My friend will never walk again....
05 April 2003, 08:29 AM
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About 3 weeks ago a good friend of mine had a bad accident whilst riding his mountain bike in North Wales, something he loved doing.
He was unable to move his legs and as a result an Air Ambulance was called for. Russell was in a very inaccessible location in the mountains, nevertheless the helicopter pilot put his aircraft down with in 50 yards of where he lay. I wasn't there but his flying was described as 'incredible' by people who were.
Russell was strapped to a spinal board and airlifted to Abergavenny Hospital, where he was stabilised. Russell, who is 39 and has a young family, was then given priority on a place at the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire.
Making the journey from Wales to Buckinghamshire by road ambulance would have taken some 10-12 hours, as even with Russell immobilised on a spinal board, they would have still not been able to exceed 20-30mph. Statistics show that on average every hour immobilised adds 1 week to the rehabilitation period, so the decision was taken to use the Air Ambulance again to make this journey.
Russell was operated on by one of the top spinal surgeons in the world within 7 days of having the accident, but unfortunately the damage to his spine is so severe that he has been told that he will never walk again.
However, he will be able to lead an independent life, drive, work, etc. He is incredibly philosophical about life in a wheelchair and all things considered is facing up well to 3 to 6 months rehabilitation.
Why am I telling you this?
I was shocked to discover that the air ambulance services in the UK are almost entirely voluntarily funded (e.g. charities). Incredible when you think that without them Russell would have possibly incurred more damage in the journey from the accident scene to the local hospital, and would perhaps be facing almost a year of rehabilitation or might not even still be with us.
Please consider making a donation via the Air Ambulance Association http://www.theaaf.org/ (click on the quick links on the top right, there is a link for donations at the bottom of the list that drops down).
Thanks for reading.
Tim
He was unable to move his legs and as a result an Air Ambulance was called for. Russell was in a very inaccessible location in the mountains, nevertheless the helicopter pilot put his aircraft down with in 50 yards of where he lay. I wasn't there but his flying was described as 'incredible' by people who were.
Russell was strapped to a spinal board and airlifted to Abergavenny Hospital, where he was stabilised. Russell, who is 39 and has a young family, was then given priority on a place at the National Spinal Injuries Centre at Stoke Mandeville in Buckinghamshire.
Making the journey from Wales to Buckinghamshire by road ambulance would have taken some 10-12 hours, as even with Russell immobilised on a spinal board, they would have still not been able to exceed 20-30mph. Statistics show that on average every hour immobilised adds 1 week to the rehabilitation period, so the decision was taken to use the Air Ambulance again to make this journey.
Russell was operated on by one of the top spinal surgeons in the world within 7 days of having the accident, but unfortunately the damage to his spine is so severe that he has been told that he will never walk again.
However, he will be able to lead an independent life, drive, work, etc. He is incredibly philosophical about life in a wheelchair and all things considered is facing up well to 3 to 6 months rehabilitation.
Why am I telling you this?
I was shocked to discover that the air ambulance services in the UK are almost entirely voluntarily funded (e.g. charities). Incredible when you think that without them Russell would have possibly incurred more damage in the journey from the accident scene to the local hospital, and would perhaps be facing almost a year of rehabilitation or might not even still be with us.
Please consider making a donation via the Air Ambulance Association http://www.theaaf.org/ (click on the quick links on the top right, there is a link for donations at the bottom of the list that drops down).
Thanks for reading.
Tim
05 April 2003, 08:45 AM
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Thanks Luke, though I'm not sure any amount of protection would have helped, Russ was going down a very rocky downhill at the time and thinks his front wheel either came out or disintegrated.
He estimates his speed at 20mph, knowing how he rides I'd say more like 25-30! As soon as the forks hit the ground he was 'launched'.
Russ is fanatical about his bikes, and a very experienced rider, but then isn't the definition of an accident 'a combination of events coinciding in a manner that could not be planned for' ?
Thanks again
Tim
He estimates his speed at 20mph, knowing how he rides I'd say more like 25-30! As soon as the forks hit the ground he was 'launched'.
Russ is fanatical about his bikes, and a very experienced rider, but then isn't the definition of an accident 'a combination of events coinciding in a manner that could not be planned for' ?
Thanks again
Tim
05 April 2003, 09:00 AM
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Sorry to hear about your friend, thats awful.
Last year some of our Scooby friends had an accident on Exmoor and they too were lifted by air ambulance to hospital (thankfully they were both ok), but some of the South West mob are doing a sponsered Parachute jump this year to raise money for the air ambulance.
If anybody feels they would like to join them, feel free.
Cheers
Tracey
Last year some of our Scooby friends had an accident on Exmoor and they too were lifted by air ambulance to hospital (thankfully they were both ok), but some of the South West mob are doing a sponsered Parachute jump this year to raise money for the air ambulance.
If anybody feels they would like to join them, feel free.
Cheers
Tracey
05 April 2003, 10:47 AM
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Tim,
That is terrible news. I'm just glad he has come to terms with it as the mental side of it can be harder than the physical.
Air Ambulance in the UK is one of my biggest bug bears. They can fund millions on a stupid tent in London that stands empty but they can't put a few million towards running a helicopter. Makes my blood boil.
I used to be on a mountain rescue team when I was younger and they are in a similar situation.
All other charities also do sterling work, but my yearly charity donation always goes to air ambulance/mountain rescue teams.
Cheers
Ian
That is terrible news. I'm just glad he has come to terms with it as the mental side of it can be harder than the physical.
Air Ambulance in the UK is one of my biggest bug bears. They can fund millions on a stupid tent in London that stands empty but they can't put a few million towards running a helicopter. Makes my blood boil.
I used to be on a mountain rescue team when I was younger and they are in a similar situation.
All other charities also do sterling work, but my yearly charity donation always goes to air ambulance/mountain rescue teams.
Cheers
Ian
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05 April 2003, 04:29 PM
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Sorry to read this, I used to put casualties in the Air Ambulance here in Dorset, I was a Firefighter, so I used to attend some nasty accidents, I was at a Parish Council meeting the other day, and I was shocked to here that if each resident of the County gave £1 a year, they would have enough cash to keep the Helicopter fully operational all year, amazing isn't it.
Regards to your mate.
Ron.
Regards to your mate.
Ron.
05 April 2003, 06:11 PM
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<quote>kind of thing that makes you reconsider your hobbies -and the implications of them. </quote>
Trouble is, something can happen to you anytime, doing whatever - such as getting run over by the proverbial bus.
My mates attitude is he's lucky to have done the things he's done (including the mountain biking).
Thanks for your thoughts.
Tim
Trouble is, something can happen to you anytime, doing whatever - such as getting run over by the proverbial bus.
My mates attitude is he's lucky to have done the things he's done (including the mountain biking).
Thanks for your thoughts.
Tim
05 April 2003, 06:51 PM
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Your mate is a very very lucky man. I live near North Wales and know that there are roads up there (and everywhere else in the UK) that a single second of less that full concentration or unexpected road conditions could put us all in a life or death situation. The Air ambulance all do a stirling job, for any motor racing event in the country they are not allowed to start National Class A or above event in this country without the Air Ambulance or a similar Medi-Vac unit being available.
I personally have had to be in the situation where I have had to watch a racer be rushed into an air ambulance on more than one occasion.
If we all knew that the air ambulance could save our lives or our ability to walk (no offence meant to the mountain biking guy) I think we would be willing to give a small donation to help with the upkeep. I know I would, therefore:
How about we raise as much as we can somehow and donate it to the Air ambulances???
Pete
I personally have had to be in the situation where I have had to watch a racer be rushed into an air ambulance on more than one occasion.
If we all knew that the air ambulance could save our lives or our ability to walk (no offence meant to the mountain biking guy) I think we would be willing to give a small donation to help with the upkeep. I know I would, therefore:
How about we raise as much as we can somehow and donate it to the Air ambulances???
Pete
06 April 2003, 12:59 AM
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I am a memeber of a car club in Cannock in Stafforshire, and each year we hold an open day in order to raise money for th eair amubulance.
It costs more than £6,000 a day to keep the service running, regardless whether it flies or not.
Last year we raised more than £1000 in just a few hoursmby having a display outside a superstore on a Sunday afternoon.
I can't believe the lottery or the government don't fund this service. What a joke.
It costs more than £6,000 a day to keep the service running, regardless whether it flies or not.
Last year we raised more than £1000 in just a few hoursmby having a display outside a superstore on a Sunday afternoon.
I can't believe the lottery or the government don't fund this service. What a joke.
06 April 2003, 06:48 AM
#12
Perhaps the air ambulance service should rename itself
"The non-specific non-gender related transportation service for those motability disadvantaged (or otherwise)"
Get a frikkin grant in no time then !!
Harsh about your mate. Obviously a very difficult time but never say never!! Look at Chris Reeve. He is apparently getting some movement back in his feet now. Slow progress, BUT PROGRESS !!!!
"The non-specific non-gender related transportation service for those motability disadvantaged (or otherwise)"
Get a frikkin grant in no time then !!
Harsh about your mate. Obviously a very difficult time but never say never!! Look at Chris Reeve. He is apparently getting some movement back in his feet now. Slow progress, BUT PROGRESS !!!!
06 April 2003, 11:22 AM
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Really bad news about your mate Tim. Just hope things get better for him as time passes.
I agree absolutely with what you say about the need for voluntary support for the air ambulance and the lifeboats as was mentioned. Governments have for many years taken advantage of the population in that way, They love finding more and more ways to extract money from us, giving out naff excuses that it is not really tax anyway. They then do their level best to use the money to further their own causes and cut public services to the bone. They like any form of privatisation too since they can hide from the blame for poorer service and the waste of money in paying enormous salaries to the men in charge. I gather that the NHS Trust managers are using the data protection act and privacy laws to avoid disclosing the obscene rises they have awarded themselves from the extra money going into the NHS. I dont need to mention Council Tax and the MP's final salary pensions.
And I am not a socialist!
As my old friend from Yorkshire used to say "They want stuffing!"
Les [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img] (Rant off)
I agree absolutely with what you say about the need for voluntary support for the air ambulance and the lifeboats as was mentioned. Governments have for many years taken advantage of the population in that way, They love finding more and more ways to extract money from us, giving out naff excuses that it is not really tax anyway. They then do their level best to use the money to further their own causes and cut public services to the bone. They like any form of privatisation too since they can hide from the blame for poorer service and the waste of money in paying enormous salaries to the men in charge. I gather that the NHS Trust managers are using the data protection act and privacy laws to avoid disclosing the obscene rises they have awarded themselves from the extra money going into the NHS. I dont need to mention Council Tax and the MP's final salary pensions.
And I am not a socialist!As my old friend from Yorkshire used to say "They want stuffing!"
Les [img]images/smilies/mad.gif[/img] (Rant off)
04 May 2003, 09:39 AM
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Jesus...What a nightmare. Its realy gets my back up when I hear of all the things the goverment will pay for and what we have to pay for. The lifeboats for instance...What a joke this country is.
Anyway........... There is now a strong market for "Body armour" for mountain Biking... omplete with Spine protectors... A good one is around £90.00.
best luck to your mate.
[Edited by Luke - 4/5/2003 9:39:33 AM]
Anyway........... There is now a strong market for "Body armour" for mountain Biking... omplete with Spine protectors... A good one is around £90.00.
best luck to your mate.
[Edited by Luke - 4/5/2003 9:39:33 AM]
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