General

The Lee Pearsall Memorial Game held every Boxing Day since 2014 is in remembrance of Lee Pearsall, who was a much loved and respected individual in the community.

The event this year was inundated with support from local and national businesses who donated some incredible prizes that included, a break in the Yorkshire Dales, flying experience, tickets from Andrew Lloyd Webbers School of Rock musical and an evening with Alan Shearer, plus many more.

Event organiser Chris Hargrave said “We have been completely blown away by the response and the support we have had this year. The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a worthy cause and doing something like this helps remember Lee in a positive way, along with bringing our small community together to remember him.”

The event was held at Denaby United FC’s pitch, Old Road, Conisbrough where they provided changing facilities and clubhouse to the event free of charge. The club then kindly donated a percentage of their takings on the day to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance requires £12,000 per day to operate and relies solely on donations from events like this to remain operational.

Planning is currently underway for next years event and the organisers are currently selecting their chosen charity, if you would like to support or donate to this event please contact Chris Hargrave at E: chrishargrave@live.co.uk or Shaun Woodward at E: swoodward711@yahoo.co.uk

Welcome to Yorkshire has unveiled the first set of Tour de Yorkshire roadshows which will take place across the county in the run up to this year’s races.

The roadshows give a detailed view of the route and provide local residents, businesses and community groups with all the information they need to embrace the fourth edition.

Welcome to Yorkshire is joining forces with local authorities to run the shows at a variety of venues along the 2018 route and information will be shared on how to get involved, build excitement and maximise the benefits of worldwide media coverage between 3-6 May.

Details on road closures, the annual sportive and Welcome to Yorkshire’s various cycling legacy projects will be discussed, along with ways people can become official Tour Makers or take part in the ever popular best dressed and land art competitions.

Marketing, website and social media tips will also be provided, as well as ways businesses can embrace the huge influx of visitors that come to watch the action in person.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity said: “The Tour de Yorkshire and Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race are now recognised as some of the best supported races in the world and that’s down to the great people of this county taking them to their hearts.

“We run these roadshows to share information about how the races work and to encourage people to show off their community to a global TV audience of almost 10 million people.

“I’d encourage everyone who lives or works on the route to come along, ask questions and get inspired on how we can all make the 2018 edition the biggest and best one yet.”

The first set of 2018 Tour de Yorkshire roadshows are as follows:

Tuesday 9 January: Doncaster – 2:30pm – 4:30pm

Thursday 11 January: Beverley – 10am – 12pm

Monday 15 January: Scarborough – 5pm – 7pm

Tuesday 16 January: Richmond – 5pm – 7pm

Wednesday 17 January: Catterick – 5pm – 7pm

Thursday 18 January: Barnsley – 5pm – 7pm and Bedale – 7:30pm – 9:30pm

Wednesday 24 January: Leeds – 5pm – 7pm

Thursday 25 January: Ilkley – 13:30am – 15:30pm

Tuesday 30 January: Middleham – 5pm – 7pm

Wednesday 31 January: Leyburn – 5pm – 7pm

Thursday 1 February: Carlton – 5pm – 7pm

Thursday 22 February: Rossington – 5:30pm – 7:30pm

Tuesday 27 February: Elsecar – 5pm – 7pm

Wednesday 7 March: Hooton Pagnell – 10am – 12pm

More dates are being added all the time and full details on how to register can be found at

http://letouryorkshire.com/information/roadshows

Tour Makers are a passionate and reliable team of volunteers who represent the welcoming face of Yorkshire for spectators throughout the three days of action. Being a Tour Maker offers a fantastic opportunity to be part of the race. Information on how to become one can be found at

http://letour.yorkshire.com/tour-makers

Highways England traffic officer Paul Holroyd and colleague Adam Gibb were on the hard shoulder of the M6 in Cumbria, near Shap, helping to recover vehicles from an earlier accident when they were struck by a car.

Adam, 51, from Penrith died at the scene. Paul was put into an induced coma on the roadside and airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, where he underwent 12 hours of surgery.

The devastating accident will feature in Monday night’s episode of Helicopter ER, the award-winning UKTV show, which follows the life-saving work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

“Two air ambulance services were there and without them I would just not be here,” said Paul from Kirkby Stephen, Cumbria. “They stabilized me at the scene and then got me to the right hospital in just 19 minutes and I cannot thank them enough.”

Football agent Peter Morrison was convicted last month of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

Paul, 52, spent six months in hospital and is now trying to rebuild his shattered life with partner Allison. With amazing grit and determination, the father of five has astounded doctors with the pace of his recovery.

“I’m very stubborn and pigheaded,” added Paul who owns and manages Takoda Camping in Kirkby Stephen. “I’m the sort of person who’s busy from the moment I open my eyes so being in the wheelchair and having to ask people to do things for me has been the most frustrating part.

“Allison has been absolutely phenomenal. Someone was certainly watching over me when I met her. She made the 160-mile round trip to Middlesbrough every day for six months, looking after the kids and keeping the campsite going.

“But I’m getting stronger month by month and I’m on the same road, it’s just a bit bumpier than it was.”

The couple, who are living temporarily in a rented bungalow, have applied for planning permission for a purpose-built bungalow at the campsite so they can continue to run the business.

Paul, who attended most of the court case, released a statement after the verdict in which he called on all drivers not to use their mobile phones behind the wheel.

“I would urge everybody to take more care whilst driving, especially when using the motorways, and to not under any circumstances be tempted to use a mobile phone.

“As this case has proved, lives can change forever in the blink of an eye.”

The accident, which happened in February 2016, features in Monday night’s episode of Helicopter ER, on the Really channel at 9pm.

The episode also features the story of a university student who had to learn to walk and talk again after a road accident and the first mission completed by one of Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s two new state-of-the-art Airbus H145 helicopters.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air Television, which recently won two Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 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.

Monday night’s episode completes the second series of Helicopter ER but you can watch it on catch-up on UKTV Play (uktvplay.co.uk)

The Harrogate-based artist has produced four card designs – The Essence of Christmas, Yorkshire Farm and Dales, Helicopter and Woodland Animals and Helicopter and the White Horse – all inspired by a love of Yorkshire, animals and the rapid response emergency service.

Anita has already raised several hundred pounds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance through the sale of a unique piece of intricate paper cut art which was turned into beautiful notelets. All proceeds from the sale of her specially designed Christmas cards will go the charity.

She said: “As a Harrogate artist and painter, I wanted to use my skills to help this well-loved charity.

“Anyone of us could need the services of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance and it costs £12,000 every day to keep its two helicopters in the sky.”

Yorkshire Farm and Dales features farmyard and nativity animals – a tiny brush used to capture their fur and features – lovingly looking up at the Yorkshire Air Ambulance flying over their Dales farmhouse.

The Essence of Christmas includes many things we all associate with the festive period and The Helicopter and the White Horse features the iconic yellow helicopter hovering over children playing in the snow in a Kilburn wood by the famous White Horse.

Anita used a miniature brush to create the incredibly detailed designs which cost £3.50 for a pack of 10 and are available from The Dove Tree Art Studio in Harrogate https://anitabowerman.co.uk or through the Yorkshire Air Ambulance website www.yaa.org.uk

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Abby McClymont, Director of Marketing and Communications at Yorkshire Air Ambulance said: “Anita’s lovely cards have been so popular this year and we’re seeing more cards than ever before being sold to support the YAA. 

“Her wonderfully picturesque and creative designs really seem to have captured the hearts of our supporters – we’re so glad everyone loves them, and are grateful to Anita for coming up with such beautiful scenes incorporating our helicopters.”

Photo caption: The unique Christmas card, Yorkshire Farm and Dales, designed by Anita Bowerman for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Welcome to Yorkshire Chief Executive Sir Gary Verity led a packed press conference on Tuesday morning with the Amaury Sport Organisation’s Tour de France Director Christian Prudhomme. There were many star riders in attendance along with Yorkshire cycling legends such as Brian Robinson, Malcolm Elliott and Denise Burton-Cole.

The fourth edition of the route has been expanded from three to four stages and will take place between 3-6 May 2018. It encompasses all four corners of the county and takes in 169 villages, towns and cities along the way:

STAGE ONE: 182km – ARTS AND CULTURE – BEVERLEY TO DONCASTER Thursday 3 May

The race gets going in Beverley’s historic market place before proceeding to the seaside resort of Hornsea. The peloton will then tackle a 16km loop before heading back through Beverley and into the Yorkshire Wolds. The first classified climb at Baggaby Hill will get the legs pumping before a brisk descent into Pocklington for the opening intermediate sprint. After passing through Holme-on-Spalding Moor the pace will gradually ramp up again for a second sprint in Howden and then it’s full steam into Doncaster on the newly opened Great Yorkshire Way. The riders will sweep past the world-famous Racecourse before a flat-out finish along South Parade.

STAGE TWO: 149km – YORKSHIRE HERITAGE – BARNSLEY TO ILKLEY Friday 4 May

The peloton will start outside Barnsley’s impressive Town Hall and head towards Penistone. The route ventures into Worsbrough and the first mountains classification points are up for grabs at Blacker Hill. With those in the bag the race will pass though Elsecar before an intermediate sprint is contested in Swinton. Conisbrough Castle provides a stunning backdrop before the riders continue north for a second intermediate sprint in Scholes, and Harewood House also makes an appearance prior to the classified Côte de Old Pool Bank climb. The route will then pass through Otley and Ilkley before reaching the race’s first-ever summit finish on the Cow and Calf. In an added twist, King of the Mountains points will also be on offer right before the stage winner is crowned on top of this iconic Yorkshire climb.

STAGE THREE: 184km – MARKET TOWNS – RICHMOND TO SCARBOROUGH Saturday 5 May

The riders will roll out of Richmond’s cobbled market place and head to Catterick Garrison before the start flag is lowered. They’ll then traverse Wensleydale and continue in an easterly direction at Leyburn, on to Morton on Swale where the first intermediate sprint will be fought out. Northallerton and Thirsk will then provide warm welcomes, and no sooner have the riders crossed into the North York Moors than they’ll be faced with the fearsome Sutton Bank climb. The first contenders over the top there will be rewarded with points in the mountains classification. The action then passes through Helmsley and on to Pickering for a second intermediate sprint. The climbers will be looking to come to the fore again on the Côte de Silpho before the race breezes into Scarborough for the first time. Hugging the east coast, the peloton will continue on to Filey and sample its picturesque seafront before heading inland and back towards Scarborough. The frontrunners will sweep along South Bay, around the castle walls, and onto the now-legendary finish along North Bay.

STAGE FOUR: 189.5km – THE YORKSHIRE TERRIER – HALIFAX TO LEEDS Sunday 6 May

The Piece Hall in Halifax provides a spectacular location for the start of this decisive stage and the first of six categorised climbs comes on the Côte de Hebden Bridge. The race will head up the cobbled Main Street in Haworth before dropping into Goose Eye for the next punishing ascent. Crossing from Brontë Country into Craven, the route heads through Skipton and the next climb is looming on Barden Moor. The action will then head into the Dales before the riders contest the first intermediate sprint in view of Kilnsey Crag. The Côte de Park Rash will no-doubt cement its place in Tour de Yorkshire folklore as the peloton grind their way up it, and the route continues on to Masham and then into Nidderdale before making a return to the formidable Côte de Greenhow Hill for the first time since 2016. The undulating terrain never relents and shortly after passing through Otley the next categorised climb is on the cards at Otley Chevin. If that wasn’t enough, the Côte de Black Hill Road must also be crested before the race sweeps into Leeds and reaches a rip-roaring conclusion on The Headrow – on exactly the same spot as where the Tour de France started in 2014.

Full stage maps can be downloaded at https://yorkshire.app.box.com/v/TDY2018PressPack and photographs from the press conference will also be made available for download there in due course.

Sir Gary Verity said: “It was a proud moment unveiling the full route today. We’ve worked hard to design a dramatic and varied parcours which takes in some of our county’s most spectacular terrain. I’m sure the world’s best riders will relish the challenge it poses and we’ll be treated to a tremendous fourth edition.

“Last year’s race attracted 2.2 million spectators and generated £64 million for the local economy, and now that is has been extended from three to four days, the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire promises to be the biggest and best one yet.”

Christian Prudhomme said: “Gary and his team have done a fantastic job and I am excited by what next year’s route has in store. I enjoy coming to Yorkshire and the county always puts on a tremendous show.

“Seeing the race finish on The Headrow in Leeds will be particularly special and bring back a lot of happy memories from when the Tour de France started there in 2014. I still regard that as one of our grandest Grand Départs and I’m sure we’ll be in for another memorable day. The way Yorkshire supports cycling is incredible I look forward to seeing more bikes, banners and bunting in 2018.”

Julie Harrington, Chief Executive of British Cycling, said: “Next year’s Tour de Yorkshire is shaping up to be the best yet and British Cycling is proud to support Welcome to Yorkshire and ASO as they seek to inspire people across the county to get active by getting on their bikes.

“Britain’s appetite for seeing world-class cycle sport has never been healthier and the people of Yorkshire can make a strong claim to be among the country’s biggest bike lovers.”

Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race

Following its phenomenal success over the last three years, the Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race will double in size from one day to two in 2018 and take place on 3-4 May. It will once again offer one of the largest prize pots in the sport and a stellar cast of riders will be on hand to compete on Yorkshire roads.

The stages will start each morning and follow the last 132km and 121.5km respectively of the men’s stages which commence later each day.

Sir Gary Verity said: “We are proud of our commitment to promoting women’s cycling and are delighted to see the Asda Tour de Yorkshire Women’s Race doubling in size in 2018. Expanding the race to two days means we can offer our most varied route yet which will challenge the world’s best riders.

“Both stages will feature the same sprints and climbs as the men and the atmosphere on the Cow and Calf for the race’s culmination is sure to be electric.”

Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride

It was also revealed that the Maserati Tour de Yorkshire Ride sportive will be back for a fourth successive year in 2018.

Leeds was unveiled as the start and finish location for the event which will be held on Sunday 6 May. 6,000 amateur cyclists will have the chance to ride some of the county’s most iconic roads just hours before the Tour de Yorkshire reaches its conclusion.

Sir Gary Verity said: “One of the things I most enjoy about cycling is that you can ride the same roads as the pros, and what better way to do so than with top-class support and thousands of other cyclists joining you along the way. The three routes on offer will be suitable for all abilities and anyone taking part is sure to have an amazing experience.”

Nick Rusling, CEO of the sportive organisers Human Race, said: “The sportive riders will get to cycle on the same day, same roads, with the same crowds and finish line, as the pros – in Yorkshire. What could be better? The last time we came to Leeds entry places sold out within a week and we can’t wait to come back. We will be there to give everyone a medal at the end.”

Full route details for the sportive will be announced when general entries open on Tuesday 9 January. Those keen to guarantee a place before then can sign up now and opt to fundraise for one of eight charities. Find out more at http://letour.yorkshire.com/sportive

Official Tour de Yorkshire Charity – Yorkshire Air Ambulance

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance has also been confirmed as the official charity for the fourth edition of the Tour de Yorkshire.

The news signals the start of a range of fundraising initiatives throughout 2018 which aim to raise awareness of the great work the organisation does to provide a rapid response emergency service to over five million people across Yorkshire.

Sir Gary Verity said: “We are proud to be partnering with Yorkshire Air Ambulance for the 2018 Tour de Yorkshire. They deliver an invaluable service across the county and the race provides a great platform for them to fundraise and raise awareness. We will be supporting them wholeheartedly over the next 12 months.”

Peter Sunderland MBE, DL, Chairman of Yorkshire Air Ambulance, said: “We feel really privileged to have been chosen and look forward to working with Welcome to Yorkshire over the next 12 months.

“The Tour de Yorkshire showcases our wonderful county to a global audience and we are grateful for the opportunity to run many valuable fundraising initiatives alongside the race and raise awareness about our life-saving charity.”

Full details on the Yorkshire Air Ambulance do can be found at http://yorkshireairambulance.org.uk

The 53-year-old surveyor suffered multiple fractures including a broken hip, two vertebrae, most of his ribs and neck. He semi-severed his spinal cord, suffered collapsed lungs and a bleed on the brain.

Karen, a cardiac technician at Pinderfields Hospital, Wakefield, was catapulted over 20ft down the road and suffered pelvic fractures and snapped ligaments in her right knee.

Fortunately, an off-duty hospital consultant and a nurse stopped to help at the scene. Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedics stabilized the couple before Adrian was airlifted to Leeds General Infirmary where he spent six weeks – four of which in intensive care.

Adrian was then transferred to the regional spinal injuries unit at Pinderfields where the he spent a further five months undergoing intensive rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

He said: “Most things have healed but my spinal injury means that I don’t have much movement in my left leg and very little control of my right leg below the knee so at the moment I need a wheelchair to get around.

“I can stand up using a frame and what movement I do have is getting stronger, but I have very little feeling in either leg and it’s about finding new ways of doing things that I just used to take for granted.

“I don’t know how much movement I will eventually get back but we’ve just come back from a holiday and I was able to walk across the swimming pool which was amazing.”

The couple’s lives have been totally changed following the accident which happened in March. They have both undergone several operations, are still having physiotherapy and have had to move into a rented bungalow in Kirk Smeaton which is wheelchair accessible.

Karen, 54, is hoping to go back to work in the New Year. Although Adrian is unable to return to the job and motor-biking hobby he loved he is still able to follow his other passion – playing the trombone.

Adrian is a member of the famous Black Dyke Brass Band and has also travelled the country as one quarter of the Black Dyke Trombone Quartet.

“I’m not sure if I will be able to get back to the standard I was but I am getting there and hope to make a couple of concerts with the bands in the near future,” he added.

The Black Dyke Trombone Quartet performed a fundraising concert for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance last week and friends and work colleagues of the couple have also raised over £2,000 so far for the rapid response emergency charity that saved Adrian’s life.

The doting grandfather added: “I don’t think I would have made it without the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. I was at the lowest level of consciousness, both sides of my chest were deflated during the flight, and I got to hospital in the nick of time.

“It would have been at least another 20 minutes by road and I am just so grateful and glad that we have the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.”

Adrian’ and Karen’s dramatic rescue can be seen in this week’s episode of Helicopter ER – the UKTV series that follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The programme also features a three-year-old bitten by the family dog and a chauffeur-driven journey that ends with a helicopter flight to hospital.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air Television, which recently won two Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

Lyn Arrowsmith was delivering her llama Pedro to an intermediary at Sutton-under-Whitestonecliffe, near Thirsk, prior to him being sold. It is believed the animal knocked Lyn off the trailer ramp while he was being offloaded.

She hit her head on the concrete floor and was unconscious for over five minutes. When Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedics arrived, Lyn was very agitated and distressed making treatment and getting her to a major trauma centre a real challenge.

The drama features in this week’s episode of the award-winning TV series Helicopter ER, which follows the life-saving work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

Lyn was airlifted in minutes to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, where she was treated for a major skull fracture and three bleeds on the brain.

“I don’t remember anything about the accident though I wouldn’t blame Pedro. I can only think something must have spooked him and he’s bolted,” said Lyn who runs a rare breeds farm at her home in Raskelf, near Easingwold.

“My Mum was called and she told me later I was screaming and shouting a bit, but the first thing I remember is waking up as I was going into the CT scanner.”

The Mum-of-two, who spent a week in hospital following the accident in April, has made a good recovery but has been left with no sense of smell and a damaged sense of taste.

“I have really lost my enjoyment of food because everything has an after taste of either perfume or burnt plastic,” added Lyn.

“I produce my own meat and knowing the local provenance of our food is really important to me. It also tastes so amazing so not being able to enjoy that does get you down a bit.

“But I have been very lucky and I am very grateful to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. I know living where we do, and doing what I do, just how vital the service is but you just never expect that you will need it.

“We were at an agricultural show after the accident, and my son had been given £5 to spend, which normally would have all gone on sweets, but he said he had given it to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance stall because they had saved my life which brought it all home.”

Lyn’s accident, which happened in April, can be seen in this week’s episode of Helicopter ER which also features a cyclist whose life was saved by the actions of a Community First Responder, and a walk near the stunning Aysgarth Falls which ended in a flight to hospital.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air Television, which recently won two Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves five million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

You can watch Helicopter ER on Monday night at 9pm on Really or on catch-up on UKTV Play (uktvplay.co.uk)

Leeds business woman, Ruchi Dhir, has pledged to raise £10,000 to be equally divided between local charities. In her efforts to support air ambulance charities, Dhir, previously completed a daring abseil for London’s Air Ambulance dropping over 17 storeys to raise £1455. She now returns to the north to take on ten 10K runs for her local charity, Yorkshire’s Air Ambulance – with a new target to hit!

Her inspiration for charitable giving stems from her brother who works as an orthopaedic surgeon at the Royal London Hospital. “Air ambulances are a fabulous cause that rely on fundraising to help deliver vital, lifesaving treatment. Of course, I want to help.” Dhir explained.

The generous donation will be raised in the first of ten 10K marathon runs to be completed on Sunday 10th December 2017. The Leeds 10K Christmas Run will see thousands of festive fundraisers taking part to raise money for their chosen charities. Dhir has accepted the challenge and will be dusting the snow off her running shoes in preparation for the month ahead.

“I’m just grateful I can do it,” said Dhir. “I’m hugely proud of the doctors and paramedics who work tirelessly around the clock to save lives. One of those lives might one day be mine or someone close to me. That is my motivation. I’m encouraging other people to get involved too.”

There will be lots of seasonal cheer from the crowds. If you want to embrace the spirit of giving and do something wonderful this winter, then why not make a donation? To support this women in her efforts to raise essential funds for Yorkshire’s Air Ambulance, donate here: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/ruchi-dhir

John Hardisty, a fencing contractor, was working on a neighbour’s farm in the village of Westerdale when his arm got trapped between his tractor’s post driver and a stone post.

“I was putting in a wooden post at the side of the stone one and reached over the top to make sure it was straight when the post driver came down for some reason and trapped my arm,” said 67-year-old John.

“I think my jacket must have caught the lever but fortunately the guy I was working for was there. He’s also a vet so knew straight away that I’d done some major damage and called the emergency services.”

John was airlifted in just a few minutes to the James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, where he underwent a six-hour operation to start repairing a fractured ulna, radius and thumb.

He has since had skin grafts and further surgery on his thumb which has meant he has not been able to work since the accident six months ago.

John added: “I’ve not been able to use my right arm at all which has been very frustrating. I have a small farm as well as being a fencing contractor and I’m used to being so active but I’m very grateful to my neighbours and cousins who have looked after me.

“I’m also really grateful to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance. I was losing a lot of blood and they got me to hospital in six minutes. It would have been 30 to 40 minutes by road and in remote communities like this you really see the value of what they do.”

John’s accident can be seen in this week’s episode of Helicopter ER – the UKTV series that follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The episode also features a trip to meet her boyfriend’s parents which nearly ended in tragedy for one West Yorkshire woman and a dramatic end to a window cleaning job.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air Television, which recently won two Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

You can watch Helicopter ER on Monday night at 9pm on Really or on catch-up on UKTV Play (uktvplay.co.uk)

Photo caption: John Hardisty being treated at the scene of his accident and recovering at home.

Jim Facer was repairing some fencing on his remote farm near Hawes – nearly 50 miles from the nearest major trauma centre – when a nail bounced out and went straight into his left eye.

“I was with my wife and just hammering some rails onto fence posts, as I’ve done hundreds of times, when a nail flew out,” said 56-year-old Jim. “I felt something touch my face but had no idea where the nail had gone until I saw my wife’s face.

“When you get a bit of grit in your eye it’s really irritating but I didn’t feel any impact pain at all. But when I realised what had happened I had a pretty good idea that the sight had gone.”

Jim’s shocked wife Sandra raced back to the farmhouse to contact the emergency services and the Yorkshire Air Ambulance was immediately dispatched to the isolated Dales location.

Jim’s training as a retained fireman in Hawes for nearly 20 years helped him to remain calm during his rescue and treatment. He was also very familiar with the work of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

“After it happened I just kicked into survival mode, tried to relax my breathing and wait to be rescued.” added the father-of-two. “I’ve worked with the air ambulance at incidents before – and actually recognised one of the paramedics.”

Both Jim’s eyes were covered before he was airlifted to the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough in less than 20 minutes – a journey that would have taken up to two hours by road.

Surgeons removed the nail but despite two further operations to try and restore sight in Jim’s eye, his retina was too badly damaged.

Six months after the accident, Jim still has five stitches in his eye holding the cornea in place so has to be careful lifting and doing strenuous activities, but he is back working and very grateful to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

“Until the stitches come out in January I still have to be very careful, but I‘m doing what I can and you just have to get on with it – with three grandchildren, giving up is definitely not an option!” added Jim.

“I know how vital the air ambulance service is to remote rural communities like ours. You just never imagine that you will ever need them, but I’m extremely grateful they are here.”

Jim’s dramatic rescue can be seen in this week’s episode of Helicopter ER – the UKTV series that follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The programme also features a horsewoman fighting for her life with a head injury following a fall and a morning commute that nearly ended in tragedy for a young motorcyclist.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air Television, which recently won two Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

You can watch Helicopter ER on Monday night at 9pm on Really or on catch-up on UKTV Play (uktvplay.co.uk)

Emily Thurgood was riding in a field on the edge of the North Yorkshire Moors when her horse slipped. She came off landing on the back of her head, the impact resulting in a blood clot which subsequently caused a stroke.

When the Yorkshire Air Ambulance crew arrived, the 40-year-old experienced rider was deeply unconscious, with her jaw clenched shut making it very difficult to get air into her lungs.

A second air ambulance carrying a doctor was dispatched so that Emily could be anaethetised before being airlifted, however paramedics at the scene decided they needed to get their critically injured patient to hospital as soon as possible.

She was flown the 30 miles to the nearest major trauma centre at James Cook University Hospital, Middlesbrough, in minutes – a decision which Emily believes saved her life.

“Although I had a very good riding helmet, I landed on the back of my head which shunted my brain forward.  This is where the speech and memory is and where most of the damage was caused by the stroke,” she said.

“It was a really freak accident but without Yorkshire Air Ambulance I would not be here now. It’s as simple as that and I am so grateful to them.”

Emily was kept in an induced coma for a week and spent nearly 10 weeks in hospital, going through intense neuro rehabilitation and physiotherapy.

“I woke up in hospital and couldn’t move any of my right side because of the stroke,” said Emily from Ebberston, near Pickering.

“I had no idea of where I was, who I was or what had happened, which was scary for me but even scarier for my family.

“I went through a lot of rehabilitation and physiotherapy, learning to do everything again – from walking and talking to cooking.

“I still struggle with finding the right words sometimes and my memory and writing are not great. I still can’t run and, what is really frustrating, I’ve not been able to ride, but I am getting better each month.”

Emily’s determination to get back to full physical and mental fitness is amazing doctors who say she should make a full recovery over time.

The Marketing Effectiveness Manager for HSBC based in Leeds will start a phased return to work in January and is also planning her wedding after getting engaged to partner Richard earlier this year.

Emily is also going to fund raise for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance charity that saved her life. “As a horse rider living where we do, I know other people who have been airlifted to hospital by them.

“If I had not been flown to Middlesbrough so quickly who knows if I would have survived, or if I would be making such a good recovery.

“I have been told I will get completely back to where I was before the accident but it could take up to five years. Considering what happened, though, I think I have been pretty lucky and I can’t thank Yorkshire Air Ambulance enough.”

Emily’s dramatic rescue can be seen in this week’s episode of Helicopter ER – the UKTV series that follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The programme also features a freak farming accident which leaves a nail embedded in the eye of a North Yorkshire farmer, and a morning commute that nearly ended in tragedy for a young motorcyclist.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air Television, which recently won two Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

You can watch Helicopter ER on Monday night at 9pm on Really or on catch-up on UKTV Play (uktvplay.co.uk)

Cllr John Blackie, the Independent councilor for Upper Dales, was taken ill at his property management company in Hawes.

“I really felt very unwell indeed and a couple dropping off keys, who happened to be medical professionals, thought I might be having a heart attack,” said 68-year-old John.

John, who has already had heart bypass surgery and survived two bouts of cancer, was faced with a 60-mile journey by land ambulance to the nearest major trauma centre at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.

Despite blustery weather conditions, Yorkshire Air Ambulance was dispatched to the remote Dales village and airlifted John to hospital in just 15 minutes.

“It was a very windy day but the pilot was prepared to risk it to get to me. We took off and although it was a bumpy ride we were at the hospital in just 15 minutes,” said John from Hardraw.

“The alternative would have been a journey by land of 60 miles on largely country roads. It is just one of so many examples of how important the service provided by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance is to the Upper Dales.”

As chair of the County Council’s Scrutiny of Health Committee for nine years from 2003, John was involved in the early development of the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

He added: “It was almost ironic that having been such a strong advocate of the air ambulance that I should find myself in need of its service and I am just so very grateful that it is here.

“I represent an area which is the country’s most sparsely populated county council division covering 325 square miles and it is in the deeply rural communities within it where there is such an unbreakable bond with the Air Ambulance service, as it is an asset that we can never afford to lose.”

John, who has been a county councillor for 20 years, had not had a heart attack, but was found to be suffering from a twisted gut and later underwent successful corrective surgery.

His story can be seen in this week’s episode of Helicopter ER – the UKTV series that follows the life-saving work of Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The programme also features a plumber who badly cut his arm with a Stanley knife and the dramatic rescue of a woman from a car that had careered off an icy road and plunged down a wooded ravine.

Helicopter ER is made by York-based Air Television, which recently won two Royal Television Society awards for their work on the compelling series.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) serves 5million people across Yorkshire and carries out over 1,250 missions every year. The charity needs to raise £12,000 every day to keep saving lives.

You can watch Helicopter ER on Monday night at 9pm on Really or on catch-up on UKTV Play (uktvplay.co.uk)