A YOUNG mum who was killed in a horror crash near Downham Market had been seeking hospital help for her sick toddler who also died as a result of the accident, it has been revealed.

Now mourning relatives of Ionela Cercel, 20, and her 14-month-old son Ianis, have launched an appeal to raise 10,000 Euros to fly their bodies back to Romania to be buried.

Ms Cercel died on the A134 in Crimplesham on Sunday after the car she was travelling in smashed into a tree on the road between Thetford and King’s Lynn.

Her 14-month-old son was removed from the car by paramedics and taken to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, in King’s Lynn, but died a few hours later.

His father and driver of the vehicle, Marian Parvu, 26, is still fighting for his life in Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge.

Ms Cercel’s step-sister Gaura Nicoleta said the 20-year-old flew to England with her son last Wednesday to join up with Mr Parvu who was living in Downham Market and had secured work.

The trio had lived in the remote village of Stanesti in south-west Romania, which has a population of around 3000.

Ms Nicoleta said the family had gone to the Queen Elizabeth Hospital at 6am on Sunday because the toddler had a fever. She also believed the youngster was born with hydrocephalus.

After initial tests, it is understood the 14-month-old was sent to Rudham Ward for further tests but his father discharged him at 7.10am.

Less than 20 minutes later, the BMW driven by Mr Parvu left the A134 in Crimplesham, crashed into a tree claiming the lives of his partner and son and leaving him in a critical condition.

Speaking through a translator, Ms Nicoleta said the family now want to fly their bodies back to Romania but they “have no money”.

She continued: “To get closure, to bring them home, to bury them as Christians. That’s all they want. For them, even a little help counts.”

Ms Nicoleta added Ms Cercel had lived in a small house with her son, two sisters and a brother as well as parents and a her grandfather, Dudu Florea.

Mr Florea, who drives a tractor for a living, told a Romanian newspaper: “We ask everyone who may have possibilities to assist us in this tragedy.

“We have no resources to bring them home to bury them here in Romania. We ask you for help.”

The Romanian Embassy in London has informed the family that they will need 10,000 euros for repatriation of their dead relatives bodies.

Mr Florea continued: “The consulate said that all costs must be supported by us, without any help.

“I understood it’s a lot, about 10.000 euros, and we do not have this money, nor do we know how to get it.”

Ms Cercel’s mother Mirela is also said to be “completely distraught and utterly heartbroken” following the loss of her daughter and grandson.

There were no other vehicles involved in the crash, which happened close to A134 junction with Main Road junction heading away from King’s Lynn.

It is not known what caused the car to leave the road on the straight tree-lined road.

A spokesman for the Queen Elizabeth Hospital said: “We can confirm they came here asking for treatment but discharged themselves before we could determine what was wrong with the boy.”

Firefighters from Downham Market and Methwold had to use hydraulic rescue equipment to release the two adults from the BMW and the road was shut and traffic was diverted by police officers for three hours following the crash.

Following the crash, a spokesman for the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust said: “This is an incredibly tragic incident. Despite best efforts of the crews involved the woman could not be saved and the child and man are in a serious condition. Our thoughts are with all those affected.”

Anyone who witnessed the collision or who saw the manner of driving of the vehicle should contact Norfolk Constabulary’s serious collision investigation team on 101.