Angela Brearley

Veteran motorcyclist left fighting for his life after serious crash to appear on Helicopter ER

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A veteran motorcyclist left fighting for his life after a serious crash on his way home from visiting family is to appear on Helicopter ER this week.

Eric Scaife, who was 74 at the time, was riding home on a country road from visiting his son in Castleford when he lost control of his vintage motorbike going at speed and was thrown 20ft down the road into a parked car.

Speaking of his incident, Eric said: “I was on my way home between Castleford and Leeds, but for some reason, I had turned off on another road that I don’t usually go on. Apparently, I had what was called a vacant episode and I wasn’t fully aware of what was going on when the incident happened.”

His body absorbed the impact of the crash and landing on the road, and he was left with multiple, serious injuries. A passer-by stopped to help and call the emergency services.

Due to the seriousness of his injuries, Yorkshire Air Ambulance was dispatched. On scene, they noticed that Eric’s blood pressure was alarmingly low and worked as fast as they could, giving him a blood transfusion on the scene to stabilise him.

As Eric was at risk of going into cardiac arrest, Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew decided to take Eric to the hospital via land ambulance and accompanied him on the journey to Leeds General Infirmary.

During the journey to the hospital, Eric went into cardiac arrest and YAA Paramedics worked hard to restart his heart. He was rushed into Resus in the A&E department where hospital staff took over the fight to save his life. It was a very close call.

“My son had been told it was best to have another 10 minutes with me as I wouldn’t last until morning. When you are told that, it was more serious than what I realised”, said Eric.

Tests revealed that Eric had broken his back, several ribs, and a knee and punctured his lung when he crashed his vintage bike. He spent two weeks in hospital and another 8 weeks in a care home.

Speaking of his recovery, Eric said: “It took me quite a few weeks to recover, I had difficulty getting up and down stairs.”

It wasn’t until after the incident that it was revealed that Eric had a serious bike incident four years prior and also ended up in Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s care. It was the second time that YAA came to Eric’s rescue.

Eric has since given up his motorbike and has taken up archery, walking and cycling which has helped with his rehabilitation.

“I only want to drive on the road if I consider myself to be safe on the road, I wouldn’t want to risk injuring anyone else through an incident caused by me”, he said.

Speaking of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Eric said: “They are amazing and one of my favourite charities. I cannot thank them enough for their help.”

Eric’s incident will be broadcast on the Yorkshire Air Ambulance reality television show on Tuesday 4th October at 9pm. The episode also features a road traffic incident involving two children in Dewsbury and a motocross crash in Goole.

Hill walker whose collapse led to the diagnosis of a rare heart condition to appear on Helicopter ER

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A hill walker who collapsed due to a rare heart condition on the North Yorkshire Moors is set to appear on this week’s Helicopter ER.

Barry Burns, a seasoned walker from Stokesley, was walking the first stretch of the Dales Way last July with friends when he collapsed seven miles in.

The medical episode was very out of character for Barry, who is an experienced walker and very fit for his age.

Speaking of his incident, Barry said: “It all happened very suddenly. I was walking into a small valley when I had strong light-headedness. My friends both went ahead of me, but I couldn’t walk any further and called them back. I had a chocolate bar for energy, but after 500 yards Barry stopped and they realised something was wrong.”

Barry’s friends noticed his pale complexion and decided to call an ambulance. They had no signal, so they had to climb to the top of the hill to call for help.

Due to the seriousness of his condition and the remote area where Barry collapsed, Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their helicopter from RAF Topcliffe.

When their team of medics arrived, initial observations revealed that Barry’s blood pressure was critically low, and he was on the verge of cardiac arrest. The air ambulance crew kept Barry alert to ensure he didn’t deteriorate any further.

Cyclists passing by stopped to help the Paramedics carry the stretcher uphill to the aircraft and Barry was flown to James Cook University Hospital for tests.

Heart specialists found that Barry has a rare condition called Super Ventricular Tachycardia which causes the heart to race erratically, which in serious medical episodes could trigger a lethal heart attack.

Barry recalled having two very similar previous episodes, but he was in areas where he could get himself to safety. Doctors were unable to give a cause to his medical episodes as Super Ventricular Tachycardia can only be detected at the time it is happening by an ECG.

Nine months later, Barry is recovering well but has been advised to take it steady when it comes to long-distance walks. “It was a good ending, it could have been so much worse”, said Barry.

He continued: “Doctors have told me what to look out for and I’m now able to recognise the symptoms prior to an attack. I’m back walking, but I won’t walk anywhere too remote.”

Barry said of Yorkshire Air Ambulance: “They were incredible and could have saved my life. I couldn’t have gotten out of the situation I was in without them, and I don’t know what would have happened. They are brilliant, I can’t praise them enough.”

Barry’s incident will be broadcast on the Yorkshire Air Ambulance reality television show on Tuesday 27th September at 9 pm. The episode also features a footballer with a near-fatal cardiac arrest in Wakefield and a serious road traffic collision.

Yorkshire cow attack to appear on first episode of new Helicopter ER series

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A horrific cow attack in Masham, North Yorkshire that saw a woman left with serious injuries is set to appear on the new series of Helicopter ER, which starts on Tuesday 20th September.

Janicke Tvedt, 55 was walking her Labrador Goose when she was attacked and trampled by cows.

She was out walking with her partner David to take her mind off her impending cancer surgery which was scheduled for a few days later.  It is thought the cows attacked as a form of protection for their young calves.

Janicke said of her incident: “As soon as we entered the field, I could see that there were cows up ahead. So, I grabbed the dog and put him on a lead. We initially thought we had managed to walk around the herd, but then realised there was another cow on the other side of the hedge with a calf which got spooked by the dog. We were a bit shaken and scared so we regrouped and carried on walking, but the next thing we knew, half of the herd had come back after us.

Three initially pinned us against the hedge with the rest of the herd behind. I thought if we keep still, they will get bored and go away, but after 10 minutes I got headbutted in the knees as a cow went for the dog, and I was knocked to the floor. As I was lying on the ground and another cow raised his front half up and stamp down his front hooves on me at least four times on my legs, abdomen and chest.”

 

Cattle can weigh more than a tonne and over the last few years, several people have died in North Yorkshire due to dangerous cow encounters.

Janicke continued: “After that, one of the cows rolled on top of me and then everything went quiet. I was lying there, and my partner came back and helped me. He helped me over to a nearby tree as the cows had blocked the exit and I put my head between my knees as I felt like I was going to pass out.

Cows surrounded us near the tree. I knew something serious was wrong. I was telling my partner where to find my will and what my wishes were, then luckily the cows left.”

Having lost their phones in the attack, her partner ran to nearby Masham Golf Club and managed to get one of the golfers to phone the emergency services. A passer-by wrapped Janicke in his t-shirt to keep her warm while waiting for help.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance was dispatched and after an on-scene assessment, she was flown to Leeds General Infirmary for further treatment.

Tests at the hospital revealed that Janicke had broken several ribs and damaged part of her bowel. Janicke had surgery where she had a colon resection and a colostomy bag fitted. Unfortunately, this delayed her cancer treatment.

“It was worrying that it had been put back”, said Janicke. “But I managed to get the surgery in October and thankfully I was then given all clear.”

The cow attack has left lasting physical and emotional harm to Janicke, but she is slowly rebuilding her confidence on walks and has since had the colostomy bag retracted. As part of her rehabilitation, she is walking 1,000 miles to raise funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Speaking of the Charity, she said: “I’ve always believed Yorkshire Air Ambulance do an amazing job and I have supported them for a very long time. It was such a shock to then need to call on them, but I knew when they arrived, I was in safe hands. I feel indebted to their service.”

Janicke’s incident will be broadcast on the Yorkshire Air Ambulance reality television show Helicopter ER on Tuesday 20th September at 9pm. The episode also features a cycling incident in the North Yorkshire Moors and a heart attack in the dales.

Limited-edition centenary tractor model raises £15k for YAA

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A limited-edition tractor model created by Russells to celebrate the centenary of their brand has raised £15,076 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).

Russells is a family-run business in North Yorkshire that supplies agricultural, ground care and construction equipment to the farming industry.  They have been serving the Yorkshire farming community since 1921.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a lifesaving rapid response emergency service providing vital care to five million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire.

To commemorate Russells’ centenary, they took inspiration from the iconic Ford 7810 Silver Jubilee tractor and created their own New Holland T6.180 dynamic command tractor with a limited-edition model. Proceeds from the model, which were sold for £50, were donated to Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Russell’s’ Chief Executive Officer, Paul Russell, said: “We are proud to support this fantastic charity which does vital work to the farming communities we serve.”

Kevin Hutchinson, East Region Community Fundraiser for YAA, said: “We would like to say a huge thank you to Russells for their support and generosity and for raising more than £15,000 for our Charity from the proceeds of the tractors.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance covers many rural areas, particularly in North Yorkshire. Our service is vital to those rural farming communities where transport times to hospital can take considerably longer by road. As an independent charity, fundraisers such as these are the lifeblood of our service and help us keep our helicopters airborne and saving lives across the region.”

Yorkshire Air Ambulance celebrates highest percentage of female HEMS crew in 20 years

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Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA), which provides a lifesaving rapid response emergency service to 5 million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire, is celebrating having the highest percentage of female HEMs Paramedics in the charity’s 20-year history.

The service now has 9 female HEMS Paramedics seconded from Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, including 5 new female members of staff who joined earlier this year. This is above the national average for HEMS Paramedics, which currently stands at 1 in 4. Female paramedics at YAA account for nearly 1 in 2 (11 male, 9 female). They also have a female Pilot and Female Doctor as part of the team.

One of the charity’s latest recruits, HEMS Paramedic Fiona Blaylock said:” Being a female HEMS paramedic is amazing and being successful in applying for a seconded position to this role is one of my proudest achievements. When I applied a few years ago, I remember thinking that there were more males than females on the team and would this affect my chance of getting a position.”

She continued: “I had previously served as a Combat Medic in the British Army, and this was very much a male-dominated environment. I always felt like I needed to prove myself as a female.

“Everyone in the HEMS team has been so welcoming. I don’t think being a female in the team is any different to being a male in the team. We are all as capable as each other. I don’t think it matters what sex you are, as long as you can do the job.”

Paramedic Terri-Ann Lonie, said: “Working for HEMS has brought a whole range of new and exciting challenges with it. It has been made easier due to having amazing crew mates that have supported me the whole way through. It is a fantastic place to work, and I feel privileged to be part of it.”

HEMS Paramedic Gemma Richmond who has worked at the Charity for two years and has been a Paramedic for more than 20 years, said: “I think in the past it was probably looked at as a male-orientated role. I’ve been in the service for 20 years now and it’s now a lot more 50:50, especially on the road. I think the make-up of staff is nicely balanced; it appeals to more females now because they bring something different, especially if you get a male and female crew in the aircraft – you tick every box, and you can deal with so many different cases.  It’s nicely spread out and encourages good teamwork when you get that mix. I work with another female paramedic quite often as a double female crew and sometimes it can be a surprise to patients when two female paramedics turn up. But I’ve never considered it as anything different.”

Paramedic Tammy Williams said: “Historically on the HEMS’ base, it has been statistically evident that there have been more males on the base than females.”

She continued: “HEMS has been my dream goal and occupation that I have always wanted to achieve, so I feel extremely privileged to be here.  I also feel extremely proud to be part of such a dynamic, supportive and highly experienced team that treats and cares for time-critical patients. Working alongside the doctors, other paramedics and the pilots, together as a team, we are able to provide Yorkshire and other regions in the UK with the highest quality of care possible and achieve the best outcome for the patients that we attend to.”

YAA Acting Clinical Operations Manager Paul Holmes said: “We are very proud to have such an incredible, hardworking and highly skilled team of male and female HEMS Paramedics. Gender shouldn’t matter as long as you’re able to do the job and these women are just as physically fit as their male counterparts. It’s fantastic to be part of a charity that celebrates gender equality.”

Otley snack bar raises more than £30k for YAA

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Otley bus station snack bar has reached an incredible fundraising milestone of more than £30,000 for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is a life-saving rapid response emergency service providing emergency care to 5 million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire.

The snack bar, run by Diane Kerr and Debbie Lamb, has a stall outside their shop selling books, jigsaws and YAA merch with all the proceeds going towards the air ambulance charity.

Diane said: “Our customers bring in donations for us to sell cheap and cheerful. There’s a little bit of everything and the majority of items are 50p. Although we do get a fair price for some of the more expensive items.”

The Otley Bus Station Café has supported the charity, which turns 22 this October for the last 15 years.

“The air ambulance is such an important local charity, and you never know when you might need it. It’s a charity for all”, said Diane. “I’m so thankful to all our customers for bringing their items and helping us reach over £30k. We’re like kids in a sweet shop when items are brought in, we really enjoy what we do.”

Clare Deacon, West Yorkshire Community Fundraiser at Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “The £30,294 raised by Otley’s bus station snack bar is a phenomenal amount and will help tremendously towards the vital funding of our service.

We would like to thank the staff and their customers for their generosity and support. It is local communities and businesses like these that are the lifeblood of our Charity, and we cannot express our gratitude enough.”

85-year-old rambler takes on Three Peaks challenge for YAA

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An 85-year-old rambler from Scarborough, North Yorkshire will be taking on the infamous Yorkshire Three Peaks to raise vital funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a life-saving rapid response emergency service providing emergency care to five million people across the four million acres of Yorkshire.

Cliff Coultas aims to complete the 24-mile, 1,585m ascent along with his step-daughter Julie Kadis in 12 hours on 29th September 2022. The Yorkshire three peaks include Pen-y-Ghent, Whernside (Yorkshire’s highest peak) and Ingleborough – Yorkshire’s second highest mountain.

Speaking of why he chose Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Cliff said: “Put it this way, you’ll never know when you will need them. I didn’t want to do the walk for nothing, they are such a worthy cause, and it is a pleasure to do this walk for them.”

This is not the first time that Cliff and his family have raised funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. In 2020 they walked the 25 miles from Whitby to Scarborough and raised £1200 for the rapid response charity.

Cliff is an avid walker and strongly believes his rambles keep him fit and healthy at the grand age of 85. Cliff’s son, Terry Coultas said: “He loves his walking, more so since he retired even though I tell him to take it easy. I really am so proud of him.”

Rob Scott, East Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “Yorkshire Three Peaks is a challenge for anyone of any age, but to do it at the age of 85 is incredible. We would like to wish Cliff and Julie the best of luck for the 29th and would like to thank them for their support.

As an independent charity, it costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and flying across Yorkshire. The money raised will help greatly towards the vital funding of our service.”

To donate to Cliff and Julie’s fundraiser and keep up to date with their journey, please visit: https://www.facebook.com/alongcamewellington

B. Braun continues YAA support with South Yorkshire fleet sponsorship

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Sheffield-based B. Braun Medical Ltd has pledged further support for Yorkshire Air Ambulance by sponsoring their fleet of fundraising vans in the South Yorkshire area.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a rapid lifesaving rapid response charity serving five million people across four million acres of Yorkshire. It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air.

The global medical manufacturer, which has offices worldwide, has been working with the Charity for over 17 years, offering financial and professional support, making them the Charity’s longest-standing corporate supporter. B. Braun has also funded the crew helmets for the life-saving Charity, offer valuable event management skills and advice as well as more recently sponsored one of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s new promotional vehicles.

The South Yorkshire fleet of vehicles is imperative to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance fundraising team, enabling them to travel to various locations across the area and carry vital fundraising equipment to events which helps spread the important message about the work the air ambulance does across the county.

Kerry Dwyer, Fundraising Director (West and South) for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “The logistics of covering so many events day in and day out can be pretty complex for our teams, so we rely heavily on our vans to help us transport vital equipment to fundraising events across the region.  They give us the freedom and flexibility to get from event to event easily and help raise the £12,000 a day it costs to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air.

We would like to sincerely thank B. Braun for their continuous support and generosity over the years as one of our principal partners.”

Paul Skelton, Joint MD at B. Braun said: ‘Supporting the YAA is hugely important to us at B. Braun and over the years our employees have established a culture of giving back to help those in need within our communities. Sponsoring the YAA’s community vans is our latest pledge of support in our continued efforts to help the YAA provide crucial services for the people of Yorkshire.”

Former YAA patient gives back to air ambulance charity with £4,000 donation

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A former Yorkshire Air Ambulance patient who suffered a cardiac arrest in 2015 has given back to helicopter heroes by raising £4,000 for the life-saving charity.

Robert Gunn, owner of Grange Moor garage in Huddersfield was walking the Pennine Way near Saddleworth Moor when he began feeling sick and suddenly collapsed on his way back to the car park.

Speaking of his incident, Robert said: “I didn’t feel any pain like you usually associate with heart attacks. I didn’t even know I was having a heart attack. I was feeling sick and we had been out the night before having seafood, so I thought it might have been a touch of food poisoning.”

He continued: “We carried on walking for another hour until we reached the main Saddleworth Road and luckily a couple called Steve and Angie were discussing where they were going to go for their dinner and they saw me keel over. I climbed over a sty, sat down on a boulder, and went into arrest.”

Bystanders Steve and Angie, who coincidentally also worked at a local hospital, ran over to Robert and immediately began CPR.  They worked on him for nearly twenty minutes until the land crew arrived who were able to use their defibrillator to restart his heart.

Due to the seriousness of his condition, Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their aircraft and he was flown to Leeds General Infirmary where he was subsequently fitted with a stent.

Over the last few years, Robert has generously donated £4,000 to Yorkshire Air Ambulance from his personal savings, and donations from small jobs he had carried out at his garage.

“We have a garage and if someone comes in for a small job such as a rattle on their car, we will have a look at it and rather than charge, we ask for a donation in the air ambulance box. We slowly built up the funds from a few quid here and there”, said Robert.

Stephanie Maynard, West Yorkshire Community Fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to thank Robert for his continuous support and generosity.

It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances airborne and the money raised by Robert will help significantly towards our vital funding and enable us to save more lives like Robert’s. We’re so glad we were able to help and it’s great to hear how well he is doing.”

To find out more about Yorkshire Air Ambulance, please visit: https://www.yorkshireairambulance.org.uk/

Announcement – registration marks of the new 2023 helicopters

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Following the announcement last year that we will be replacing our current Airbus H145 helicopters with the next generation aircraft by the end of Summer 2023, we are excited to finally announce the distinctive registrations of our new fleet.

We will be welcoming to Yorkshire, G-YAAA and G-YORX, the new 5-bladed versions of the upgraded H145 model we currently operate.

The new registration marks will be unique to the YAA and are a fitting tribute to the Charity and God’s own County in which we operate.  YAAA reflective as an acronym of Yorkshire Air Ambulance (with an extra A!) and YORX to encompass Yorkshire.

G-YAAA will arrive in the UK later this year before beginning its medical fit-out at Airbus HQ in Oxford and will be due in Yorkshire to begin operational service in Spring 2023.   G-YORX will follow into service by early Summer.

Watch this space for further updates!

 

Stamford Bridge man tackles 1,500km London to Edinburgh cycle for Yorkshire Air Ambulance

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Stuart Norris from Stamford Bridge near York will be cycling 1,500km from London to Edinburgh and back starting on 7th August to raise vital funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is a life-saving rapid response emergency service providing emergency care to 5 million people across 4 million acres of Yorkshire.

Stuart works for the York-based company, Portakabin who have been long-term supporters of the air ambulance charity and has an enthusiastic cycle-to-work culture with more than 50 members participating in their weekly cycling club.

Stuart will be cycling the Audax London to Edinburgh cycle route which is an organised 1,500km route from London to Edinburgh and back again. He signed up for the ballot in January and received his place four weeks later. He has been training over the last six months and will ride on his trusted bike which has clocked over 60,000 miles over the years.

The route will take place over five days and riders have 125 hours to complete the journey to make the list of riders who completed the challenge, which will feature on the Audax website. The ride is held once every four years and is one of Britain’s toughest challenges.

“Cycling isn’t the hard part as it’s what I enjoy doing. It will be the mental aspect that is challenging. This ride isn’t about speed, it’s all about endurance”, said Stuart.

As an avid cyclist, Stuart is no stranger to long-distance cycle rides. He previously cycled Lands’ End to John O’ Groats, the Coast to Coast challenge and the Way of the Roses which was 171 miles in a single day.

Over the years, he has raised nearly £10,000 for YAA and his aim this time is to raise an additional £12,000, the equivalent of a day’s running costs for the Charity by completing this journey.

When asked why he supports Yorkshire Air Ambulance, he said: “I really appreciate what the YAA does for the people of Yorkshire. It is a fantastic service – I can’t believe that they are a charity.

Rob Scott, East Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We cannot thank Stuart enough for his support and generosity over the years and would like to wish him the best of luck completing the Audax 1,500km cycle.

As an independent charity, it costs us £12,000 a day to keep both helicopters maintained and in the air and fundraisers like Stuart’s cycle ride are the life-blood of our service, not only raising vital funds but spreading awareness of the service we provide across Yorkshire and beyond.”

To donate to Stuart’s Yorkshire Air Ambulance fundraiser, please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/Stuart-Norris10?utm_source=Twitter&utm_medium=fundraising&utm_content=Stuart-Norris10&utm_campaign=pfp-tweet&utm_term=8d393450425b4a1383e4c9741c592a72

Harrogate based junior soldiers raise £775 for YAA from Nidderdale Walk

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A group of junior soldiers from 9 Platoon Cambrai Company have raised an impressive £775 by participating in the Nidderdale Walk at the beginning of May.

The soldiers who belong to the Army Foundation College in Harrogate, are the only junior training establishment in the British Army. The college provides basic military training and helps develop leadership skills for those under 19.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a life-saving rapid response emergency charity providing an emergency service to five million people across four million acres of Yorkshire.

The Nidderdale Walk, organised by Harrogate Rotary Club, took place on Sunday 8th May and began in Pateley Bridge with routes taking walkers into upper Nidderdale. The walk celebrated its 28th anniversary this year and has raised over £920,000 for local charities since its inception.

Ann Percival, President of Harrogate Rotary Club, said she was delighted AFC Harrogate could join in and support the annual walk which had helped so many local charities over the years.

“It was a pleasure to welcome the junior soldiers to the event and they were an absolute credit. We hope to see them again next year.”

Tessa Klemz, North Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to thank the 9 Platoon Cambrai Company for taking part in the Nidderdale walk and raising an incredible £775 for the YAA. It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air and the money raised will help greatly towards our vital funding.

We would also like to thank Harrogate Rotary Club for organising the event which benefits so many local charities and congratulate them on their 28th anniversary. We are very grateful for your support.”