IPhoto crashed during import and deleted photos from import

Question

I tried to use iPhoto today to import 400+ photos from a recent holiday from my iPhone. When prompted I chose to delete the photos from my phone. When iPhoto was in the 'finishing import' stage it crashed and I was forced to force quit it. I assumed that because it said the import was complete and then asked if I wanted the photos deleted it had stopped working during the deleting and the photos would be safe in my iPhoto library. However, when I went into my library, none of the photos had been imported and all but 40 had been deleted from my phone. At the moment I stand to lose 400+ family photos.
Is there anyway to recover them?
My last backup of my iPhone included them on our family computer (I'm currently at university) - would this help? I wouldn't want to restore my phone from this backup becasue I've now got new information on the phone (incl. more photos) which I don't want to lose.
Also, I tried to import these photos in order to make sure I had them saved before upgrading to iOS6. Would doing this affect the temporary files which (I assume) the photos still are on my phone, albeit hidden? Would using my phone in other capacities (i.e. taking photos, texting, using internet, calls etc.) effect the data? Or am I wrong and the photos are in temporary files on my laptop?
Thanks

Answer 1

First try the following to make sure they are not in the library but just not getting recognized by iPhoto:  make a temporary, backup copy (select the library and type Command+D) and  apply the two fixes below in order as needed:
Fix #1
Launch iPhoto with the Command+Option keys held down and rebuild the library.
Since only one option can be run at a time start with Option #1, followed by #3 and then #4 as needed.
Fix #2
Using iPhoto Library Manager  to Rebuild Your iPhoto Library
Download iPhoto Library Manager and launch.
Click on the Add Library button, navigate to your Home/Pictures folder and select your iPhoto Library folder.
Now that the library is listed in the left hand pane of iPLM, click on your library and go to the File ➙ Rebuild Library menu option
In the next  window name the new library and select the location you want it to be placed.
Click on the Create button.
Note: This creates a new library based on the LIbraryData.xml file in the library and will recover Events, Albums, keywords, titles and comments but not books, calendars or slideshows. The original library will be left untouched for further attempts at fixing the problem or in case the rebuilt library is not satisfactory.
OT