HELP Appeal charity donates £300,000 towards new helipad at Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s future Northern Air Base

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is thrilled to announce a generous donation of £300,000 from the HELP Appeal, the only charity in the country dedicated to funding NHS hospital helipads, to support the development of a new helipad at its forthcoming Northern Air Base in Skipton-on-Swale.

This significant contribution is part of the £415,000 required to construct the helipad, which will ensure YAA’s helicopters can take off and land directly from the new base, enabling the charity’s critical care team to respond swiftly to emergencies across the region.

The HELP Appeal is the country’s only charity dedicated to providing non-repayable grants for the construction and upgrade of NHS hospital helipads. To date, it has funded over 55 helipads across the country, improving emergency response times and saving lives. Of these, 32 were brand new helipads, which have seen over 29,000 landings to date. In Yorkshire alone, the HELP Appeal has supported the installation of lifesaving helipads at hospitals including Sheffield Children’s, Leeds General, Sheffield General, Scarborough General and Hull Royal Infirmary. YAA’s Northern Air Base helipad will be the 13th air ambulance base funded by the charity, continuing its vital role in enhancing emergency healthcare infrastructure.

Steve Waudby, Director of Aviation at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said, “We are incredibly grateful to the HELP Appeal for their outstanding generosity. Having a purpose-built helipad at our new base is crucial to the efficiency of our operations. It will enable our crews to mobilise quickly, ensuring that we are always ready to respond to emergencies across Yorkshire. This donation takes us one step closer to achieving our vision for a world-class facility that will serve the region for decades to come.”

With the support of the HELP Appeal, YAA is one step closer to enhancing its operations and ensuring the charity can continue to meet the growing demand for its services across Yorkshire. For further information about the Big Air Base Build and how you can support Yorkshire Air Ambulance, visit www.yaa.org.uk/big-airbase-build

Air Ambulance chosen as Charity of the Year by council chair

A group of people standing on the steps of an official building. Some are waving yellow or white Yorkshire Air Ambulance flags. Two people wearing suits are stood in front of the steps holding a Yorkshire Air Ambulance banner. One of those people is wearing gold chains of office.

The region’s air ambulance which has provided vital life-saving emergency support for thousands of people has been chosen by the council chair as his charity of the year.

Councillor George Jabbour, who was appointed as the chair of the local authority in May at a full council meeting, has said he is “delighted” to champion Yorkshire Air Ambulance throughout his term. 

Following his announcement, councillors from across the political spectrum gathered outside County Hall in Northallerton today (Wednesday, 16 July) holding banners in a show of support for the charity of the year.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year and attended to 1,226 patients in 2024.

Councillor Jabbour met with the chair of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Mike Harrop, and the charity’s key personnel and was “truly impressed by the incredible work that they do to save lives”.

Councillor Jabbour, whose role as chair will run until May next year, added: “This is why I chose the Yorkshire Air Ambulance as my charity of the year. 

“The vital service they offer to people across our rural county and the whole region is crucial to the wellbeing of many of our local communities. Few people realise that they don’t receive government funding.

“I will do everything I can to champion this wonderful charity during the coming months. I am also grateful to colleagues across the political spectrum for joining me in today’s show of support outside County Hall.”

A yellow helicopter is hovering above a field surrounding by trees

The charity serves five million residents across Yorkshire, reaching 90 per cent of the region within a 20-minute flight from one of its two air bases at Nostell, near Wakefield, and RAF Topcliffe, near Thirsk.

We have also granted planning permission for a new permanent northern airbase for Yorkshire Air Ambulance. 

The new development will be on the outskirts of Skipton on Swale, near Thirsk, just 3.5 miles from its current temporary operations at RAF Topcliffe. 

Council leader, Cllr Carl Les, said: “The work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance is so important not just here in the county but across the whole of the Yorkshire region. 

“Thousands of people are indebted to the efforts of the air ambulance crews in their life-saving role, and it is a very worthy cause to be chosen as the chair’s charity of the year.

“The fact that the charity is building its new permanent base here in North Yorkshire is bringing significant investment and also a long-term commitment to the county.” 

Mike added: “We are extremely grateful to Cllr Jabbour for choosing Yorkshire Air Ambulance as his charity during his tenure as the chair of North Yorkshire Council.  

“The awareness and fundraising will support our mission to save lives across Yorkshire, and specifically in the rural communities of North Yorkshire.  

“This partnership is also particularly poignant as we embark on the construction of our new northern airbase at Skipton on Swale, and we thank North Yorkshire Council for its support with this landmark project.”

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 signs up to ResusReady campaign to support CPR awareness across the UK

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is proud to announce its participation in ResusReady, a nationwide initiative from the Resuscitation Council UK designed to tackle inequalities in CPR training and defibrillator access across the UK.

The campaign encourages organisations and individuals to commit to CPR training and defibrillator awareness, helping to improve survival rates from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests.

By signing up to ResusReady, YAA is now officially recognised as an organisation committed to CPR education, with trained staff and defibrillators in place across its three main sites: Nostell in Wakefield, Topcliffe in Thirsk, and its head office in Elland, Halifax. All three locations are now featured on ResusReady’s interactive map, which highlights CPR-ready sites and pinpoints areas across the UK where greater training and awareness are still urgently needed.

To meet the campaign’s criteria, Yorkshire Air Ambulance has committed to providing annual CPR training to all staff, including both operational and office-based teams. The training is delivered by Stephen Kenworthy, one of the charity’s Technical Crew Members, and includes a presentation, hands-on CPR practice using training manikins, and guidance on how to confidently use a defibrillator.

A second video, aimed at older primary and high school-aged children featuring YAA Paramedic Tammy Williams, will be shown during school presentations delivered by the Charity’s fundraising team. The video will raise awareness of CPR amongst younger audiences, and will aid them in understanding how to help in an emergency situation, alongside introducing them to the basics of CPR in an age-appropriate way.

Laura Wilson, HR Manager, at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said, “We’re proud to be part of the ResusReady campaign and to offer all our staff, whether they’re in the air or behind the scenes, the opportunity to learn vital, life-saving skills. This is part of our broader commitment to staff wellbeing, professional development, and building confidence in responding to emergency situations, both at work and in everyday life.”

The ResusReady campaign is helping to tackle the gap in survival chances across the UK, where over 100,000 out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur each year. Research shows that CPR is less likely to be performed in more deprived areas, reducing the chances of survival. By taking part in the campaign, organisations like YAA are helping to highlight where training and awareness are strongest and where more support is needed.

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 moves forward with new Northern Airbase

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) have today confirmed that planning permission has been granted for their new Northern Airbase, which is to be located on the outskirts of Skipton on Swale, near Thirsk. This marks a hugely significant milestone for the Charity who have long yearned for a permanent home in the northern part of Yorkshire to enable them to deliver life-saving critical care across the whole of Yorkshire in a timely manner.

Following years of searching for a suitable site, YAA has agreed to purchase some land on the outskirts of Skipton on Swale, just 3.5 miles from its current operations at RAF Topcliffe and North Yorkshire Council have now granted planning permission for the development to commence. This milestone has only been possible through close cooperation with North Yorkshire Council, external agencies and interested parties to ensure that the Charity’s plans are sympathetic, sustainable and environmentally friendly. The new base will be purpose-built to reflect the exceptional facilities already established at the YAA’s Nostell Air Support Unit near Wakefield, and will create a dedicated, long-term base for the northern region, providing stability for YAA’s lifesaving operations and ensuring it is equipped to respond to emergencies efficiently and quickly – with the latter particularly important to the more isolated rural communities especially in the North and East of the County

For over a decade, YAA has been a tenant at RAF Topcliffe, benefiting from the invaluable support of the Royal Air Force, the British Army’s 4th Regiment Royal Artillery, and crucially, the local community. While this relationship has been pivotal in enabling YAA to deliver its critical service, the Charity’s vision for a purpose-built base reflects its commitment to advancing its capabilities and ensuring its crews can operate at the highest level in the years ahead.

“This new airbase represents a significant investment for Yorkshire Air Ambulance and one that is entirely aimed at improving the service we deliver to the communities we serve. It will strengthen our service, enhance patient care and provide a modern facility designed specifically for the needs of our aviation and medical crew. It has only been possible through the continued generosity of our supporters and funders, whose backing is pivotal to us sustaining and improving our life-saving work.”, added Mike.

The cost of the development is expected to be covered by pre-planned savings and investments, grant funding, philanthropic support and private donations.

The project has been designed by Leeds-based architects Group Ginger, and the Charity are now in the process of appointing a lead contractor and will then commence the development. A completion date is yet to be confirmed.

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.