Angela Brearley – Page 3 – Yorkshire Air Ambulance

Bracken Ghyll Golf Club raises £12,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance

22 May 202421 December 2022 by Angela Brearley

Bracken Ghyll golf club in Addingham, West Yorkshire, have raised over £12,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance

The Club chose the rapid response emergency service as their charity of the year following a member’s cardiac arrest on the course.

Nigel Boot had almost finished his round on April 21^st this year when he suffered a heart attack at the 18^th tee. His playing partner immediately phoned 999 and two members, plus the Club Pro, administered CPR and used the Club’s defibrillator.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Critical Care Team who managed to land on course and restarted Nigel’s heart. He was taken to Airedale hospital by land ambulance where he was fitted with an implanted defibrillator (ICD).

“The air ambulance landed on the golf course and to this day, I still can’t believe how they managed to land in the area. Fortunately, they managed to get me going again. I wouldn’t be here without everyone’s help that day,” said Nigel.

Bracken Ghyll Golf Club have held a range of events throughout the year for Yorkshire Air Ambulance including a 72-hole challenge and a community event and have now reached their fundraising target of £12,000.

Helen Berriman, West Yorkshire Fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to thank Bracken Ghyll Golf Cub for choosing us as their charity of the year.

“We were glad to be able to help one of their members recently in their time of need and the money raised will help greatly towards keeping our two helicopters flying and saving more lives across the region.”

Photo: Bracken Ghyll Golf Club Seniors Vice Captain Will Stoker, Lady Captain Liz White, Member Pat Murray, Ladies Vice Captain Janice Garlick, Member Judy Banks, President Ian Disley, and Yorkshire Air Ambulance West Yorkshire Fundraiser Helen Berriman.

Biker thankful to YAA after dramatic crash near England’s highest pub

22 May 202419 December 2022 by Angela Brearley

Experienced biker Robin Brown was riding with a friend towards the Tan Hill Inn, Swaledale, in poor visibility last January when he hit a gulley and was catapulted off his bike.

A passing car stopped and took the 62-year-old lorry driver to the Tan Hill Inn where the emergency services were called. Despite very poor flying conditions, Yorkshire Air Ambulance managed to reach the remote Dales spot 1,732 ft above sea level.

Robin was airlifted to the James Cook major trauma centre, Middlesbrough, in just 16 minutes – a journey that would have taken an hour and 20 minutes by road ambulance.

The father-of-two from Eastmoor, Wakefield, suffered a punctured lung and a broken ankle in the accident. Robin spent four months recovering from his injuries and is still having physiotherapy. But, he knows he is very lucky to have survived a high-speed crash in such a remote location. “We hadn’t done the route before and I just misread the road and hit the bank. I flew up and off the bike and was saved because I was wearing all the right equipment.

“I am also so very grateful to the air ambulance for getting to me in what were horrible conditions and then flying me to hospital so quickly. I can’t thank them enough.”

Robin’s accident features in Tuesday’s episode of Helicopter ER, the award-winning Really channel programme that follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The programme, also features a teenager who suffered multiple injuries after a tyre blow-out at 70mph, a climber who fell 30ft from a rock face at Stanage Edge in the Peak District and a DIY job that went badly wrong.

Photo: Robin Brown who is lucky to be alive after a high-speed motorbike accident

Father who lost leg in forklift accident aims to fundraise for YAA

22 May 202413 December 2022 by Angela Brearley

A Humberside father of four who lost part of his leg in a fork-lift truck accident is planning to raise money for the air ambulance charity that helped to save his life.

Rob Smith’s life changed in an instant last April when he was pinned against a wall by a forklift truck while delivering chipboard to a company in Batley.

The corner of the rig went through the 37-year-old’s right knee, severing his leg. “I had managed to jump out the way but my leg was caught between the back of the forklift and the corner of the wall,” said Rob.

“When the truck pulled back and I looked down I knew it was bad. I was laid on the floor and put my head back and even though there was lots of noise around everything went quiet and black and all I could see like a little candlelight.

“That scared me and that was when I woke myself up and looking again I knew I had to do something to stop the bleeding. I was losing so much.”

Rob, who is first aid trained, did what he could to stem the blood flow himself and got horrified workers to get him a tourniquet before the emergency services arrived including Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The accident features on this week’s episode of Helicopter ER – the reality TV series featuring the work of rapid response emergency service.

Rob’s efforts and those of the medics saved his life but could not save his leg which was amputated just above the knee. After nine days in hospital and intensive occupational and physiotherapy, he has learned to walk with a mechanical leg.

He has returned to an office-based role as head of transport and health and safety for Yorkshire Plywood and is now planning to fundraise for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

“I know it is me who has experienced this but it really has hit my family big time and it’s not been until the last couple of months that I’ve realised just how much,” said Rob.

“I wanted to get back some kind of normality as soon as possible. It has been a challenge, and there’s still a long way to go but the main thing is I’m just so grateful to be here, that the kids still have their Dad.

“I can’t thank the air ambulance enough. You don’t realise just how much amazing work they do until you need them yourself and I would really like to do something to raise some money for them in the New Year.”

Photo: Rob Smith from Hessle whose leg was amputated after a forklift truck accident with two of his children Poppy and Ollie.

Yorkshire Area Point to Point Club raise over £36,000 for YAA

22 May 202412 December 2022 by Angela Brearley

The Yorkshire Area Point to Point Club has raised over £36,000 during 2022 for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

A cheque was presented at Wetherby Races and takes the total funds raised by the Club for the rapid response air emergency charity to around £180,000.

Christine Drury, Chair of the Sheriff Hutton Point to Point committee, has very personal reasons to be grateful to Yorkshire Air Ambulance after being airlifted three years ago following a serious riding accident.

She said: “Yorkshire Air Ambulance is an organisation very close to my heart. I was airlifted by them in 2019 after being kicked by a horse. I suffered a compound fracture to my leg and because the location was really difficult for other emergency services to reach, Yorkshire Air Ambulance was incredible in getting me the urgent help I needed.

“Rural communities like ours are reliant on services like this and when you see the helicopter flying down and you know there is help coming, it’s truly amazing.

“I’d like to thank the Point to Point Club committee, and all our supporters and sponsors, for again making the fundraising possible.”

Serving a population of approximately five million people across Yorkshire’s three million acres, YAA operates two air ambulances from airbases at The Nostell Priory Estate near Wakefield and RAF Topcliffe near Thirsk, plus two Rapid Response Vehicles.

The service needs to raise £19,000 every day to keep its two helicopters flying.

Lin Stead, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Regional Fundraising Manager for North and East, said: “We are so grateful to Christine and everyone at the Yorkshire Point to Point Club who have raised such a fantastic amount for us once again this year.”

The next Point to Point event will be on January 15, 2023, and is usually one of the best supported in Yorkshire. Sheriff Hutton’s natural amphitheatre creates a great atmosphere enjoyed by racing supporters and families alike with top horses and jockeys from throughout the county.

Entry is £10 (cash only) per person with under 16s free with the first race starting at 11.45 am. There is a bar and refreshments available including a hog roast.

Photo: Left to right: Paul Drury, Sheriff Hutton Point to Point; Charlotte Russell, Chairman Yorkshire Area Point to Point; Kevin Hutchinson, Community Fundraiser Yorkshire Air Ambulance; Christine Drury, Sheriff Hutton Point to Point and Lin Stead, Regional Fundraising Manager YAA.

North Yorkshire pensioner who had a lucky escape after log-cutting accident will appear on Helicopter ER

22 May 20245 December 2022 by Angela Brearley

A North Yorkshire pensioner had a lucky escape after being felled by a flying log in a wood-cutting accident that features in this week’s episode of Helicopter ER – the reality TV series featuring the work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Forester and landscape gardener Trevor Dawson was cutting sycamore using a high-pressure log splitter machine when he was hit in the chest by a 20kg lump of wood.

The force of the impact threw the 74-year-old backward causing severe internal and external bruising.

Fortunately, the father-of-three had his mobile phone and could call a farmer friend who found him in agony on the ground and rang the emergency services. Yorkshire Air Ambulance was dispatched to the remote location near Skipton and flew Trevor to the nearest major trauma centre in Preston.

“It happened so suddenly – one moment everything was great and then the machine spat out this log and the next thing I know I am on the floor. I really thought it was the end of me because the pain in my chest was terrible,” said Trevor from Bank Newton, near Skipton.

It’s not the first time that Trevor has reason to be grateful to the rapid response charity – his wife Elaine was also airlifted a few years ago following a bad horse-riding accident. He added: “I’ve had a few accidents before but nothing as horrendous as this, and it was such a relief to see the air ambulance land.

“There was no way a road ambulance could have got to me and they were just fantastic.”

It took Trevor over a month to recover from his injuries. His accident features in tomorrow night’s episode of Helicopter ER, the award-winning Really TV series which follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

This week’s episode also features the story of a boy who broke his leg after falling from hay bales, a man seriously injured in a high-speed road accident, and a farming accident involving a cattle feeder.

Photo: Trevor Dawson who was felled in a log-splitting accident at a remote North Yorkshire location

Hull man, ‘lucky to be alive’ after freak wind overturns caravan, to appear on Helicopter ER.

22 May 202429 November 2022 by Angela Brearley

A Hull caravanning couple’s lucky escape will feature in the next episode of Helicopter ER – the reality TV series featuring the work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Paul and Christine Johnson were inside their caravan at a farm site near Pickering when a freak wind during the tail-end of Storm Aurora flipped it over with the shocked pensioners still inside.

Christine banged her head but was able to crawl out of a smashed window to get help from other family members on site. But, 66-year-old Paul was trapped inside, wedged painfully between the seats and kitchen units which emptied their contents on top of him.

“When the caravan was blown over there was no warning,” said the retired engineer. “One minute, I was drinking a cup of tea and the next, I was just tossed around and everything just seemed to fall on top of me.

“I was pinned down, just couldn’t move. It was so disorientating as my glasses had been knocked off and my first thought was Christine. Thankfully she was OK, and I feel very lucky to be alive too as there was a vertical knife sticking up just six inches away from me.”

Paul, who has osteoarthritis in his spine making him vulnerable to spinal fractures, was only freed when firefighters cut through the roof of the overturned caravan.

The caravan – known as the ‘Love Shack’ – was propped up against the tail bar of Paul’s car which he believes stopped it from rolling over again and miraculously he only sustained minor injuries.

And, the drama has not stopped the couple’s love of caravanning – they are just wary of travelling and pitching in windy conditions.

Their story features in Tuesday night’s episode of Helicopter ER, the award-winning Really channel programme which follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The programme also features a three-vehicle road accident which saw two people airlifted to major trauma centres, including a motorcyclist who was carrying his dog in a sidecar, and a man who suffered major leg injuries after slipping off the edge of a home renovation project.

Photo: Paul Johnson was trapped in his caravan after a freak wind flipped it over.

Kent woman suffers multiple injuries in life-changing cow attack

22 May 202418 November 2022 by Angela Brearley

A Kent woman’s traumatic cow attack, in which she suffered life-changing injuries, will feature in the next episode of Helicopter ER – the reality TV series featuring the work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Stella Collins was on a five-day walking holiday in the beautiful Yorkshire Dales with her husband Geoff when she was charged and repeatedly trampled by a cow in an unprovoked attack.

“I was a little ahead of my husband who had stopped to take a photo,” said Stella. “We were about 35 metres away from this herd of cows when, without warning, this large ginger and white cow charged.

“It just came thundering towards me and I heard my husband say ‘Oh no’ and I thought I was going to die because of the anguish in his voice.

“I had no time to do anything other than turn my shoulder as the cow’s head hit me and I was thrown into the air. I was like a rag doll being tossed around and repeatedly trampled.

“We were so happy to be in such a beautiful place. It was like being in a part of heaven but then, in a blink of an eye, heaven turned into hell.”

Last year in the UK five people were killed in cow tramplings and dozens more were seriously injured. Stella suffered multiple injuries in the attack, including broken ribs, a blood clot and lesions to her lungs, leg and ankle injuries, whiplash, and major soft tissue damage.

Fourteen months later, she is still undergoing weekly rehabilitation and physiotherapy and is in constant pain.

The super-active 60-year-old regularly played tennis, badminton, table tennis, and stoolball. Since the attack Stella has tried to return to sports but, after aggravating her soft tissue injuries, has been advised against activity until after further diagnostic tests.

“It is really hard,” added Stella. “I still have all this pain doing just everyday activities and am just not the person I was. I have lost my confidence and still suffer flashbacks of the cow being over me, snorting as it trampled me again and again.

“But, I know how lucky I was and I am just so grateful for the actions of the emergency services and what they did for me, particularly the air ambulance. I can’t imagine what the journey to the hospital would have been like if I had to go by road from such a remote spot.”

Stell was airlifted to the hospital where she spent five days. Her story features in Tuesday’s episode of Helicopter ER, the award-winning Really channel programme which follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Serving a population of approximately five million people across Yorkshire, the Charity operates two air ambulances from airbases at The Nostell Priory Estate near Wakefield and RAF Topcliffe near Thirsk plus two Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs).

The rapid response air emergency service needs to raise £19,000 every day to keep its two helicopters flying.

Find more YAA News HERE.

Life-saving drama on Sheffield golf course features in TV series Helicopter ER

22 May 202411 November 2022 by Angela Brearley

The life-saving heroics of a trio of Sheffield golfers will be featured in the next episode of Helicopter ER- the reality TV series featuring the work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

John Anderson, 65, had just started a round with three others at Hillsborough Golf Club when he collapsed on the first fairway after suffering a massive heart attack.

The father-of-two stopped breathing for nearly 10 minutes but survived because of the quick-thinking actions of his fellow golfers. Kevin Gross started immediate CPR while Rob Biggins ran back to the clubhouse to get more help.

First aid-trained Club steward Carl Pagden and another golfer Matt Shaw raced to the fairway and joined Kevin in giving CPR until paramedics arrived with a defibrillator and manage to restart John’s heart before the air ambulance arrived.

Retired farrier Johns said: “It was my first time at the club and I remember Rob saying the first hole was on a bit of a hill but after that, it wasn’t too bad. I took my first shot and the next thing I remember is waking up in hospital.”

“But I’ve been told I was dead for over nine minutes. Without Kevin, Matt and Carl I would not be here – they literally saved my life and I can’t thank them enough for what they did that day.”

Less than one in ten people survive cardiac arrests that happen outside hospital, and for every minute that a person in cardiac arrest doesn’t receive CPR and defibrillation, their chance of survival drops by up to 10% – so acting in an emergency is crucial.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance aircrew medic Dr. Brian White who attended John said: “It is the early starting of CPR that is the most important thing, and that started as soon as John collapsed – that’s the bit that saved his life.”

The dramatic incident happened in May last year. Grandfather of four John, from Hillsborough, was stabilised at the scene and airlifted to Northern General Hospital where he had emergency surgery to fit a mini-defibrillator and pacemaker.

His grateful son Callum started a GoFundMe campaign with has raised enough money to buy a defibrillator for Hillsborough Golf Club, who have since installed a second machine on the course. A donation has also been made to Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which needs £19,000 every day to keep its two helicopters flying.

John added: “When I was in hospital, the footballer Christian Eriksen suffered his heart attack on the pitch during the European Championships and I thought how terrifying it must have been for everyone around me. Thankfully, he survived as well because he received immediate CPR.”

“I am just so grateful that I got that second chance. Every day I wake up is a bonus.”

John’s story features in Tuesday’s episode of Helicopter ER, the award-winning Discovery programme which follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Episode 9, which airs on Really, also features a woman who had to learn to walk again after suffering multiple injuries in a car crash, a farmer who was crushed by one of her cows, and a pensioner who drove into a house after an automatic gearbox mix-up.

Serving a population of approximately five million people across the whole of Yorkshire, the Charity operates two air ambulance helicopters from airbases at The Nostell Priory near Wakefield and RAF Topcliffe near Thirsk, plus two Rapid Response Vehicles (RRVs).

The rapid response air emergency service relies on public donations and fundraising to continue saving lives.

Find further YAA News HERE.

North Yorkshire woman who had to learn to walk again after near-fatal car crash to appear on Helicopter ER

22 May 202411 November 2022 by Angela Brearley

A North Yorkshire woman’s near-fatal car accident will feature in the next episode of Helicopter ER – the reality TV series featuring the work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Viv Crosier was travelling home from work when a van pulled out from a junction in front of her near Slingsby.

Unable to stop, she crashed into the side of the van at 40mph suffering multiple injuries. The 60-year-old was trapped in her crumpled car for over an hour as emergency services worked to stabilise her before cutting her free from the wreckage.

Extremely grateful for the support from the emergency services team and the public Viv from Malton said: “Everybody was absolutely incredible, so kind and reassuring.”

“It was a hot day in mid-July, and it was overwhelming and scary. One lady got straight in the car to help me, and she didn’t know what state the car was in, but she didn’t think twice.”

“The way the emergency services worked together was brilliant. I’m so thankful.”

Being an hour’s drive from a major trauma centre, Yorkshire Air Ambulance flew Viv within 15 minutes to Leeds General Infirmary.

Scans revealed the Weighbridge Operator had broken her back, her right ankle, and foot. She was in the hospital for 7 days and underwent surgery 11 months later for her ankle.

She had to learn to walk again after her injuries, with family and friends supporting her on her long rehabilitation journey. Viv has returned to work as a Weighbridge Operator at Ian Mosey Feeds after 15 months and is finally returning to normality.

Viv’s story features in Tuesday’s episode of Helicopter ER, the award-winning Discovery programme which follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Episode 9, which airs on Really, also features a man who went into cardiac arrest whilst playing golf, a farmer who was crushed by one of her cows, and a pensioner who drove into a house after an automatic gearbox mix-up.

The rapid response air emergency service relies on public donations and fundraising to continue saving lives.

Find further YAA News HERE.

Professional mountain biker injured in Sheffield woods to appear on Helicopter ER

22 May 202431 October 2022 by Angela Brearley

A professional Mountain Biker injured deep in Sheffield woods is to appear on Helicopter ER next on Tuesday night (1st November).

Davi Birks was out mountain biking in a Sheffield woodland when he came off his bike after colliding with a tree and was knocked unconscious.

“I remember riding the quite technical descent into the woods, but after that I can’t remember anything”, said Davi.

While he was in and out of consciousness, Davi was able to get on his bike and flag down a dog walker to call for help. The emergency services were called, as well as Davi’s mountain biking friend who lived near and was able to pinpoint his location.

Due to the dense woodland and the remote location, Yorkshire Air Ambulance was dispatched. It was thanks to the app What3words, which provided the emergency services with his exact location, that he was found.

What3Words is an app that has divided the world into 57 trillion squares and given each square a unique three-word address that can be found using GPS. When a caller is unable to identify where they are, they can pass the three words generated by the app to the emergency services and they will be able to track their location within a three-mile radius.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew assessed Davi and with fears that he had sustained serious chest damage he was flown to Sheffield Northern General for further treatment.

Doctors at the Northern General Hospital revealed that Davi had broken eight ribs, severely displaced his shoulder, and sustained multiple punctures to his lungs.

Speaking of his recovery, Davi said: “Recovery has been pretty tough. I’m used to leading a pretty active lifestyle so to have that taken away from you is really hard.” It was six months before Davi was back on his bike.

“Mountain biking means everything to me. I’ve always been around mountain bikes from riding motocross when I was younger to now working in the Mountain Biking industry. It’s a big part of my life. Without mountain biking, part of my identity has been taken away, but slowly and surely, I’m getting back into it”, he said.

Davi’s flight with Yorkshire Air Ambulance wasn’t his first time using an air ambulance service. Three years ago, Davi had an incident at loch Ness where he nearly drowned.

Davi’s incident will be featured on the Yorkshire Air Ambulance reality television show Helicopter ER, on Tuesday 1^st November at 9 pm. The episode also features an injured veteran motorcyclist and a mum-to-be injured by a driver under the influence of alcohol.

Meet the new Yorkshire Air Ambulance HEMS Paramedics

23 May 202420 May 2022 by Angela Brearley

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has welcomed seven new helicopter emergency medical service (HEMS) Paramedics from across the Yorkshire region to their crew.

The Paramedics are seconded from partner Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust (YAS), on an initial six-month basis. They form part of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Critical Care Team, comprising a team of anesthetic and emergency medicine consultants, and 23 Paramedics who work as crew on the two YAA helicopters delivering the life-saving service 365 days a year to 5 million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire.

Lindsey Newey (Sheffield)

Lindsey lives in Sheffield and studied to become a Paramedic at Coventry University. Initially working in Bristol for South Western Ambulance Service, Lindsey then moved to Yorkshire Ambulance Service before joining YAA.

“I’m very excited about joining Yorkshire Air Ambulance. It has been a long-term goal of mine to work in HEMS and I’m excited to get started and stuck in,” said Lindsey.

Becky Knight (Huddersfield)

Becky is from Wakefield and previously worked in a dual role as an ambulance paramedic and lecturer practitioner in human and health sciences at the University of Huddersfield.

Becky said: “I have always been interested in helicopters and critical care. I wanted to become a HEMS paramedic to challenge myself, help others and learn from the team’s experience and expertise.”

Tammy Williams (Pontefract)

Tammy completed a three-year BSC Paramedic Science degree in London and qualified in 2016. She initially worked out of Deptford and came back up to Yorkshire and was based at Wakefield before joining YAA.

Comparing London to Yorkshire, Tammy said: “Working on the land ambulance you have a lot more trauma such as RTCs and stabbings in London and the trauma is quite invasive. It’s a lot more rural up here. Being exposed to that level of trauma in London made me want to be a HEMS Paramedic and expand my knowledge.”

Fiona Blaylock (Harrogate)

Fiona is from Harrogate and previously worked as a Combat Medical Technician in the army and in a prison healthcare department before becoming a Paramedic in 2013.

“When you’re on the road as a Paramedic with a patient and you see the air ambulance arrive, you know the patient will get extra care and sometimes get to the hospital quicker that could potentially save their life,” said Fiona.

Andy Watson (Leeds)

Andy lives in Leeds and has been a Paramedic for four years, progressing to Team Leader. Prior to working as a Paramedic, Andy was a personal trainer, a bodyguard, and was in the military.

When asked why he wanted to work as a HEMS Paramedic, Andy said: “HEMS is the best job within the ambulance service and it’s a job most paramedics aspire to.”

Sam Berridge (Bridlington)

Sam lives in Bridlington and began his career working in the Coastguard Search and Rescue Team for nine years before joining the ambulance service in 2016. He worked his way up to Team Leader before coming to YAA.

“I wanted to work for Yorkshire Air Ambulance because it’s the best air ambulance in the country and brings the

very best care to critically ill patients. Working in the fantastic small Critical Care Team will allow me to be part of this,” said Sam.

Terri-ann (Bridlington)

Terri-ann became a Paramedic in 2017, initially based out of Keighley, then Pateley Bridge, and finally Harrogate. She then completed a secondment at HART, Yorkshire Ambulance Service’s Hazardous Area Response Team before joining Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

When asked why she wanted to join YAA, Terri-Ann said: “I wanted to work with the most amazing clinicians, Paramedics, and Pilots. The pre-hospital care they give and the speed that they can fly a patient to the hospital is incredible.”

You can meet the other members of the YAA crew over in the Meet our Team section of our website.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s most perilous rescue mission to save fallen walker to feature on Critical Hour TV show

23 May 202422 August 2021 by Angela Brearley

On February 23rd 2021, Imran Choudhury from Oldham, was training on Saddleworth Moor for a Kilimanjaro sponsored walk he was due to take part in for the NHS. He stopped at the famous Trinnacle landmark and asked two passers-by to take his photograph. When he started climbing back down, he blacked out and fell 200ft and was left clinging to a 50-degree slope in the ravine.

Speaking of his incident, Imran said: “I woke up that morning, had something to eat, drove to Dovestones and started walking. It was a very steep climb and I was walking against the wind that day. I took lots of photos and videos and went to the Trinnacle where two people took my photo. I did a live video for social media and actually said at the end of it, if someone fell from here that would be the end for them. I started to climb down and that’s the last thing I remember.”

Two horrified walkers, Carly and Nadine, saw Imran plummet down the hill and phoned the emergency services. Whilst Nadine climbed down to help Imran, Carly called for help and another couple, Caroline and Paul, saw the women in distress and also offered to assist. Paul managed to brave the descent to Imran’s aid and stayed with him throughout his rescue. YAA dispatched their aircraft with Pilot Lee Holmes, Doctor Andy Pountney, and Paramedics Al Day and James Allen on board.

The weather was treacherous that day with extremely strong winds making the rescue mission one of the teams most challenging ever. James Allen, YAA Hems Paramedic, said: “It was blowing a gale and the ground was crumbling away in places. If any of us had lost our footing, it would have been game over.” Imran was also fortunate that day as Paramedic Al Day also has extensive Mountain Rescue Team experience so brought vital experience and knowledge to the rescue mission.

Imran had sustained a catalogue of serious injuries and it was imperative that he received urgent hospital care in order to save his life. Paul stayed with Imran, essentially to stop him rolling down the ravine, whilst the medics carried out emergency care.

YAA Pilot Lee tried to relocate the aircraft to the bottom of the hill in hope that Mountain Rescue volunteers and YAA clinical staff could carry him down. However, the wind was too

strong as he approached the valley. “I was presented with a wind that was trying to kill me from both directions”, said Lee.

A Search and Rescue Helicopter was subsequently dispatched and was eventually able to winch Imran to safety, he was then flown to Sheffield Northern General Hospital by the waiting Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter.

Tests revealed that Imran had broken two skull bones, one of which penetrated his brain and caused serious internal bleeding. He also broke his shoulder, shoulder blade, spinal bone, a small bone in his leg left and badly damaged his right leg in six places. Imran spent three weeks in an induced coma.

“When I woke up from the coma I didn’t know where I was or what had happened. I thought that I was in Bangladesh. It took some time to realise the extent of my injuries”, said Imran. He has since made a good recovery, but still undergoing treatment for his injuries.

Speaking of the people who helped him that day, he said: “Without the members of the public, the emergency services wouldn’t have come to my rescue as they called them and without the emergency services, I wouldn’t be here today. They are my angels who saved me. I’m so grateful for their help. It was a very challenging rescue and it’s amazing what they did to save me.”

Imran has remained friends with Carly, Nadine, Caroline, and Paul who stayed with him during his accident and has since met up with the Mountain Rescue team who helped him and the YAA crew. Imran has thanked those involved by providing them with a huge curry

meal from their family takeaway The New Polash in Chadderton which was enjoyed by the YAA at their airbases a few weeks ago.

YAA Doctor Andy Pountney, said: “I’m really proud to have been part of the team at the beginning of Imran’s journey, to be part of that team who gave him the initial treatment and helped get him off the hillside. I feel privileged to be in a position to help someone like that.”

YAA Paramedic Al Day, said: “Whilst raising money for charity, Imran has had an accident which has resulted in being rescued by three organisations, two of which are charities – Mountain Rescue and Yorkshire Air Ambulance. He doesn’t owe anything to Mountain Rescue or Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the people that have really saved Imran’s life are the people who put 50p in a collection box or organised a bake sale. Those are the people who saved Imran’s life and it’s very comforting.”

Imran’s episode will air on 31^st August at 10 PM on Channel Really.

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