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Teenager Airlifted After Horse Riding Accident in Northallerton

Back for its third series, Yorkshire Air 999 airs this Friday at 9PM on Really and discovery+, giving viewers a unique window into the lifesaving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance as they race to help patients in need across Yorkshire’s diverse communities and landscapes.

The opening episode features 19-year-old Maddie Schaible from Northallerton, whose typical morning at the stables turned into a medical emergency when a horse-riding accident left her with a serious open ankle fracture.

Maddie, who has been riding since the age of two and now works at her local stables, had already ridden two horses that morning before taking Rebel, one of the stables’ young horses, out for exercise. When Rebel suddenly reared up, she was thrown to the ground. Landing badly, she immediately knew something was wrong. The impact caused a severe fracture, with bone protruding through the skin of her ankle.

Speaking on the way to the incident, Paramedic Sam explained: “Sometimes with fractures you can get impingement of the nerves and blood vessels that supply blood to the extremities. If the blood flow is cut off significantly or completely and for long enough, that’s when you can lose a limb. That’s always in our minds when we attend these types of jobs.”

Once at Maddie’s side, the YAA team assessed her injuries and prepared stronger pain relief. Paramedic Danny administered ketamine, the strongest drug carried by the service which is commonly used in emergency medicine for its dissociative properties, helping patients detach from the pain and later forget the treatment they have received.

With the medication taking effect, the team began the delicate process of realigning Maddie’s leg. The fracture was complicated by the bone having broken through the skin of her ankle, making the procedure more challenging. By gently flexing her knee, they were able to manipulate the fractured bones back into position before securing the leg in a vacuum splint, which formed a rigid mould around the limb to keep it stable.

Paramedic Sam explained: “With an open fracture there’s an increased risk of infection as the tissue is exposed, as well as the danger of uncontrolled bleeding. Getting the bone back into alignment and securing it quickly is vital to protect the limb and improve patient outcomes.”

Alongside Maddie’s story, this episode also follows the YAA team as they respond to a farmer trapped beneath a vintage tractor in the Yorkshire Dales, a 55-year-old motorcyclist who broke his ribs and collarbone and sustained a punctured lung while green-laning, and a two-year-old child with breathing difficulties.

Man Trapped Under Tractor for Over Two Hours Rescued by Yorkshire Air Ambulance

Yorkshire Air 999 returns for its third series this Friday at 9PM on Really and discovery+, once again offering viewers an unfiltered look at Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s lifesaving critical care team as they respond to emergencies across the region’s towns, cities and remote landscapes.

The opening episode follows a man in North Yorkshire who faces a fight for survival after being left critically injured and trapped beneath his tractor in a remote valley near Leyburn.

59-year-old Stephen Rathbone had been reversing his vintage Massey Ferguson tractor which rolled backwards down a slope, struck a stone and flipped over. The one-and-a-half-tonne machine landed on top of him, pinning his left arm, shoulder and half of his chest underneath the wheel arch. Stephen lay trapped for more than 60 minutes before his left ribcage gradually collapsed, allowing him enough wiggle room to take his phone from his left trouser pocket, allowing him to call 999.

While on route, Dr Steve explained the dangers of crush injuries, he said, “When patients are pinned, heavy pressure on the tissue can cause it to die, releasing toxins into the bloodstream. The longer someone is trapped, the greater the risk. That was a real concern on the way to Stephen.”

Arriving at the scene, the crew were met with multiple hazards. The tractor’s engine was still running, emitting toxic fumes, while diesel leaked from the tank. Once the ignition was switched off, the team began assessing Stephen, who was struggling with arm, shoulder and chest pain, shortness of breath, and a crushed arm with no sensation in his hand. Pain relief, clotting medication and morphine were administered to stabilise him while a rescue plan was put into action.

Working alongside North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, who were brought up the hillside by local farmer Abe Dent on his quadbike, before using high-pressure air bags capable of lifting 60 tonnes to gradually raise the tractor. But as the vehicle lifted, its mudguard pressed into Stephen’s chest, forcing the team to pause and reposition.

Dr Steve recalled, “Stephen began to feel very tired, something we sometimes see with ‘peri-rescue collapse’, when patients can suddenly deteriorate just as help arrives. Given how long he had been trapped, I knew this was a critical moment where things could quickly change.”

With the risk of potassium from the crushed tissues flooding his system once released, the crew administered calcium to protect Stephen’s heart. After over two hours, the tractor was finally lifted enough to slide him free. He was quickly placed into a thermal sleeping bag to warm him and carried to the helicopter with assistance from the local Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team.

Stephen was flown to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, where trauma teams were waiting. He remained in hospital for 12 days, recovering from eight broken ribs, a fractured shoulder, broken sternum and punctured lung.

Alongside Stephen’s story, this week’s episode also features a 19-year-old equestrian who suffered an open ankle fracture, a 55-year-old man who broke his ribs and collarbone and sustained a punctured lung after falling from his motorbike while green-laning, and a two-year-old child with breathing difficulties.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Rescues Elderly Man Crushed by Tree in Remote Woodland Near Skipton

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s critical care team was called to a wood near Skipton, after an elderly man, Bob Younger became trapped beneath a fallen tree while helping a friend clear storm-damaged woodland.

Bob explained, “I made a cut into the base of the birch, then walked away to set my chainsaw down safely before finishing the cut with a hand tool. That’s when I heard a loud crack.”

Bob returned to investigate the click, but before he could react, the tree snapped. As the conifer straightened, it pushed the silver birch downwards, catching it on his helmet. The movement knocked him two and a half metres into another fallen tree, where he came to rest against a stump. As he landed, the birch slid down the left side of his body, striking his shoulder and pelvis, and pinning him in a seated position on the frozen ground.

The impact left Bob concussed, but remarkably, his helmet had not broken. He said, “I didn’t feel any pain at first, but I knew I couldn’t move, and I was in serious trouble.”

Bob attempted to call for help using his mobile phone but had no signal in the dense woodland. With no way of alerting anyone and no one nearby to hear his calls for help, Bob remained trapped.

Over the next few hours, he drifted in and out of consciousness, unable to tell how much time was passing. After nearly five hours alone, Bob was finally discovered when his friend returned to the site to pick him up as planned. Recognising the severity of the situation, he raced to find phone signal and called 999 for help.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Nostell based critical care team was dispatched alongside the local Fell Rescue Team. Upon arrival, YAA doctor David Driver was immediately concerned by Bob’s pale, clammy appearance and feared he may be suffering from internal bleeding into his pelvis.  

Scans revealed Bob had suffered a fractured pelvis in four places, five broken ribs, a cracked shoulder blade, hypothermia, pneumonia, and significant internal bleeding. He was stabilised in hospital for two days before undergoing surgery to repair his pelvis.

After initial treatment in Leeds, Bob was transferred to Airedale General Hospital and later to Castleberg Hospital in Settle for rehabilitation. His recovery was far from straightforward. Within five weeks, he required a second operation after screws in his pelvis came loose, followed by a third due to a post-surgical infection. He spent five months unable to bear weight and had to relearn simple tasks like getting dressed.

Inspired to give back, Bob and his local metal detecting club hosted a rally to raise funds for both Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the Fell Rescue Team, raising over £500. The event even uncovered hammered coins thought to date back to the 1500s.

Bob has since revisited the woodland with members of the Fell Rescue team to better understand what happened that day, which has brought him a sense of closure.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Responds to Cross-Country Riding Accident in Burn, North Yorkshire

The latest episode of Yorkshire Air 999, airing on Really and discovery+ this Friday 18 July at 9PM, follows the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) team as they respond to a serious horse-riding incident in North Yorkshire.

Upon arrival, the crew joined land ambulance paramedics to assess Beth’s injuries. Thankfully, she had remained conscious and was wearing both a helmet and back protector at the time of the fall, helping to limit further injuries. However, after assessing her injuries, Dr Dan confirmed she had sustained a suspected femur fracture, an injury that, due to the size and strength of the bone, can cause significant internal bleeding.

Terri-Ann said, “She was in a lot of pain when we got there. With a femur fracture, the broken bone can damage nearby blood vessels, so we work quickly to manage pain, assess circulation, and realign the leg.”

To keep Beth as comfortable as possible, the YAA critical care team administered a carefully controlled combination of morphine and ketamine, along with gas and air, all commonly used in emergency medicine. Ketamine is particularly effective as it induces a dissociative state, helping to reduce both the patient’s awareness of their injuries and their stress response. Throughout the process, the crew remained calm and reassuring, speaking gently to help keep Beth relaxed. This approach is an essential part of care when using ketamine, as the drug can cause sensations of dizziness or disorientation

With her leg secure, Beth was transferred onto a scoop stretcher and taken to York Hospital by land ambulance, joined by her mum, who had arrived at the scene after receiving a call from one of Beth’s friends.

Scans at hospital confirmed that Beth had broken her femur in two places. She underwent emergency surgery to have a permanent metal rod implanted from her hip to her knee, to help stabilise the bone. Doctors estimate it could take up to eight months for her to fully heal.

Reflecting on her accident, Beth said, “I started riding when I was about seven and now have three horses. I’ve come off plenty of times, been stood on and kicked, but I’ve never actually broken anything—until now. I wasn’t keen on the fence, but I’d already jumped it once. This time, I just lost my balance and couldn’t stay in the saddle. I remember hitting the ground and then when the ketamine kicked in—I felt like I went to about nine different planets!”

She continued, “It’s been tough, but the girls from the yard have been amazing. They’ve kept me updated with pictures and videos of the horses, and I’m now able to visit them in the evenings. Horses are so intuitive, they know something’s wrong and have been really gentle with me. I might not jump for a while, but I’m determined to get back in the saddle and canter through the fields with my friends again.”

This week’s episode also features a man who fell eight metres down a rockface at Kilnsey Crag, a 62-year-old runner who collapsed during the York 10K, and a motorcyclist who suffered an open pelvic fracture after being thrown from his bike.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Attends Cardiac Arrest at Northallerton Five-a-Side Game

The latest episode of Yorkshire Air 999, airing on Really and discovery+ this Friday 11th July at 9PM, follows the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) team as they respond to a man who suffered a cardiac arrest during a five-a-side football match in Northallerton.

Tom said, “The RRV can sometimes reach incidents in built-up areas more quickly than the aircraft. Cardiac arrests are incredibly serious, if the heart isn’t beating and the patient isn’t breathing, they will die without rapid intervention. Immediate CPR and early defibrillation can make all the difference.”

Due to the severity of Regan’s condition and the risk of his heart stopping again, the team began preparing for a potential Rapid Sequence Induction (RSI), a procedure that can only be carried out by a doctor to take control of a patient’s airway and ensure vital oxygen continues to reach the brain.

With the YAA Doctor busy elsewhere, a neighbouring Air Ambulance Doctor and team arrived to undertake the RSI and support Regan’s ongoing treatment, before accompanying him by road to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

On arrival, Regan was taken straight into the hospital’s resuscitation area, where a specialist medical team was assembled and ready to take over his care.

Tests at the hospital later discovered Regan had a previously undiagnosed congenital defect in his right coronary artery that had caused the cardiac arrest. He underwent open heart surgery to correct the issue and was fitted with an implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) as a precautionary measure.

Now back at work and continuing his recovery, Regan said, “You never think something like this will happen to you. I’m only 32, and the average age for a cardiac arrest in the UK is around 70. It took a while to sink in just how serious it all was. Words can’t describe how much I appreciate the fast reactions of everyone that day, from my mates to the staff at the leisure centre and all the medical professionals involved. Without them, I wouldn’t be here. I don’t know what the future holds, and there’s always that worry it could happen again, but I know how incredibly lucky I am to still be here.”

Alongside Regan’s story, this week’s episode also features a 12-year-old boy who fractured his femur while riding at a motocross track, a motorcyclist who was thrown 50 feet after colliding with a car, and a man who suffered a serious leg injury after slicing into it with an angle grinder.

Motocross-Mad Teenager Flown to Hospital After Race Day Crash in Wakefield

The latest episode of Yorkshire Air 999, airing on Really and discovery+ this Friday 11 July at 9PM, follows the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) team as they respond to a motocross incident in West Yorkshire involving a young boy who sustained a serious leg injury during his first race of the day.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Critical Care Team, comprised of Critical Care Paramedics Fiona Blaylock and Tammy Williams, were dispatched in the Charity’s helicopter and landed at the scene within minutes.

Whilst en route, Tammy explained, “Motocross events carry a high risk of serious injury because of the speed and terrain. Our primary concern is always whether the patient is conscious and whether they have a head injury, chest trauma, or a fracture to one of the major long bones, like the femur.”

After completing a full secondary assessment to check for internal injuries, the team administered a carefully controlled dose of ketamine, precisely calculated based on Ben’s age, size, and weight. The powerful drug is widely used by critical care teams in trauma cases for its rapid pain-relieving and dissociative effects. It helps to ease physical discomfort while also reducing psychological distress, particularly useful when moving patients with broken limbs, as they often won’t remember the pain afterwards.

Once Ben had been stabilised, he was carefully placed into a thermal sleeping bag to help maintain his body temperature and protect against shock. He was then carried to the waiting helicopter, where his mum joined him for the short 12-minute flight to Leeds General Infirmary, a journey that would have taken more than 30 minutes by road.

Ben was taken straight into surgery to repair the fracture to his femur and spent five days in hospital recovering. Now back home, he’s healing well and already looking forward to getting back on the bike.

Reflecting on the crash, Ben said, “I remember going into the first corner and then just falling. Someone came across in front of me and then there were bikes everywhere. I saw my mum and dad and they looked really worried. I couldn’t believe it had happened exactly a year since I broke my back at the same event. It feels like every year I end up breaking something! I know it sounds a bit crazy, but I really want to get back on my bike. I just love riding. I’m really thankful to Tammy, Fiona and the medics at the track for helping me.”

This week’s episode also features a 32-year-old man who suffered a cardiac arrest while playing football with friends, a man who severely injured his leg with an angle grinder while working in his garden, and a motorcyclist who was thrown 50 feet after colliding with a car.

Teenager Flown to Hospital After Suffering Serious Brain Injury in Motocross Crash

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.

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.

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.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Responds to Six-Year-Old Experiencing Prolonged Seizure at Bradford School

The latest episode of Yorkshire Air 999, airing on Really and discovery+ this Friday 27th June at 9PM, follows the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) team as they respond to a young girl suffering a prolonged seizure at her school in Queensbury, Bradford.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Nostell-based Critical Care Team, comprised of Paramedic Tom Chatwyn and Dr David Driver, were immediately dispatched. They arrived on scene within eight minutes, landing in a safe area behind the school to avoid distressing other pupils on the playground. The team were escorted to Esme’s side, where she was being supported by a rapid response paramedic and her mum, Sophie.

Upon arrival, Esme was still actively seizing, unconscious and experiencing violent muscle contractions consistent with a tonic-clonic seizure. Paramedic Tom explained, “When a patient is having a seizure, they’re not oxygenating themselves properly. They’re not taking much air in, and there’s a risk that prolonged seizures could cause brain damage. The quicker we can stop it, the better the outcome.”

With time critical, the team attempted to administer diazepam, a medication that helps suppress seizures. But Esme’s small veins, combined with the physical effects of her seizure, made intravenous access extremely difficult.

Dr Dave commented, “Children’s veins are really small and incredibly tricky to access in situations like this. You’ve also got a distressed parent, a busy environment and a child who’s actively fitting, it can be technically very challenging.”

To avoid wasting time trying to insert a cannula at the scene, the crew quickly moved Esme into the back of a land ambulance and began the journey to hospital. While en route, Dr Dave and paramedic Tom made the decision to administer the medication via intraosseous access, by drilling directly into Esme’s bone to deliver life-saving medication into her bloodstream.

Speaking of the procedure, paramedic Tom said, “When you can’t get access to a vein, we use a technique called intraosseous access. It involves drilling a needle into the bone, which contains blood vessels that link back to the circulatory system. It works really well in cases like this. It looks worse than it is, and while it sounds dramatic, it’s not as painful as people might imagine.”

Once the medication was safely administered, Esme was transferred by land ambulance to Bradford Royal Infirmary, where she stayed overnight for monitoring by the paediatric team. Incredibly, just three days later, she was back at school.

Alongside Esme’s story, the episode also features a motocross accident in Kirkdale Woods, a man who suffered a seizure on a canal boat during a narrowboat holiday in Silsden, and a mountain biker who punctured a lung, broke several ribs and his collarbone after hitting a ditch and falling.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance Rescues Man After Seizure on Leeds-Liverpool Canal

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Topcliffe-based Critical Care Team, Paramedics Tammy Williams and Andy Armitage, were immediately dispatched to the scene, flying approximately 30 miles, to reach the remote stretch of canal near Silsden.

Andy said, “We didn’t have much information, only that this patient was really poorly and on a barge in the middle of nowhere. We had to be ready for anything.”

The crew landed in a field beside the canal and made their way to the boat, where Stuart was being cared for by a local first responder and his wife. Still inside the narrow corridor of the boat, Stuart was visibly shaking and sweating, prompting immediate concern.

Andy explained, “It’s a massive red flag when someone has a seizure, especially if they don’t normally suffer with epilepsy and aren’t on any medication. Stuart looked really unwell, and the space inside the boat was so tight that if he’d had another seizure, we would have struggled to treat him effectively.”

To ensure better access, the crew carefully moved Stuart outside onto a chair on the riverbank. This gave them more space to carry out vital assessments, to determine the cause of his seizures, including an ECG to look for any signs of abnormal heart rhythms or cardiac issues. When the ECG results came back clear, the team began considering other possible causes for his symptoms, such as a brain bleed or underlying infection.

Andy added, “Stuart didn’t show the typical FAST symptoms we associate with stroke such as facial drooping, arm weakness or speech problems, but the way he was presenting was still very concerning.”

Unable to determine the exact cause on scene, the crew accompanied Stuart in a land ambulance to Airedale Hospital to allow for ongoing monitoring and further tests.

Scans later revealed Stuart had suffered a life-threatening brain haemorrhage and a mass bleed. He underwent emergency open brain surgery to clip the haemorrhage and remove the bleed. He spent nine days in an induced coma in intensive care and developed pneumonia and fluid on the brain. Stuart also developed a serious infection at the surgical site, which caused concern for doctors. He remained in Leeds General Infirmary for eight weeks.

Stuart does not remember the first three weeks of his hospital stay and is continuing to receive weekly outpatient rehabilitation. Doctors expect his recovery to take a year, and he says he may never fully feel like his old self.

Alongside Stuart’s story, the episode also features a motocross accident in Kirkdale Woods, a six-year-old girl experiencing a prolonged seizure at a school in Bradford, and a mountain biker who sustained multiple injuries after crashing in Middleton Park.

Mountain Biker Flown to Hospital After Serious Crash in Middleton Park

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Nostell-based Critical Care Team, comprised of Paramedic Stew Ashburner-Mcmanus and Dr Alex Bell were immediately dispatched, arriving at the busy scene within five minutes. While on route, the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) were also dispatched to assist with Darren’s extraction due to the steep and challenging terrain.

Stew said, “Leeds Urban Bike Park is somewhere we do attend often. It’s set back from the road and doesn’t have great vehicle access. It’s hard to get patients out of these types of locations, so that’s where a big team effort comes in with some of the other specialist teams. We asked for support from the Hazardous Area Response Team because they’re experts at getting people out of these places quickly.”

Upon landing the crew were guided through the woods by land ambulance paramedics to where Darren was lying on the ground, struggling to breathe.

Dr Alex began to conduct a primary assessment of Darren’s injuries and quickly identified signs of serious chest trauma, including rapid breathing and chest crepitus, a crunching sensation caused by broken ribs.

Commenting on the injuries, Dr Alex said, “Darren was in considerable pain and demonstrating classic signs of blunt chest trauma. The presence of crepitus over the sternum raised concerns about multiple rib fractures and possible sternal injury. This area of the chest plays a vital role in protecting the heart and lungs, and when compromised, can severely affect a patient’s ability to breathe effectively. It’s a painful and potentially dangerous injury pattern that requires quick intervention.”

To safely move Darren, the team gave strong pain relief including intravenous fentanyl and ketamine, which has dissociative properties, commonly used in emergency medicine, to help make the transfer less distressing. Some of Darren’s friends were also on hand to help, assisting the crew in carefully moving him onto the scoop stretcher under Dr Alex’s careful instruction.

With help from the HART team, Darren was carried up the steep woodland slope using a specialist brand carrier, a stretcher design originally developed in WWI to transport patients across rough terrain.

He was flown to Leeds General Infirmary in a vertical take-off manoeuvre, with the flight taking just two minutes, where trauma teams were standing by. Darren was found to have a punctured and collapsed lung, seven broken ribs, a broken collarbone and significant bruising.

Darren spent a week in hospital recovering from his injuries and has since returned to work, although he is still managing the long-term effects of the crash.

Alongside Darren’s story, the episode also features a motocross accident in Kirkdale Woods, a man who suffered a seizure on a canal boat during a narrowboat holiday in Silsden, and a six-year-old girl who suffered a seizure at school in Bradford.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance and Fire Crews Rescue Thirsk Woman Pinned Under Construction Boards in Garden Accident

A few days later, Kim developed painful trauma blisters and sought further treatment. She was referred to the trauma outpatients team at James Cook Hospital, where she continues to attend fortnightly appointments. Doctors are monitoring a large hematoma on the back of her leg, caused by the crush injury, due to the potential risk of complications such as blood clots. Despite the ongoing pain and regular treatment, Kim remains positive and determined.

Despite the ordeal, Kim is continuing with her passion for DIY and has since finished the garden workshop. “No accident was going to stop me – I don’t give up. That’s just not me!”

Reflecting on the mission, Darren added, “Working on the air ambulance, we respond to a huge variety of incidents – and this was definitely one of the more unusual. Kim was very lucky. She was trapped but not injured in the way we often expect in these situations. It could have been a lot worse.”

Alongside Kim’s story, this episode also features a 26-year-old cyclist who suffered blood clots in his brain after falling during a ride with his local cycling club, a patient experiencing a severe asthma attack, and a motorcyclist who was seriously injured after crashing and landing in a ditch.

Mountain biker airlifted from Dalby Forest after serious head injury

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is set to return to TV screens this spring as Yorkshire Air 999 launches its much-anticipated second season on Friday 30th May on the Really channel and Discovery+.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Topcliffe crew reached the scene within seven minutes. The dense woodland made it difficult to spot Ben from the air, but members of the group who found him helped flag the aircraft down. While on route to the scene, Paramedics Sam Berridge and Andy Watson reviewed the limited information available and began considering possible treatment plans ahead of arrival.

Sam explained, “The details we had were quite limited at the time, but when you hear someone has a head injury with noisy breathing, you start to worry that this could be a devastating head injury. Dalby Forest is a huge area, with thick trees. Even though we fly there quite regularly, there are some parts of those bike trails we’ve never been to before, so finding the exact location can be a challenge, even for us.”

After landing in a nearby field, it was a short walk to reach Ben, who was conscious but extremely confused. He reported no pain but had little memory of what had happened.

Andy conducted a primary assessment for any internal injuries and monitored Ben’s vital signs, but no treatment was required at the scene. Sam added, “He had a really nasty head injury. The swelling to his face and eye told us he’d taken a big hit. We needed to get him to hospital quickly before his condition potentially deteriorated.”

As the team prepared Ben for transfer, they found his phone at the scene and attempted to contact his wife, Helen, but were unable to reach her. Concerned she may also have been injured elsewhere on the trail, the crew began piecing together the puzzle while keeping Ben stable.

The group of riders who had found Ben reported the incident to staff at the Dalby Forest Cycle Hub, who then coordinated a search of the trails to locate Helen and inform her of what had happened.

With no immediate medical interventions needed, the team carefully escorted Ben, who was able to walk, to the helicopter and flew him to Scarborough Hospital for further assessment and urgent scans.

Fortunately, Helen was later located safe and well. She had been out running in another part of the forest and had lost signal. She said, “It was a beautiful day, and I was out running in a different part of the forest when I noticed the air ambulance flying overhead. You never think it’s going to be for someone you love. I remember joking to a forestry worker that I should check in with Ben, just in case, and when I told her my name, she said, ‘Oh no, it is for your husband. He’s in the helicopter.’ I was so relieved to hear his injuries weren’t life-threatening.”

Alongside Ben’s story, this episode features a motocross accident, a serious road traffic collision on a motorway near Bradford, and a man who fell ten feet while climbing one of the Yorkshire Three Peaks.