken back and front, and a broken nose.

One of her strokes also caused nerve damage to her right vocal cord and right diaphragm.

The now 13-year-old spent 12 months in the hospital, continuously battling so that she no longer needs the ventilator and feeding tube she used to rely on.

Grace, who is now paralysed from the waist down, uses a wheelchair, a hoist, and faces ongoing medical challenges, including postural hypotension and spinal rehabilitation.

She has been inspiring others as she shares her journey on TikTok and Instagram.

The annual WellChild Awards celebrate the inspirational achievements of seriously ill children, young people, and those who care for them.

Grace won in the “special recognition” category, supported by HELLO!, which honours her courage in rebuilding her life following the crash.

She was nominated for the award by her nurse, Laura Breen, who is a sister on paediatric intensive care at King’s College Hospital.

Laura said: “I have never cared for a child as inspiring as Grace.

“She has the emotional maturity of someone so much older, despite being so young.

“She is funny, intelligent, a great friend, and is just a complete joy.

“I consider myself very lucky to have had the privilege to have met and cared for Grace and her amazing family.”

This year’s ceremony was held yesterday (September 8) at the Royal Lancaster Hotel in London.

Prince Harry, The Duke of Sussex, attended the awards to meet winners and their families at a pre-ceremony reception.

In his speech during the event, he said: “For two decades, this event has shone a bright spotlight on the needs of children and young people living with complex medical conditions.

“But more than that, it has celebrated something far bigger – your courage, your resilience, and the extraordinary love of the families and carers who never stop showing up.

“I still remember my very first WellChild Awards, eighteen years ago.

“I walked into the room, and within about three minutes I realised two things: the love and energy in the room was palpable, so too was the unpredictability.

“And second, that I was completely hooked on it all.

“This night has been a highlight of my year ever since, and it’s all because of you guys – these children, this cause, and our WellChild community.

“Since those early days, 311 WellChild Award winners have inspired us with their bravery.

“Today, a 53-strong team of WellChild Nurses is out there making an enormous difference.

“Add to that a community of more than 3,600 families, plus support programmes reaching even further, and you see the real impact of what has been built here.”

WellChild Chief Executive, Matt James said: “Young people like Grace embody what the WellChild Awards are all about – strength, compassion, and the will to help others thrive in the face of adversity.

“We’re proud to have been celebrating their incredible stories for the past 20 years.”

Sophie Vokes-Dudgeon, Chief Content Officer for HELLO! added: "Grace's story really resonated with me during the judging process, and we all agreed that she deserved a special recognition award.

“Not only is her story a stark reminder that this really could happen to any of our children, but her incredible resilience and inner strength is an inspiration to us all.

“Her ability to not dwell on 'why me?' and her positive approach to not only make the best of her very challenging situation, but to uplift others around her too, bowled us over.

“Grace is a special girl and deserves this very special award."