Squaddie thanks air docs who saved his life after crash
SOLDIER Dan Richards who lost his arm in a motorbike crash went up onto the hospital roof to thank paramedics in East London who flew to his rescue. Dan met the Air Ambulance helicopter crew this week who saved his life after he crashed his bike on the A41 near Watford three weeks ago
SOLDIER Dan Richards who lost his arm in a motorbike crash went up onto the hospital roof to thank paramedics in East London who flew to his rescue.
Dan met the Air Ambulance helicopter crew this week who saved his life after he crashed his bike on the A41 near Watford in Hertfordshire three weeks ago.
It took their helicopter just six minutes to reach the crash scene after it took off from the helipad on the roof of the Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, the other side of London.
Dan, a 23-year-old lance bombardier in the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery, was bleeding heavily.
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EMERGENCY
But the team who flew in the helicopter, Dr Matt Gunning and paramedic Eoin Walker, were able to give him anaesthetic which stabilised him for the 20-mile mercy dash back to the Royal London.
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“I can’t believe it only took six minutes for the helicopter to get to me across London,” said Dan.
“The Air Ambulance team and all the staff at the hospital have really looked after me—I don’t know if I’ll be getting back on a bike soon.”
He also had ankle injuries and multiple fractures to his left arm as well as losing his right arm and shoulder.
EMERGENCY
Dan, now recovering and expected to be discharged soon to continue his treatment near to his home in Swindon, wanted to thank the air crew personally.
So he and his dad John went up to the helicopter pad to meet them.
But it wasn’t long before the alarm sounded, calling the team out to another emergency across London.
“It was inspiring seeing them load up into the helicopter so quickly—taking off to save someone else’s life,” Dan added.
Dr Gunning was astounded at the progress Dan has made so soon after his accident, with “the right attitude” that will help him on his road to recovery.
