The pair were on a training flight when the plane hit a fence and flipped at Orange Regional Airport in May last year, before bursting into flames.

Both suffered serious burns including damage to their airways, and a critically ill Catherine was airlifted to Royal North Shore Hospital, placed in an induced coma, while machines kept her alive.

Already critically injured in the fire, her condition deteriorated after contracting pneumonia, but somehow she clawed her way back, crediting her recovery to the outstanding care at both RNS, and in her rehabilitation stage.

Looking at the picture, which she first saw after getting out of hospital, Catherine said she realises "how very lucky we both are to be alive, and how lucky I was that Ben pulled me out."

The plane had caught a fence and flipped over, landing on its roof, rendering escape almost impossible.

What Catherine can remember of the initial impact was being in the pitch dark.

"I didn't know at that stage the plane was upside down.

"There was just a thud then Ben looked out and saw the flames and said we've got to get out of here fast."

Ben kicked the window out and crawled out, but Catherine at that stage was unconscious, probably with hypoxia.

"The emergency services saw Ben running out of the flames and (when he realised she was still inside) turn around and run back into them.

"They didn't know what he was doing, He's an absolute hero," she said.

Airlifted from the scene, Catherine spent weeks at Royal North Shore, and upon discharge stayed with a fellow pilot, also a doctor, who put in place a rehabilitation program, she said was second to none.

"She really pushed me, she'd come in one day and say I think you're well enough to get on a bike, we'll do a short ride today.

"We'd be out riding and come across a big hill, she'd say to me 'the doctor in me thinks it's time to turn around but my Type A personality says lets give it a go'," she said laughing at the memory.

Returning to Bathurst in the months after the crash, Catherine said she will never forget the support she received. 

"The outpouring of community support has been absolutely fantastic; the people at work were absolutely wonderful the jumped in and kept the business going, the neighborhood I live in looked after my place.

"The Business Chamber (where Catherine is vice president) my cycling and swimming club, everyone rallied in some way, they were just so supportive, I really feel after this accident that Bathurst is my home.

"While I wouldn't wish what happened to me on anyone a lot of good has come out of it; I'm so grateful to have two arms and two legs and can still do everything as well as I did before."

While she was incredibly fit before the crash, now, more then ever, Catherine said she wants to continue pushing the boundaries. 

​As soon as she was out of hospital, she was back in a plane; she said one of the first things she told he family when she 'came to' was nothing would stop her flying.

Last week she rode (on a push bike) from Bathurst to Orange as part of Rotary's Iron Lung educational campaign.

The damage to her respiratory system meant she was wheezy before even setting off but she finished the ride regardless.

"I'm incredibly lucky I've come out alright, and there are so many people less fortunate.

"I did the ride because I want to keep pushing my boundaries.... will I ever fully recover no one really knows, but I can't stop trying."