The latest episode of Yorkshire Air 999, airing on Really and discovery+ this Friday 4th July at 9PM, follows the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) team as they respond to a teenager who suffered a life-threatening brain injury after a motocross accident near Goole.
15-year-old Tyler Atkinson was out riding with his dad at a local motocross park in Whitley, when he lost control of his bike while practicing circuits. Tyler, who has been riding for three years and knew the track well, skidded and crashed at speed, landing heavily on his head. Initially, he managed to stand up and walk away from the track, seeming dazed but otherwise uninjured. But within moments, his condition rapidly deteriorated. Tyler collapsed and began fitting, prompting his concerned dad to immediately call 999.
When they reached Tyler, the signs were immediately concerning. Dr Tim recalled, “When you have a brain injury, patients can show certain characteristic postures. When we saw Tyler, his arms were extended in a way that indicated potential severe brain damage, and I was really concerned. There’s a type of head injury where someone can seem okay at first, but inside there’s bleeding or swelling putting pressure on the brain and if it’s not treated quickly, it can become fatal. That’s what we suspected had happened to Tyler.”
With time critical, the crew began preparing for a Rapid Sequence Induction (RSI), a procedure where the patient is anaesthetised and intubated so the crew can take control of their breathing. This is especially important in cases of traumatic brain injury, where managing oxygen and carbon dioxide levels can help prevent further brain damage.
With the help of a local land ambulance crew, Tyler was carefully moved on a scoop stretcher from the ground onto a trolley at waist height, giving Dr Tim and the YAA medical team space to perform the complex procedure.
Tammy explained, “When we RSI someone, we use a strict checklist to ensure everything is done precisely and nothing is missed. It covers every stage of the procedure, so that everyone on scene knows their role and we’re all working in sync. We administer three drugs: one to sedate, one to stop pain, and one to paralyse the patient so we can safely intubate. Once the patient is paralysed, they can’t breathe for themselves, so we have to act quickly to secure their airway. The checklist keeps us calm and methodical, even in high-pressure situations like this.”
On arrival, the crew handed Tyler over directly to the waiting trauma team. He was taken straight into emergency surgery, where doctors discovered a bleed on his brain. Tyler was placed on life support for three days and spent nearly two weeks in hospital as he began the long road to recovery.
Speaking about the incident, Tyler said, “I don’t remember anything from the day it happened, I just woke up in hospital a few days later and was told I’d had surgery on my brain and that I’d been on life support for a few days. It was a shock to hear how serious it was. For a while, I couldn’t go anywhere without my mum and dad in case I had a seizure, which was tough. But now I’m finally back at school and seeing my friends again, and that’s what I was most excited for. I know how lucky I am. If the Air Ambulance crew hadn’t got to me so quickly and flown me to hospital, things could have been very different. I’m so grateful to them for everything they did.”
Looking back on the job, Tammy concluded, “He was so poorly when we arrived. He needed an RSI, he needed the helicopter, and he needed neurosurgery. Without those three things aligning as perfectly as they did, he likely wouldn’t have survived. It’s amazing to hear he’s back at school and making such a positive recovery, that’s the outcome we all hope for.”
Alongside Tyler’s story, this week’s episode also features a man who fell from a ladder while clearing moss from a neighbour’s roof, a walker who suffered a serious fall at Malham Cove, and a 39-year-old woman experiencing life-threatening anaphylactic shock.