Patients' Stories — Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance

Patients' Stories

Erik's Story

On April the 15th 2008, I was involved in a head on collision with another vehicle on a narrow lane on my way to work. The driver and I had both sustained injuries, and the car was so badly damaged that the doors could not properly open. I had found myself pinned back in my seat, laying nearly horizontal due to the force of the impact. I was experiencing a combination of shock and pain, but was fully conscious throughout the entire period.

The paramedics and the fire department arrived on the scene of the accident, and concluded that my injuries could be spinal, and that the only solution was to remove the roof the car, and lift me out, so as to ensure that I didn’t further damage my spine or neck. I remember wriggling my toes to ensure that I still felt sensation, giving me some relief that I wasn’t paralysed. The rescue services had been accompanied by a film crew that day, so the entire rescue operation was caught on tape! I had no problem with that, as I knew that perhaps my rescue would help train other volunteers of the emergency services.

When the rescue services advised me that a helicopter was coming to pick me up, I feared the worst, but they assured me that it was a necessary precaution to ensure my safe transport to a hospital where they could examine my injuries as quickly as possible.

In the time that it took the rescue services to cut off the roof, I could hear the helicopter in the distance, but was relatively immobile, unable to move my neck, so I had little idea of where the helicopter was.

After our car had been turned into a convertible with the help of the fire department, the paramedic from the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance came over to introduce himself and assist in the coordination of removing me from the vehicle. I have never seen such precision orchestration – there must have been as many as five or six rescue workers lifting me out of the vehicle. One might have expected that my stretcher would have been jarred or at least slightly rattled as they carried me out, but this didn’t happen. They worked with such controlled precision that I hadn’t moved a muscle. I almost felt like I was floating.

They carried me out across a field with the pilot and the paramedic, asking me along the way, if I had ever been in a helicopter. I had, I explained, but for a tourist ride in New York. They smiled, and replied that I was a seasoned flier and had nothing to worry about.

Before I was loaded into the helicopter, they explained to me how my stretcher would be slid in through a hatchway at the rear. They even warned me of the tight squeeze that might feel slightly claustrophobic as they would insert the stretcher through a narrow hatch at the back. It’s true that the hatch was a tight fit, but once pushed in all the way, my head and chest were inside the rear cabin where a paramedic fitted me with an electrocardiogram, and told me that we would be taking off shortly.

I still remember hearing the beeping of the electrocardiogram increasing as we lifted off the ground, but I already knew that I was in safe hands and on my way to the hospital.

I owe all my thanks to the crew of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance – their efforts made my experience far less traumatic, they worked with the efficiency of a well-oiled machine.

Erik Westerman

Mike's Story

The one thing you need when an accident has happened is somebody with you; somebody offering calm, relaxed conversation and re-assurance. In a situation where you can’t help yourself you need that sense of support.

On the 21st June 2009 I was, for the first time ever, happy to know I was about to take a flight; I’m a reluctant flyer but in this case it was welcome…. though with a degree of trepidation. In the early afternoon of that day, while mountain biking on the Ridgeway near Marlborough, a riding mistake generously provided me with a foot pointing the wrong way (later to be found as a broken tibia and fibula resulting in 8 bolts and 1 plate).

Luckily two good Samaritans I’d just passed were on hand to make the 999 call, and with the later arrival of the regular ambulance, it was decided that air ambulance was the only way to get me out of the situation.

Some time later, with all the drama of rescues you normally associate with the TV, the team in the yellow helicopter arrived, rotors whirring, debris flying. As a nervous flyer in a not so good scenario the nerves started to jump. My fears were undeserved.

Swift assessment, leg splinting, stretcher carrying (and I’m not a light guy!), good humour and most importantly constant updates of what they were doing with me all re-assured me that these were the professionals! As soon as the guys in red were on the scene I knew I was going to get sorted out, and fast.

The flight, with the re-assurance of the guys while in flight en route to Swindon, was soon over and I can honestly say I have never been so appreciative of flying or more importantly the swift action and superb appreciation by the air ambulance team of their patient’s predicament.

The air ambulance as a charity is critically important in saving lives, and although my immediate injuries were not life threatening, their actions in rescuing me from what could have been an impossible situation will never be far from my thoughts. Thank you Hampshire and IOW air ambulance.

Mike Mudd

Coventry August 2009

Ollie's Story.

Dear All the people at the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance,

I need to say a HUGE THANK YOU TO YOU ALL!!!

On Saturday afternoon , the 10th Oct, I was playing Rugby for my school. I play fly half for Lord Wandsworth College under 13 2nd XV team.

With just a few minutes left to go I went in for a big tackle against someone who was quite a bit bigger than me. Unfortunately when I tackled him my head and neck went one way and my body went another! Several other boys landed on top of me. I couldn't move! I realised that I had hurt myself and when the other boys got off me I couldn't move my neck or my right arm .

My Rugby teacher ran over to me he was great and the brilliant Red Cross medics came on to the pitch to check me out. Before I knew it I was being given oxygen and had a heart monitor on my finger. I remember being told to keep my head still and a really nice man who had his hands on my head to keep me from moving kept saying nice things. I kept getting pins and needle in my arm and the back of my head and my neck was hurting.

The next thing I remember was the Air Ambulance flying over the top of us and a big noise and leaves falling on my face when it landed on the rugby pitch. There were lots of people around me - everyone was so kind and they were trying to cheer me up .I was crying. I was scared and frightened.

The helicopter was behind me so I couldn't see it or the people getting out. One man came and sat next to me he was quite funny and he made me feel safe. He asked me lots of questions. I can't really remember what they were but he was really friendly. I remember him putting me onto a special stretcher and my neck being put into a brace. Then some people picked me up and carried me to the helicopter. They kept saying that I was really heavy. I actually I am the lightest boy in my class!

I didn't like it when they slid me through the helicopter. I felt a bit claustrophobic. Mum came with me in the helicopter because I was scared , I asked when the helicopter was in the air. The take off was so smooth I didn't even realise we were up !!

Getting to the hospital was so quick. It felt like as soon as we got up in the air we were landing again. I would have loved to have been able to see out of the window, but because I was lying down I could only see the ceiling of the helicopter. When we landed at the hospital I was put into an ambulance and taken into A and E. The medic from the Air Ambulance came with me and he told the Doctor everything that had happened.

Some Doctors came to see me straight away and I was taken to X-ray. I had quite a few X-rays taken .Great news I hadn't broken my neck or damaged my spine. Eventually I was taken out of the head brace and 4 hours later, full of pain killers I was allowed to go home. I have soft tissue damage and have pulled all my muscles.

Today is Tuesday and I went back to school for the first time. I am still really sore, and I am not allowed to play any sport for 3 weeks which is a real pain as we have two games this week.

I REALLY WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF YOU WHO HELPED ME ON SATURDAY .YOU WERE ALL FANTASTIC. YOU DID A BRILLIANT JOB FOR ME AND I KNOW YOU MUST DO A BRILLIANT JOB FOR ANYONE WHO NEEDS YOU.

THANK YOU SO MUCH

FROM

OLLIE EDMOND (aged 11)

Hannah's Story

On Sunday June 28, the whole family, comprising 10 adults and 7 children - our children and grand children - were to have a get together at one of our daughter's home at Headley, near Hindhead in Hampshire. My wife and I, arriving at about 12.15 were alarmed to see an Ambulance and a Police car proceeding up the narrow approach road and into the drive of our daughter's house.

To our horror, when we arrived, we discovered our youngest granddaughter, Hannah, had fallen into the swimming pool and gone under the cover. She had possibly been in the pool for up to 5 minutes before she was discovered. Our daughter found her and pulled little Hannah out while someone else called the police and ambulance. Hannah, aged two, was unconscious.

The Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was called by the other emergency services. Somehow they found the house and a small field behind it and were amazing in so far as that they managed to land in that tiny space. The crew and medics then had to scramble through a hedge and over a barb-wire fence to get to the house and little Hannah. They landed and were administering medical care within 15 minutes of the phone call.

Thank goodness they were so quick as Hannah was still unconscious, but through the help and advice from the emergency services on the phone, she was breathing, just.

The ambulance crew gave her oxygen and other vital treatment but she was still unconscious when she was put into the helicopter for the flight to Portsmouth Queen Alexandra Hospital. I believe that the flight took about 5 minutes whereas, by road, it would have taken at least 35 minutes at the best. Hannah was whisked into the Hospital and handed over to their superb staff.

The helicopter arrived about 10 minutes before the Ambulance Service was able to get to the house by road. This speedy response could well have been vital in saving little Hannah's life. Without the incredibly fast and efficient work of the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance Team we wonder if Hannah would have survived her ordeal. Many, many thanks to them and the entire medical teams both at the house, on the phone and at the Hospitals.

Philip Ashfield. Grandfather of Hannah.

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