text: A young mum who was crippled after she dived 40 feet off Appley Bridge quarry in Wigan has described how her children inspired her fight back to health. Natalie Prescott, 26, was not expected to survive after she dived into a quarry in a dare-devil stunt which went horribly wrong. Her family was warned she was unlikely to pull through and that if she did, she would almost certainly lose her legs. Mum-of-three Natalie Prescott, 26, with Harley, 5, (left), 19 month old Scarlett, and Saskia, 7, (right), nearly lost her legs after leaping off Appley Bridge Quarry, near Wigan, back in 2012 . Through perseverance, she is finally on the way to recovery – and says her children are her inspiration. But after learning that a teenage boy tragically drowned in the same quarry on Friday, Natalie is campaigning to have the area closed off to the public. Mother-of-three Natalie, from Wigan, said: 'This tragedy brought it all back to me. I almost died there too – and I want all young people to learn from my stupidity - please stay away from lakes and rivers because tomb-stoning can kill you. 'But in a way, I'm glad it happened to me, because it taught me what's important in life. All that matters to me now are my three lovely children.' After the incident, it was revealed that her ankles were pulverised and her knee cap was smashed . She had several operations during a three-month hospital stay, including metal plating in her ankle . The accident, in June 2012, happened at Appley Bridge quarry, Wigan, near the farm owned by Natalie's mother, Susan. Susan was later to see the air ambulance over her farm – unaware it was carrying her own daughter. Natalie, who is mother to Saskia, 7, Harley, 5, and 19 month old Scarlett, says: 'I hooked up with some old friends and on a sunny afternoon we went for a day out to a beauty spot, where rocks overhang a disused quarry. 'My mum lived nearby and she was looking after my two children whilst I went out with my friends. 'We were daring each other to jump in the water, and even though I knew it was stupid, I went along with it. I had never done anything like that before. 'I just fancied doing something crazy. I wasn't thinking about my children, I was thinking about myself.' As Natalie jumped, her nerves got the better of her and she hesitated. She smashed against an overhanging cliff, before hitting the water. After the accident, although the doctors managed to save her legs, she was unable to walk or stand, and had to learn all over again . At the time of the accident in 2012, the 26-year-old had two children, Saskia, now 7,  and Harley, now 5 . She says: 'As I hit the water, I saw a large gaping hole in my knee. I had no pain but I was shaking and in shock.' Natalie's friends dragged her onto the banking and gave her mouth to mouth resuscitation as she began to struggle with her breathing. Unconscious, she was flown to hospital by a mountain rescue team and placed in ICU. Natalie says: 'My mum and my children saw the air ambulance land near their farm, and they watched it – unaware that it was me who was injured.' Her family was at first warned she might not survive – and were then told she would lose both of her legs. Natalie says: 'My memories of those first days in hospital were very hazy. 'I was in so much pain and my legs were just a mush. My knee cap was smashed and my ankles were pulverised.' In August 2013, Natalie gave birth to her third child, Scarlett, now 19 months. The mum-of-three has stated that her children have been her inspiration for recovering from the horrific incident . Before and after: Natalie finally took her first steps one year after the accident, and then gave birth to her new baby, Scarlett in August 2013 . She had several operations during a three month hospital stay, including surgery to fit metal plating in her ankle and an artificial knee joint. Though doctors managed to save her legs, she was left unable to walk or stand. She was transferred to rehab, where she began to learn to walk again. Natalie said: 'It was a very low point for me. I felt so guilty that I had put my family through so much pain and worry. 'Every time my children visited me in hospital, they would cry and beg me to come home. 'My son, Harley, said to me: 'Get out of that big pram mummy and start walking again.' 'It was very painful and so frustrating, but I just had to work hard, every day, to get myself well again.' Natalie finally took her first steps one year after the accident. And in August 2013, she gave birth to a new baby, Scarlett. Natalie says: 'Scarlett's birth really inspired me to get back on my feet. I had to get better, because I had a new baby to look after. 'I feel like I'm back to being a mummy again': Although Natalie still has a limp and isn't able to ride horses, she can look after her children better . 26-year-old Natalie is now better able to care for her children, including Saskia, now 7, and younger brother Harley, now 5. She has vowed to start a petition to have the area closed to public after hearing of the drowning of teenager Miracle Godson . 'I was determined to look after her on my own because I've needed so much help with my older children. 'I feel like I'm back to being a mummy again, and that is such a precious role and one I won't take for granted ever again. 'I won't ever be back to how I was; I have a limp and I can't walk far. I won't ever be able to ride horses again. 'But in a way, I'm grateful for the accident. 'It made me grow up and appreciate what is important in life. 'When I heard that the young boy had drowned in the same spot it sickened me, and I now I'm going to do everything I can to get the area closed off. 'I'm starting a petition because I want people to listen to me before another life is lost.'
target: Natalie Prescott, 26, had to be flown to intensive care by air ambulance .
  She plunged 40 feet off Appley Bridge Quarry, near Wigan .
  Teenager Miracle Godson, 13, drowned in same area on Friday .
  Mum-of-three vows to have area closed after learning of drowning .