Angela Brearley

A Halifax boy who saved his dad’s life after he had a cardiac arrest when out running around a local sports pitch is set to appear on Yorkshire Air Ambulance reality television show, Helicopter ER next week.

On March 8^th 2021, Jules Collett, and his 12-year-old son Henry from Hipperholme, Halifax were out running when Jules turned to his son and said that he didn’t feel well.

“I turned to Henry and said I didn’t feel too well and that I was going to collapse, and moments later I did”, said Jules.

Henry, who had only recently completed CPR training at his school, Hipperholme Grammar, and local Sea Cadets club, said: “It was quite scary because he didn’t know what was going on. I knew something had happened because he wasn’t breathing. I said in my head do what you were taught, the next few minutes can save your dad’s life or end very badly.”

Henry began CPR until a jogger appeared and took over whilst Henry ran to get the defibrillator from the nearby Rugby ground.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Nostell aircraft and treated Jules on-scene. He was then taken to Calderdale Royal Infirmary by land ambulance.

Jules spent five days in an induced coma but thankfully made a good recovery. Henry’s actions saved his dad’s life, against all the odds.

“When my dad first woke up, I was so relieved because I still had my dad”, said Henry.

Speaking of his son’s heroic efforts, Jules said: “Hearing Henry talk about what happened that night makes me really impressed and proud of him. I’m so grateful to him. To see what he did from the knowledge he got and he had the confidence to do it, it’s incredible.”

Since his cardiac arrest, Jules has resumed cycling, running and taking part in the couch to 5k challenge with his son. “The swift work by Henry and the medical team’s on-scene gave me a far better chance of recovery and I’ve been able to resume an active life. I’m very thankful for all their help.”

The episode of Helicopter ER which will be shown on Channel Really at 10 PM on Tuesday 16th November also features a serious head injury in Wetherby and a farm accident in the Yorkshire Dales.

A boy from Thirsk whose eyes were accidentally glued together after mistaking super glue for eye drops is set to appear on Helicopter ER tomorrow.

In February 2021, nine-year-old Rupert Day sustained a nasty eye injury due to grit in his eyeball. He had been on eye drops for two days when his dad accidentally picked up super glue instead of the drops when giving him his treatment.

Rupert’s dad Kevin said: “Rupert scratched his eye a few days ago and we were given some eye cream. I went to put it in and then realised I had put superglue in his eye instead. I phoned 999 who advised us to keep flushing it and they said an ambulance was on its way. I wasn’t expecting the air ambulance.”

Due to the close proximity of their airbase to the incident, Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Topcliffe aircraft and was first on the scene. Their Paramedics bathed Rupert’s eye and administered pain relief until the land ambulance was able to take him to Harrogate Hospital for further treatment.

“I had a massive fear that I had blinded my son and ruined his life”, said Rupert’s Dad.

Speaking of his incident, Rupert said: “I was worried if my eye would open again.”

Rupert spent a few hours in the hospital and couldn’t open his eye for four scary days. But thankfully no glue had gone into his eye and his vision has been completely fine following his traumatic ordeal.

The episode of Helicopter ER which will be shown on Channel Really at 10 PM on Tuesday 2nd November also features a cardiac arrest in Ilkley and a DIY incident in South Yorkshire.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5 million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,300 missions every year. The Charity operates two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Bob Smailes, North East Regional Fundraising Manager for Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) has officially retired after an incredible 20 years of service for the charity.

Bob joined the charity in 2001 and has not only been one of the charity’s longest-serving fundraisers, but he has been an integral part of shaping the Yorkshire Air Ambulance fundraising team. He has helped grow the charity and mentored and supported many of their past and present fundraising staff.

Over his 20 year career at the YAA, Bob has raised around £12million and it is estimated that he has driven 300,000 miles visiting fundraisers and supporters, many of who have now become firm life-long friends.

Many people will know Bob as ‘Mr Air Ambulance’ due to the rapport he has built within the East and North Yorkshire regions. His passion for charity has helped him win over the people of Yorkshire’ hearts and form many key relationships across Yorkshire, which has enabled the YAA to become the charity they are today.

Helen Callear, Director of Fundraising North East, said: “Bob has been an outstanding fundraiser almost from the very start of the Charity’s journey, and we have all learned a lot from him, enjoyed many happy times with him and I know that he will always hold a special place in everyone’s hearts. Bob has time for people, understanding and engaging with donors and colleagues alike, with warmth, character, and energy.

Peter Sunderland, Yorkshire Air Ambulance Chairman, said: “We would like to thank Bob for all his contributions to the charity over the last 20 years. He has always gone above and beyond in his role and it has been a privilege to work alongside him.

Bob has been a pivotal member of our fundraising team and we’re incredibly sad to see him go. On behalf of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, we would like to wish Bob and his wife Jeanette all the very best for a long, healthy and happy retirement.”

Bob added: “I’m very proud of where the charity has come over the last 20 years, from a small Portakabin at Leeds Bradford Airport to the state-of-the-art leading air ambulance charity it is today. I have attended so many incredible events and met lots of wonderful supporters and donors over the years, and I’m sad to say goodbye to charity after 20 incredible years.”

Bob hopes to spend his retirement enjoying more holidays with his wife Jeanette and spending time with their family and friends.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5 million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,300 missions every year. The Charity operates two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

A woman and her two children who were involved in a head on collision when a vehicle was travelling on the wrong side of the road, is set to appear on YAA reality series Helicopter ER tonight

In December 2020, Maura Jones, her two daughters and family dog from Rathmell near Settle, were in the car on the way home on the A682 near Hellifield when they saw headlights on the wrong side of the road and suddenly collided with an oncoming vehicle.

Speaking of the incident, Maura said: “We were driving home in the evening so it was dark and we came across a slight dip in the road. It wasn’t until I got to the top of the hill that I saw the car lights on the wrong side of the road. There wasn’t time to do anything.

I just remember screaming, the sound of the crash, and the noise and we went backwards and hit the wall.”

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance were dispatched immediately to scene, and due to the incident happening in the dark, the mission was flown using Night Vision technology. Pilots and navigational crew on board the helicopters wear Night Vision goggles to enable them to identify hazards and obstacles late at night when approaching landing sites. Night Vision status was granted to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance back in September 2017 and has enabled the lifesaving rapid response service the ability to extend their operational hours into darkness.

Their Critical Care Team treated Maura and her two daughters aged 13 and 23. Due to her serious injuries, Maura was flown to Leeds General Infirmary and her daughters were taken to Airedale hospital by land ambulance.

Their family dog who was flung from the car boot was rescued by bystanders from a nearby field.

“My first thought was is everybody okay, all sorts of scary thoughts were going through my head. I could tell my face was bleeding and I had glass in my mouth. My chest also really hurt”, said Maura.

She continued: “I felt terrified when I was separated from the girls because I knew they were going off in the road ambulance seeing their mum badly hurt in an air ambulance.”

Tests at Leeds General Infirmary revealed that Maura had broken 10 ribs, her sternum and ankle and she suffered a small vertebrae fracture and muscular pain. Her daughters also both required hospital treatment and suffered from shock and emotional distress following the incident. Luckily their family pet only had a few cuts from the crash.

Maura had a three night hospital stay and her recovery has been challenging. She still has flashbacks of that day when driving, and suffers from stiffness and pain in her ankles. Maura, who previously led a very active lifestyle cannot wait to get back to her former fitness levels to walk the Yorkshire peaks.

Maura was lucky to survive and she’s thankful for the air ambulance team’s help that night. “Having the air ambulance where we live, as remotely as we do out here, is an amazing facility and an absolute god send. It got me to hospital in approximately 20 minutes, when the journey by road would have been double. I know we’ve been lucky when I think what the other outcome could have been, we’re all still here, and we’re all together and still strong as a family. I feel very grateful.”

The episode of Helicopter ER which will be shown on Channel Really at 10PM on Tuesday 5^th October also features a biker injured in Beverley and a woman who had a medical episode in Ripon.

A man who tragically died after a cardiac arrest and went on to save two people’s lives thanks to organ donation appeared on the hit TV series Helicopter ER last week.

On 1^st September 2020, 76-year-old Geoff Blackman experienced chest pain while driving on A61 near Ripon. His wife of 51 years, Verity, had to steer the car to safety and flag down passing motorists to help perform CPR.

Speaking of her late husband, Verity said: “He started gasping as we were driving and I noticed he was going to pass out so I steered the car off the carriageway.”  Verity then called 999.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Topcliffe aircraft to the scene, and their Paramedics, alongside the emergency services continued CPR and administered vital medical treatment.

Verity continued:” I realized it was a heart attack or a stroke and all the time, my eyes were going to Geoff lying on the grass. Someone stopped, a woman who I have no idea who she was and she put her arm around me and said come away and then I heard some shout he’s got a pulse he’s breathing, but his face was still blue so I knew it was serious.

Geoff was then taken to Harrogate hospital by road ambulance. He was put on a ventilator and doctors did all they could to save him, but he sadly passed away four days later.

Verity said: “The consultant came and told me that they had done a scan and there was serious brain damage. I said in that case I couldn’t let him go on like that. Geoff and I had had that important conversation several times. Neither of us wanted to live without a quality of life. I said that I did not want him kept on life support if there was no hope of recovery.

I gave my permission for his organs to be harvested and stayed at the hospital until 1.45 am the next morning and the doctors came to tell me that all the tests had been carried out and that the organs were suitable for donation. They removed the ventilator and I held his hand and said darling it’s time to go.”

Geoff’s wishes of being an organ donor subsequently saved two people’s lives who were suffering from life-limiting kidney damage after they received his kidneys.

“He would be pleased that his wishes to be an organ donor were carried out. His kidneys found patients both of whom were on dialysis, and just before Christmas last year I received a letter from a lady who had received one of his kidneys. She was in her 60s and had suffered kidney disease for many years.  She hadn’t expected to live until that Christmas and she thanked me for saving her life”, said Verity.

Verity is grateful to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and everyone who helped that day. “There’s a phrase called ‘the kindness of strangers, which I experienced that day. Total strangers, I had never set eyes on before, and they stopped and they helped and did everything they could to help him and comfort me”, she said.

Geoff and Verity were together for 52 years. He was a member of the Rotary Club of Great Britain for 40 years. He had been president of three different clubs, one in East Devon, one in North Devon and the Rotary Club of Ripon.“He was a man who gave and gave himself and his time to other people. He was always willing to help people if he had the knowledge and they wanted help. He didn’t judge people, he saw the best in them”, said Verity.

She continued: “When someone is a registered donor and they can be a donor, it is important that they are quickly taken to a hospital and the air ambulance is very important in this situation.”

Monday 20^th September – Sunday 26^th September is National Organ Donation Week. The Donor Family Organisation, for people who have lost a loved one who donated organs, are doing a walk on Saturday 25^th  through the centre of Harrogate to engage people in conversation and ask about organ donation.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5 million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,300 missions every year. The Charity operates two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Sowood Women’s Institute, one of the largest groups in West Yorkshire Federation, have launched a cookbook to raise vital funds for Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA).

The cookbook, called ‘A little book of Yorkshire Yum – a recipe collection from Sowood WI’ was produced by the group during the second lockdown, and consists of an eclectic mix of recipes from WI members past and present and guest contributors including the Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew with their banana and blueberry muffins, and local TV chef Brian Turner who submitted his favourite sage and lamb cobbler.

Described as ‘frankly fantastic food from fabulous folk’ the cookbook has 78 recipes ranging from culinary classics such as Nettle soup, scones and parkin to innovative takes on modern world food which include the Samosa Pie and a speedy Thai green curry. The cookbook also contains gluten free, vegetarian and vegan recipes.

Retired Yorkshire born potter and artist, Pat Kaye, illustrated the recipes throughout the cookbook and the traditional and quintessential style front cover. Each of the recipes have handwritten style text which evokes a heart-warming sense of reading someone’s much loved, passed down family recipes.

The illustrations were drawn during an emotionally challenging time for Pat when her husband was terminally ill. Speaking of her drawing, Pat said: “When my husband went to bed at night, I kept doing a few drawings until I had worked my way through the book. Art is very therapeutic for me and I love drawing.”

Pat was also keen to get involved with the project having experienced being airlifted by another air ambulance charity when she fell and broke her ankle whilst walking her dog in a remote area in North Wales.

The official cookbook launch will take place at the Sowood Community Centre on 11^th September at 2pm and local residents are invited to sample some of the mouth-watering recipes the cookbook has to offer, and to learn more about the charity it is supporting with stalls from Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Julie Astbury, current Sowood WI President said: “The recipes in this collection have been collected with love -love for the friends for whom we have made the recipes; love for the memories they evoke; love for the friends and relatives who first wrote them down and made them family favourites and love for the sheer joy of making and eating our food!  We were also very fortunate to receive a recipe from TV Chef and fellow Yorkshireman Brian Turner so we are absolutely delighted with his contribution to our fabulous cookbook.”

Helen Berriman, West Yorkshire Community Fundraiser for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We would like to thank Sowood WI for their continuous support and generosity and we are delighted to have been chosen as the beneficiary for the proceeds of this cookbook.  It really is a truly beautiful book and we know it is going to be very popular as all the recipes sound wonderful!

It costs £12,000 a day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances maintained and in the air and the money raised from the cookbook will help greatly towards our vital funding and enable us to keep both of our helicopters airborne and saving lives across the region.”

The ‘Little book of Yorkshire Yum’ costs £10 plus postage and packaging and all the proceeds go to Yorkshire Air Ambulance. To order your copy, please visit: https://sowoodwi.com/little-book-yorkshire-yum

An Army veteran whose prosthetic leg literally saved his life after a road traffic accident is set to appear on the TV series Helicopter ER.

Scott McNiece, from Leeming Bar, North Yorkshire was driving on the A1M on his way to pick up his daughter from school. The weather was treacherous and as Scott moved from the outer to the middle lane for better visibility, he collided with a broken low loader van that was stationery without its hazard lights on.

Speaking of his incident, Scott said: “I was travelling down to Rutland to pick up my daughter and I was in the slow lane behind a truck that was spraying me with rainwater. I couldn’t see what was ahead, so I pulled into the middle lane for better visibility, but unfortunately, there was a broken-down truck with no hazard lights and I didn’t have time to brake.”

A motorist who witnessed the incident stopped to call emergency services and to check on Scott, whose car ended up on its side in the layby.

Scott was trapped in his vehicle by a prosthetic leg he had fitted following an incident whilst serving in Afghanistan in 2018, but miraculously had no other visible injuries at the time. His service dog Ruby, who was travelling him that day, also escaped the incident relatively unscathed as she landed in the footwell upon impact.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance dispatched their Topcliffe aircraft and after an assessment from their Paramedics, Scott was deemed stable enough to travel by road to Leeds General Infirmary. His dog Ruby was taken to the vet for a checkup by the police.

Tests at the hospital revealed that Scott had fractured several ribs and broke his foot. Had Scott’s other leg not been the prosthetic, it would have been devastated by the collision and could have led to life-threatening injuries.

Scott said: “All the components of my prosthetic leg are made from titanium.  When the bonnet of the van crushed forward, the position of my leg stopped the impact. I was really lucky”

Speaking of his service dog Ruby, he continued: “I was worried about Roo. She had a cut on her nose after the incident and she was a little bit tentative when we first took her out in the car again, but she settled down eventually. After a week or two, she was back to her normal self.”

The episode, which airs on Channel Really on 7^th September 2021, also features a boy knocked down by a car in North Yorkshire and a patient who fell from a horse in Keighley.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5 million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,300 missions every year. The Charity operates two, state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters and needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Brits spending more time in the UK has led to a rise in leisure-related incidents for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, new data reveals.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) is an independent Charity which needs to raise £12,000 every single day to keep both of Yorkshire’s air ambulances in the air and maintained.  This is equivalent to £4.4million each year.

The ‘staycation effect’ brought on by limited travel abroad due to COVID-19 restrictions has led to an influx of leisure related emergencies from walking injuries to drownings for the YAA.

Falls from height, which includes climbing in some of Yorkshire’s tourist hotspots has seen a 20% (95)  increase this year so far compared to 2020 (79)  and cycling incidents have risen by as much as 39% (33 in 2020 and 46 in 2021).

Motorcycle incidents have also seen nearly a quarter increase (23%) and road traffic incidents involving vehicles has risen by nearly a fifth (18%).

The 17-35 age group have been the most treated patient age for motorcycle and road traffic incidents, whereas 40-65 year olds were the most treated patients from leisure activities such as falls and cycling incidents.

Like many other emergency services across the UK, Yorkshire Air Ambulance has also responded to a significantly higher percentage of people getting into difficulties in open water. In the last six months, the charity has responded to 15 such incidents, compared to 9 in 2020 and 6 in 2019. This has led the Charity to join forces with 29 other local organisations to highlight the importance of being water-wise.

Matt Syrat, Clinical Operations Manager for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “After a very turbulent year and a half, it’s no surprise that many people are out and about enjoying their newfound freedom and as a charity, the number of incidents we are attending has increased as a result of this.

While we want people to enjoy their summer, we would also like to urge people to remain safe and be aware of common hazards that the hot, sunny weather may bring.  Sadly we’ve been to too many incidents recently where the outcome wasn’t positive so we urge people to take care, especially when swimming or playing in open water”

*Data taken from 1^st January 2021 – 9^th August 2021 vs 1^st January 2020 – 9^th August 2020.

On February 23rd 2021, Imran Choudhury from Oldham, was training on Saddleworth Moor for a Kilimanjaro sponsored walk he was due to take part in for the NHS. He stopped at the famous Trinnacle landmark and asked two passers-by to take his photograph. When he started climbing back down, he blacked out and fell 200ft and was left clinging to a 50-degree slope in the ravine.

Speaking of his incident, Imran said: “I woke up that morning, had something to eat, drove to Dovestones and started walking. It was a very steep climb and I was walking against the wind that day. I took lots of photos and videos and went to the Trinnacle where two people took my photo. I did a live video for social media and actually said at the end of it, if someone fell from here that would be the end for them. I started to climb down and that’s the last thing I remember.”

Two horrified walkers, Carly and Nadine, saw Imran plummet down the hill and phoned the emergency services. Whilst Nadine climbed down to help Imran, Carly called for help and another couple, Caroline and Paul, saw the women in distress and also offered to assist. Paul managed to brave the descent to Imran’s aid and stayed with him throughout his rescue. YAA dispatched their aircraft with Pilot Lee Holmes, Doctor Andy Pountney, and Paramedics Al Day and James Allen on board.

The weather was treacherous that day with extremely strong winds making the rescue mission one of the teams most challenging ever.  James Allen, YAA Hems Paramedic, said: “It was blowing a gale and the ground was crumbling away in places. If any of us had lost our footing, it would have been game over.”  Imran was also fortunate that day as Paramedic Al Day also has extensive Mountain Rescue Team experience so brought vital experience and knowledge to the rescue mission.

Imran had sustained a catalogue of serious injuries and it was imperative that he received urgent hospital care in order to save his life. Paul stayed with Imran, essentially to stop him rolling down the ravine, whilst the medics carried out emergency care.

YAA Pilot Lee tried to relocate the aircraft to the bottom of the hill in hope that Mountain Rescue volunteers and YAA clinical staff could carry him down. However, the wind was too

strong as he approached the valley. “I was presented with a wind that was trying to kill me from both directions”, said Lee.

A Search and Rescue Helicopter was subsequently dispatched and was eventually able to winch Imran to safety, he was then flown to Sheffield Northern General Hospital by the waiting Yorkshire Air Ambulance helicopter.

Tests revealed that Imran had broken two skull bones, one of which penetrated his brain and caused serious internal bleeding. He also broke his shoulder, shoulder blade, spinal bone, a small bone in his leg left and badly damaged his right leg in six places. Imran spent three weeks in an induced coma.

“When I woke up from the coma I didn’t know where I was or what had happened. I thought that I was in Bangladesh. It took some time to realise the extent of my injuries”, said Imran. He has since made a good recovery, but still undergoing treatment for his injuries.

Speaking of the people who helped him that day, he said: “Without the members of the public, the emergency services wouldn’t have come to my rescue as they called them and without the emergency services, I wouldn’t be here today. They are my angels who saved me. I’m so grateful for their help. It was a very challenging rescue and it’s amazing what they did to save me.”

Imran has remained friends with Carly, Nadine, Caroline, and Paul who stayed with him during his accident and has since met up with the Mountain Rescue team who helped him and the YAA crew.  Imran has thanked those involved by providing them with a huge curry

meal from their family takeaway The New Polash in Chadderton which was enjoyed by the YAA at their airbases a few weeks ago.

YAA Doctor Andy Pountney, said: “I’m really proud to have been part of the team at the beginning of Imran’s journey, to be part of that team who gave him the initial treatment and helped get him off the hillside. I feel privileged to be in a position to help someone like that.”

YAA Paramedic Al Day, said: “Whilst raising money for charity, Imran has had an accident which has resulted in being rescued by three organisations, two of which are charities – Mountain Rescue and Yorkshire Air Ambulance. He doesn’t owe anything to Mountain Rescue or Yorkshire Air Ambulance, the people that have really saved Imran’s life are the people who put 50p in a collection box or organised a bake sale. Those are the people who saved Imran’s life and it’s very comforting.”

Imran’s episode will air on 31^st August at 10 PM on Channel Really.

Hull-based safety expert Arco has renewed its long-standing commitment to Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) with £75,000 worth of support pledged over the next three years. The new agreement will raise Arco’s total contribution to £300,000 since its partnership with the charity began nearly a decade ago. The pledge not only includes the financial contribution but, Arco has also supported the design and provision of specialist clothing which will help YAA provide its lifesaving emergency service to five million people across Yorkshire.

YAA needs to raise £12,000 every day to help save lives and keep families together longer. Its air ambulance flights, capable of transforming a 20-mile journey into ten minutes, ensure those who need assistance in the UK’s largest county get the help they need as rapidly as possible. As an independent charity, YAA is reliant on the generosity of its donators to maintain and provide its vital service. Through its principal partnership with Arco, the charity will receive £20,000 a year donation, as well as £5,000 of clothing and products taking the total contribution over the length of the new three-year partnership to £75,000.

The YAA team often works in extreme conditions and needs to rely on their uniforms and equipment to protect them. As experts in safety, Arco’s product credit will help YAA with essential supplies and specialist clothing for staff and volunteers, while the annual £20,000 donation will help keep its aircraft maintained and facilitate its lifesaving work.

David Evison, Managing Director of Arco, says, “Yorkshire Air Ambulance places the wellbeing and safety of people at the forefront of everything it does to save human life across the county and the surrounding area. As a business with its roots in Yorkshire and a dedication to safety, we are extremely proud to support a mission so closely aligned to our own; keeping communities and people safer.”

Katie Collinson, Corporate & Partnerships Manager of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, says, “We have been overwhelmed by Arco’s generosity since 2012 and we’re extremely grateful for the continued support. Like many charities and businesses across the UK, Yorkshire Air Ambulance has been hit hard by the COVID-19 pandemic. Restrictions have affected our ability to hold fundraising events, resulting in a significant fundraising deficit. However, with support from organisations like Arco, we can continue our vital work.”

Multiple organisations across Yorkshire have joined forces to encourage people across the entire region to learn about the dangers of open water swimming, after recent hot weather has led to a spate of tragic water incidents on beaches and in lakes, rivers, reservoirs and canals.

Due to extremely hot temperatures in the last few weeks, people have been looking for ways to cool off, often choosing to go for a swim in the various water bodies across Yorkshire. Unfortunately, many people have little or no experience in open water and don’t realise the dangers so quickly find themselves getting into difficulty.

In response, 30 organisations in Yorkshire have come together for the first time to really drive home the importance of being water wise and understanding how to be safe in and around water. All Fire and Rescue Services, Police forces and Local Resilience Forums across Yorkshire, together with several Local Authorities, Yorkshire Water, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, the Environment Agency, Canal & River Trust, HM Coastguard, the RNLI, the Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) and Outdoor Swimming Society are backing a campaign to increase awareness of the dangers of open water swimming for inexperienced people.

Dave Walton, Deputy Chief Fire Officer for WYFRS and co-Chair of West Yorkshire Prepared, said: “Unfortunately, as many people will have seen in the news, there has been a marked increase in the number of tragic water incidents recently, which have required the assistance of emergency services across Yorkshire. Sadly, in most cases, these incidents would have been preventable if more people were aware of the multitude of hazards when entering open water bodies such as lakes, reservoirs, canals, rivers and the sea.”

Since last summer, there have been at least 180 inland water incidents across Yorkshire, 18 of which resulted in fatalities. Nationally, in just 10 days (from 10^th to 20^th July 2021) there were 10 coastal deaths. Knowing and understanding the hazards of open water – both inland and at the coast – could help to drastically reduce the number of people who get into difficulty each year. Some key messages to remember when entering open water, are:

• Do not drink and dive – Alcohol and swimming do not mix! Alcohol badly affects judgement, swimming ability and body temperature
• Stick together – whether they swim with you or watch from the shore, always make sure you have someone with you who can call for help if you get into difficulties. Always keep an eye on non-swimmers and children, even in shallow areas as they may unexpectedly drop off steeply.
• Read the signs – Literally, read the signs! If the landowner has put signage up saying the water isn’t safe to enter please take notice. There could be dangerous currents, obstacles or poor water quality, even if it looks okay on the surface.
• Acclimatise – cold water shock kills – As hot as it may be on land, water bodies in Yorkshire remain very cold all year round. Jumping or diving into cold water can cause a gasp reflex, which may cause you to inhale water, followed by rapid breathing (hyperventilation) which can lead to panic and possibly drowning. Paddling/wading gives your body the chance to adjust to the temperature and helps reduce the risk.
• What lies beneath – Unexpected obstacles, machinery, strong rips or currents and hidden depths are all dangers to experienced and non-experienced swimmers alike.
• If in doubt, stay out – if you’re at all unsure of the water temperature, depth or quality, or don’t know if there are hidden dangers (e.g. obstacles, currents), don’t risk it. Swim at a lifeguarded area instead.

When swimming at the coast, choose beaches with lifeguards, adhere to local warning flags and signs and make sure you are aware of tide times. If you get caught in a rip current in the sea, don’t try to swim against it – instead, follow the RNLI’s Float to Live advice.

Nick Ayers, Regional Water Safety Lead at the RNLI, said: “If you do decide to go swimming – whether in open water or at a swimming pool – and end up getting into difficulty, the simplest but most important advice is Float to Live. Fight your instinct to thrash around. Lean back and extend your arms and legs. Float until you can control your breathing. Only then, call for help or swim to safety.

“If you see someone in trouble in the water, call 999 or 112. If you’re at the coast, ask for the Coastguard. If you’re inland, ask for the fire service.”

“For those keen to take part in open water swimming, there are many local outdoor swimming clubs and groups who can offer advice on the safest way to take part in the activity.  The Outdoor Swimming Society offers support and access to networks for anyone wanting to take part – www.outdoorswimmingsociety.com.”

The Royal Life Saving Society UK (RLSS UK) also has a raft of information available on their website – www.rlss.org.uk/dpw – including important water safety lessons, resources and toolkits for children and families, which are all free to access.

RLSS UK’s Charity Director, Lee Heard, said: “As tempting as it may be to go for a quick dip on a hot day, open water swimming can be dangerous even for the most experienced swimmers due to a multitude of hazards. If you’re at all unsure, the best advice is to stay out of the water or find a swimming area with lifeguards.”

Matt Syrat, Clinical Operations Manager for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We have recently been involved with an unprecedented amount of incidents where someone has gotten into trouble whilst swimming in Yorkshire’s water areas. This, unfortunately, has resulted in tragic consequences from situations that could have often been prevented just by people being aware of the serious dangers some of these locations present”

Water safety messages will be shared throughout summer using #WaterWiseYorkshire and we urge everyone to take notice of them and share with friends and family, to ensure as many people as possible know how to stay safe in water so we avoid further tragedies. Please visit the organisations’ websites or follow them on social media for updates.

Ends

Issued on behalf of West Yorkshire LRF, West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, West Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire LRF, North Yorkshire Police, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, South Yorkshire LRF, South Yorkshire Police, Humberside LRF, Humberside Fire and Rescue Service, Humberside Police, all five West Yorkshire Local Authorities, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, City of York Council, Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council, Yorkshire Air Ambulance, Yorkshire Ambulance Service, Yorkshire Water, Canal & River Trust, RNLI, Royal Life Saving Society UK, Welcome To Yorkshire, Outdoor Swimming Society, HM Coastguard and the Environment Agency.

A woman seriously injured outside Halifax Piece Hall last year, resulting in the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) landing in the Grade I listed building’s courtyard, is organising a charity walk on her 80^th birthday for her YAA lifesavers.

On 30^th January 2020 Loraine Greenwood from Halifax was collecting items for a church coffee morning when she was hit by a bus.

Due to the severity of the injury, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was dispatched. As the aircraft requires a large landing space, the only place suitable in the town centre was the courtyard of Grade I listed 18^th century building, the Piece Hall.

The YAA Critical Care Team made a decision to fly Loraine to Leeds General Infirmary and she spent 10 hours in an operating theatre undergoing reconstructive surgery.

The eight-mile walk organised by Loraine and her close friends for Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which is also open to the public, will take place on Saturday 4^th September setting off at 10am from St Matthew’s Church in Northowram. Event organisers are hoping to sell 100 tickets to members of the public.

Tickets for the walk cost £10 for adults, £5 for under 16s and £5 per dog. Included in the tickets are pie and peas at the church afterwards.  The pie and pea meal can be pre-ordered for those not taking part on the walk for £5. Closing date for the walk and pie and peas is 28^th August 2021 and no further entries will be permitted on the day.

There will also be an opportunity to meet Yorkshire Air Ambulance fundraisers at the walk to ask questions about the charity and learn all about their lifesaving work in the Halifax area.

Speaking of the incident, Loraine said: “I could have lost my leg or my life. I cannot thank the emergency services, the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and the doctors and nurses at the hospital enough for everything they have done for me. I’m so grateful that I have a life and I’ll do the best I can with it.”

Event organiser Linda McCormick, said: “Yorkshire Air Ambulance is such an important local charity, and they need all the support they can get to keep them flying across the region and saving lives. We’re looking forward to celebrating Loraine’s 80^th birthday and raising vital funds for such a worthwhile cause.”

Vickie Bowden, West Yorkshire Regional Fundraiser for YAA, said: “We would like to thank Loraine and her friends and family for organising this walk.

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 the vital funding of our service.”

To enter the walk contact Linda McCormick on 07733 192864 or download and complete the entry form and return to the address found on the form.