A man who suffered serious injuries in a road traffic collision, which was declared a major incident, has spoken about how Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance helped save his life when they rushed him to a hospital in Brighton.
It was in April 2019 that Richard and his husband, Warren, travelled across to the Isle of Wight to visit Warren’s parents, Yvonne and Derrick. But on the car journey back to the Yarmouth ferry, the family were involved in a head-on collision with a double-decker bus on Forest Road.
One minute Richard was looking out of the window. The next minute, the car was rolling backwards into a ditch. Filling with smoke. Dusted in broken glass.
Speaking about that traumatic day, Richard recalls:
“I was very disorientated.
“I looked around and Yvonne wasn’t moving. Derrick was the same. I couldn’t see Warren, who was in front of me, but I knew he wasn’t awake.
“I didn’t scream out or anything. I don’t know why I didn’t.”
By now, Richard was struggling to breathe due to a collapsed lung. He was panicking. But he was brought temporary relief when he heard Warren ask if he was okay.
Onlookers approached the car and saw that Yvonne wasn’t moving. They unbelted her, pulled her out and commenced CPR. Tragically, Warren’s mum, Yvonne, lost her life as a result of her injuries.
Richard was initially taken by road to St Mary’s Hospital. However, doctors soon found he had critical internal injuries, particularly to his intestines, liver and kidneys. Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance was called upon to fly Richard to Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton, while Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance and Thames Valley Air Ambulance flew Warren and Derrick to Southampton General Hospital.
The bus driver was also airlifted to hospital and 18 others were taken to hospital or treated at the scene.
Richard was placed into an induced coma, to prevent further damage to his organs. When he came out of his coma he slowly came to terms with the enormity of the accident.
“I thought I was the only one that had survived. I kept thinking, ‘It’s only me now.”
Richard held onto those fears for the next few days, as he was too afraid to say it out loud. When he eventually did, the intensive care nurse told him that both Warren and Derrick were alive and in Southampton. Warren had been calling to see how he was.
Richard had a metal rod from his knee to his ankle inserted in both legs, as well as several broken ribs. His internal injuries required surgery and a stoma bag, which he has now had reversal surgery on. It took him around 6 months to walk confidently without crutches.
“It’s taken a long time to build up the stamina. And I do get pain from where the rod and the screws are.”
5 years on, Richard, alongside his 2 sisters-in-law, Michelle and Charlotte, completed Hampshire & Isle of Wight Air Ambulance’s Miles for Missions campaign: 100 miles in May. A far cry from his hospital bed in April 2019.
Richard concludes:
“Thank you to everyone who supports the Air Ambulances who were there for us. Our lives have changed completely, but we wouldn’t be here now without them. We owe them everything.”
Without the expertise of Mainland Hospitals and the
Air Ambulance, Islanders would be in serious trouble.
Well done to the Emergency services, where would
we be without them.
nothing done to that bad road juction ..would’nt take much.
A wonderful service to Islanders. Come along to the Apollo Theatre, Newport, on 2 March 3.30-7.00pm for a concert to raise funds for the Air Ambulance. You never know when you’ll need it!