At my wits end. Please help.

So yesterday was results day. I woke up, logged on to track and found that I had no offers, both my firm and insurance were withdrawn. To cut a long story short, I was predicted AAB and only achieved CCC due to having so many exams this summer (8 to be precise). This was all as a result from extenuating circumstances from last year which I won't delve in to. Its easy to see how distraught I am because of this.

After trying to ring the universities all day I was, and still am, unsuccessful in gaining a place anywhere. I know there are options such as just going to a lower institute that offer lower grades, not going completely or redoing A2's. But here's the thing. I know it may sound snobby but I would detest being at a uni that wasn't of my particular choice and would just end up dropping out. The second option just isn't really an option for me. And the final option, well I have already retaken the AS and it would devastate me to be another year behind. (The first year of AS was a result of extenuating circumstances also).

So, what the hell should I do?

Some advice would be great.

I get that you don't want to spend another year at school or go to a lesser uni, but you need to decide which is the lesser of those two evils. You aren't going to get into AAB unis with CCC, so either you resit or you go to a uni that accepts CCC.

Alternatively:
What is it you wanted to study? Is there another way into that field - apprenticeships, vocational qualifications, employment?

So yesterday was results day. I woke up, logged on to track and found that I had no offers, both my firm and insurance were withdrawn. To cut a long story short, I was predicted AAB and only achieved CCC due to having so many exams this summer (8 to be precise). This was all as a result from extenuating circumstances from last year which I won't delve in to. Its easy to see how distraught I am because of this.

After trying to ring the universities all day I was, and still am, unsuccessful in gaining a place anywhere. I know there are options such as just going to a lower institute that offer lower grades, not going completely or redoing A2's. But here's the thing. I know it may sound snobby but I would detest being at a uni that wasn't of my particular choice and would just end up dropping out. The second option just isn't really an option for me. And the final option, well I have already retaken the AS and it would devastate me to be another year behind. (The first year of AS was a result of extenuating circumstances also).

So, what the hell should I do?

Some advice would be great.

Mechanical engineering. I know that there may be apprenticeships but none of them really interest me and are too bound to a specific thing.