Eli Jackson, a 12-year-old from North Yorkshire, is set to appear in the next episode of Yorkshire Air 999, airing on Really at 9 PM on Friday, February 14th. The episode showcases the rapid response of Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s (YAA) critical care team after Eli was seriously injured in an off-road buggy accident.
Eli had been attending a go-kart event with his family in the village of Great Ouseburn when the lightweight buggy he was in flipped over after he took a sharp turn. As the vehicle rolled several times, Eli instinctively put out his arm to break his fall, taking the full force of the crash. He suffered multiple injuries, including a compound fracture of his humerus, with the bone protruding through his skin.
Local road paramedics were first to arrive at the scene, where Eli was found conscious but disoriented and in severe pain. He reported pain in his head, chest, arm, and pelvis, prompting medics to request support from YAA’s critical care team to provide advanced pain relief and specialist trauma care.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Nostell-based team, including specialist critical care paramedic Tammy Williams, Doctor Rob Anderson, pilot Phil Larkin, and technical crew member Richie Campbell, were quickly dispatched 27 miles from the Wakefield airbase, prepared for the range of serious injuries often seen in high-speed off-road accidents.
With Eli’s family by his side, the YAA team carried out a full assessment and determined that his open fracture required urgent treatment to prevent further complications.
Explaining the seriousness of his injuries, Dr Rob said “An open fracture is not just a break to the bone; it’s also a break to the skin, which risks infection, nerve damage, and in some cases, significant blood loss. This can quickly become life-threatening if not treated urgently”.
To manage the intense pain before realigning his arm, the team administered morphine, a powerful analgesic. Once relaxed, Dr Rob carefully straightened the fracture by securing Eli’s arm in a vacuum splint, minimising further movement during the journey to the hospital.
After assessing the situation, the YAA crew coordinated with the land ambulance team to transfer Eli to Leeds General Infirmary, a major trauma centre, by road. There, a team of specialists was ready to perform surgery to repair his arm, securing it with wires and a plaster cast. He is expected to make a full recovery.
Reflecting on the incident, Eli said, “I’m really grateful to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team for helping me that day. I took the turn too fast, and before I knew it, the buggy flipped over. I was in a lot of pain and scared, but the team kept me calm and made sure I was ok. I’m so thankful to everyone who helped me.”
Paramedic Tammy added, “Eli was very lucky in this case. Given the injuries he suffered, the weight of the buggy, and the speed he was travelling at without any protective gear, this could have been a very different story – I’m so pleased to hear that he is set to make a full recovery.”
Yorkshire Air 999 continues to offer a unique insight into the vital work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, highlighting the critical role the service plays in saving lives across the region. The episode also follows the YAA team as they respond to other emergencies, including a woman who fell from her motorbike at 45mph in the rural dales, suffering a fractured knee; a man who fell 30 feet from a ladder while working on a house; and a man at risk of losing his arm after suffering severe nerve damage from an angle grinder accident at work.