A cyclist who fell off his bike during a 200-mile bike ride across the North Yorkshire Moors is set to appear on Helicopter ER next week.
In August 2020, avid cyclist Paul Coxon from Middlesbrough was cycling the 200-mile Sportiv route through Yorkshire with a group of friends when he fell from his bike around the 120-mile point.
A passer-by found Paul and ran to a nearby house to ask them to call the emergency services. Paul has no recollection of what happened, and his water bottle was found some distance from where he fell.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Topcliffe aircraft and their two Paramedics assessed Paul and made the decision to fly him to James Cook University Hospital for further treatment. The area where Paul had his incident was approximately 50 miles away from the nearest major trauma centre.
Tests at the hospital revealed that Paul had broken seven ribs, two vertebrae, dislocated his right shoulder and punctured his lung.
Paul spent five days in the hospital and had a difficult two-month recovery, where he struggled to even lie down. But thankfully, he has since been able to get back on his bike.
“There was a little bit of trepidation at first, but after five minutes it was like I’d never been off the bike and it felt marvellous to be out riding again.
Speaking of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Paul said: “To the Paramedics who came out in the air ambulance that day, I can’t say enough really. Where would I be without them? Without their help I might still be at the side of the road somewhere.”
The episode of Helicopter ER which will be shown on Channel Really at 10 PM on Tuesday 30th November also features a cardiac arrest and two elderly people trapped in a car.
