0:00:02 > 0:00:04A close call, a moment of danger when life can hang in the balance.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07I could die here. This is really serious.
0:00:08 > 0:00:11A split second where the outcome could go either way.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13Right, call 999 now!
0:00:13 > 0:00:15The difference between disaster and survival.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16You could see it on the faces
0:00:16 > 0:00:19of the crew how life-threatening this was.
0:00:19 > 0:00:21Why would you need to swim? They're supposed to still be on a boat.
0:00:21 > 0:00:25These are the people that have been there and lived to tell the tale.
0:00:25 > 0:00:26I thought she had died.
0:00:26 > 0:00:29It's a day they'll never forget.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32The day they had a close call.
0:00:47 > 0:00:49Today on Close Calls,
0:00:49 > 0:00:53a frantic young woman begs the emergency services for help.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58The boyfriend has been kicked in the head by a horse.
0:01:06 > 0:01:10And a helicopter rescue crew searching for a British scuba diver
0:01:10 > 0:01:13missing off the Australian coast for 22 hours
0:01:13 > 0:01:16spot something in the water.
0:01:16 > 0:01:18That's definitely not a turtle. Let's go.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21They're low on fuel, but they can't turn back now.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24A rescue swimmer launches himself into the sea.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26We have 20 minutes on scene to get him back to Townsville.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29The clock was running.
0:01:37 > 0:01:39Darlington, County Durham.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43A man calls the emergency services from a field next to a stable yard.
0:01:50 > 0:01:5419-year-old Matt has been slammed in the face by the horse's rear hooves.
0:01:54 > 0:01:58The blow sent him flying across the field and crashing to the ground.
0:01:58 > 0:02:00His girlfriend is close to hysterical.
0:02:13 > 0:02:17Spring House Farm in County Durham, situated in 200 acres,
0:02:17 > 0:02:20is a popular livery yard for horse lovers in the area.
0:02:21 > 0:02:25Mum Jill Stephenson, her husband Phil are regulars at the stables.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27That's because they spend a lot of
0:02:27 > 0:02:29time looking after their daughter's horse, Nemo.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32We babysit him while she's at University,
0:02:32 > 0:02:34so it's a full-on hobby for us.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39Caring for Nemo includes evenings and weekends,
0:02:39 > 0:02:42which is why one Saturday the couple are out in the field checking over
0:02:42 > 0:02:45their daughter's four-legged friend.
0:02:45 > 0:02:48Phil and I had been off for the day to Harrogate Flower Show
0:02:48 > 0:02:50and we just thought we'd call in on Nemo,
0:02:50 > 0:02:52make sure that he was OK for the night.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55As they lead Nemo back to the stable,
0:02:55 > 0:02:58they spot a young couple they know well with their horse, Larry.
0:02:58 > 0:03:01We saw Beth and Matty in the jumping field,
0:03:01 > 0:03:03just messing around with Larry.
0:03:03 > 0:03:06Beth is busy giving boyfriend Matt instructions.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09We were laughing because they were trying to get Larry over one of the
0:03:09 > 0:03:13jumps and she was telling him how to do it this way and that way.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15And we were just walking through and shouted,
0:03:15 > 0:03:17"Good night, we'll see you later."
0:03:17 > 0:03:19As Jill and her husband are about to head home,
0:03:19 > 0:03:21she takes a last look over her shoulder.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24By chance, witnessing a horrific event.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30Larry just literally went over the jump and he double-barrelled,
0:03:30 > 0:03:34back feet came up and just knocked Matty about ten foot back over.
0:03:34 > 0:03:36He just went hurtling through the air,
0:03:36 > 0:03:39it was like something off a film, or something. It was unreal.
0:03:39 > 0:03:43Jill watches as the spooked horse careers off down the field.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45Matt crashes to the ground.
0:03:45 > 0:03:49He just laid for...it seemed forever.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52And I just thought that was it, he's gone.
0:03:52 > 0:03:55And that bit will stay.
0:03:55 > 0:03:58Straight away, Jill's husband phones 999.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19But Matt can't talk to anyone right now.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22He's in shock and his injuries are severe.
0:04:26 > 0:04:29The day had started so differently for 19-year-old Matthew and his
0:04:29 > 0:04:33girlfriend, Beth, who have been together now for two years.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Matt has always wanted to work in health care
0:04:36 > 0:04:39and is hoping to train as a paramedic.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42In his spare time, he works as a first responder
0:04:42 > 0:04:44for North East Rescue And Medical Services.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47It's kind of like an advanced first aider role.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50We cover private events, so it is like night clubs, or sports events,
0:04:50 > 0:04:53literally any form of event.
0:04:53 > 0:04:55The more he was coming home and telling me more, I was like,
0:04:55 > 0:04:58"I really want to do this." And we started going through kit together
0:04:58 > 0:05:00and I was starting to learn all that and I was like,
0:05:00 > 0:05:03"Oh, if this happened to someone, you would do this?"
0:05:03 > 0:05:05I was like, "You know, why don't I just go out there and do it?"
0:05:05 > 0:05:10She does. Switching careers from stable hand to first aider,
0:05:10 > 0:05:13but still regularly riding her own horse, Larry.
0:05:13 > 0:05:15Everyone loves him.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18Everyone down the farm is like, "Oh, look it's Larry."
0:05:18 > 0:05:20Always wants to be ridden, always wants to be jumped.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23Soon as there is a jump out, he is like, "Yeah, let's go. Come on."
0:05:23 > 0:05:27When Beth first invited Matt to the yard to meet Larry,
0:05:27 > 0:05:30she was unaware he was keeping something under his hat.
0:05:30 > 0:05:32He'd had riding lessons as a child.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35She said, "Oh, do you want to get on and ride him?" "OK, then."
0:05:35 > 0:05:37And he could actually ride, surprisingly.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40I didn't think he would be able to ride, but he could.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42The revelation helped seal the deal.
0:05:42 > 0:05:44We just found out we had the same
0:05:44 > 0:05:46interests, same hobbies, we were always on the go.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48She always finds the funny side of things to make it
0:05:48 > 0:05:50a lot lighter than what it actually is.
0:05:50 > 0:05:52And then we just totally clicked, just...
0:05:53 > 0:05:54I was like, "Yeah, he's the one."
0:05:57 > 0:06:00The couple are inseparable and Matt is now a regular at the stables,
0:06:00 > 0:06:02owned and run by Mike Hill.
0:06:02 > 0:06:05I've known Beth and Matty for about three years.
0:06:05 > 0:06:07We do get on very well.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10And if there is any problems, they come to me and I'll sort them out.
0:06:11 > 0:06:12That fateful Saturday evening,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15the couple decide to stop off at the yard and spend some time
0:06:15 > 0:06:17with Beth's horse.
0:06:17 > 0:06:20What we do is lead him over the jumps and he loves it,
0:06:20 > 0:06:22he is so good he just trots next to you.
0:06:22 > 0:06:24Beth offers Matt a chance to lead
0:06:24 > 0:06:26Larry over some small trotting poles.
0:06:26 > 0:06:28He was doing things really well,
0:06:28 > 0:06:31like the way he was jumping was good. So I was like, "OK then."
0:06:31 > 0:06:35He leads Larry up to the first 10cm-high obstacle.
0:06:35 > 0:06:36But something goes wrong.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39Really we should have both gone over the middle of the job.
0:06:39 > 0:06:41As I went to the jump, he kind of moved over to the left
0:06:41 > 0:06:43which meant I had to go on the left-hand side of the wing,
0:06:43 > 0:06:45which is the thing that holds the pole up.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48And as they both got back together round the other side of the jump,
0:06:48 > 0:06:50Larry got in front of Matt.
0:06:50 > 0:06:52All I can remember is Larry bucking,
0:06:52 > 0:06:55and then Matt getting thrown across the field.
0:06:55 > 0:06:56And I just didn't know what to do.
0:06:56 > 0:06:58Beth is horrified.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01There was blood coming from his ear, his nose, his mouth.
0:07:01 > 0:07:05Jill, who saw it all happen, runs over to help.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09He just jumped up, and whether that was adrenaline or what,
0:07:09 > 0:07:12I have no idea and he just started to run towards us.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15Beth was screaming, "Matty!"
0:07:15 > 0:07:18And then he just collapsed on all fours, like a dog,
0:07:18 > 0:07:20and then he kind of looked up at us
0:07:20 > 0:07:24and he was screaming, "I'm dying. Where's Beth?"
0:07:25 > 0:07:28His eyes started sinking into the back of his head and then I thought,
0:07:28 > 0:07:31this is a brain injury. This is not going to end well.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Because I thought that was probably
0:07:33 > 0:07:37going to be the last time I was going to get to hold him, ever.
0:07:37 > 0:07:39And I thought, that was it. That was him gone.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45As Jill's husband, Phil, deals with the emergency services,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48Beth finds all her medical training has deserted her.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51You don't go into like medical mode when it happens to someone who
0:07:51 > 0:07:54is that close to you, you sort of freeze and you don't know what to do
0:07:54 > 0:07:56at all.
0:07:56 > 0:07:57But Jill does.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59In search of a first aid kit,
0:07:59 > 0:08:01she runs to the home of stable manager Mike
0:08:01 > 0:08:03and hammers on the door.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05When there is a bang like that on your door,
0:08:05 > 0:08:06you know there's something wrong.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08And I was like, "Michael, you've got to come.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11"You've got to come quick. It doesn't get any worse than this."
0:08:11 > 0:08:14You could tell in her voice and the way that she was speaking
0:08:14 > 0:08:16that it was going to be bad.
0:08:17 > 0:08:20Mike grabs a first aid bag and runs.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24I was trying to mentally prepare myself to what was I going to do.
0:08:24 > 0:08:28I was worried that I would have to be saving his life.
0:08:29 > 0:08:32In the field, Beth is trying to keep calm and is now talking with the
0:08:32 > 0:08:34emergency call handler.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18Beth is overcome with distress.
0:09:18 > 0:09:20The call taker tries to reassure her.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32Seconds later, Mike arrives at the field to find Matt back on his feet.
0:09:32 > 0:09:36Once I actually saw Matty was up and walking around,
0:09:36 > 0:09:38I was obviously relieved.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41A lot of the blood was clotting around his face,
0:09:41 > 0:09:42so he was in quite a mess.
0:09:52 > 0:09:56I got to my gloves on and I managed to get some of the pads out of the
0:09:56 > 0:09:59first aid kit to give him to hold on his face,
0:09:59 > 0:10:01to stop any of the bleeding coming out.
0:10:01 > 0:10:03Jill is relieved when Mike takes charge.
0:10:03 > 0:10:08And I just remember at that point Michael being very calm with Matty,
0:10:08 > 0:10:10and I think that's what it needed.
0:10:10 > 0:10:13I think we were just all getting a bit hysterical by this point.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16But Mike is hiding a very real fear.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20It was always in the back of my mind, he has had a facial injury,
0:10:20 > 0:10:23he has had an injury, a trauma to the head, anything could happen.
0:10:26 > 0:10:30Later, surgeons at a specialist trauma centre are on stand-by as
0:10:30 > 0:10:32Matt is rushed to hospital.
0:10:32 > 0:10:34It's one of those injuries that makes your heart sink
0:10:34 > 0:10:36when you hear that something like that is coming in.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39They are going to have to piece him back together.
0:10:47 > 0:10:51The Coral Sea, 12 miles off Australia's eastern coast.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55A helicopter rescue crew think they've just spotted a lone British
0:10:55 > 0:10:57diver who has been missing overnight.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00His chances of survival were just...
0:11:01 > 0:11:05Every minute, every hour that goes on, it's just less and less.
0:11:05 > 0:11:09Below them they can just make out a flash of bright yellow in the sea
0:11:09 > 0:11:12and what could be a figure in black clinging to it.
0:11:12 > 0:11:15If it is the missing diver, he has been alone and adrift
0:11:15 > 0:11:19in shark-infested waters for more than 22 hours.
0:11:19 > 0:11:23We didn't know what his medical condition would be at the time.
0:11:23 > 0:11:26A rescue swimmer jumps into the water and heads towards the figure.
0:11:27 > 0:11:30He will have to work quickly.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32The helicopter is running out of fuel.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42Originally from Hayward in Greater Manchester,
0:11:42 > 0:11:45engineer Les Brierley now lives over 10,000 miles away
0:11:45 > 0:11:49in Mooloolaba on Australia's Sunshine Coast,
0:11:49 > 0:11:51having emigrated as a young man.
0:11:51 > 0:11:54I basically just wanted to live in a warmer climate.
0:11:54 > 0:11:57I had worked in tropical environments overseas and getting
0:11:57 > 0:12:00back to the grey skies of Manchester,
0:12:00 > 0:12:02it was a bit of a sort of a depressing situation.
0:12:02 > 0:12:05They used to call us Ten Pound Poms.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08I was on the last planeload of immigrants that was paid for by the
0:12:08 > 0:12:10Australian government, apparently.
0:12:11 > 0:12:13Now 69 and semi retired,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17Les has more time to enjoy his passion for sailing and diving and
0:12:17 > 0:12:19has bought a yacht.
0:12:19 > 0:12:23I took a big financial plunge and my house was mortgaged
0:12:23 > 0:12:24against the boat.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27I'll tell you what, it was like a shot in the arm for me.
0:12:27 > 0:12:29I love it.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31Every year, Les spends months sailing solo
0:12:31 > 0:12:34along Australia's eastern coast visiting friends.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39He keeps in regular contact with his long-time pal,
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Jillian, back in Mooloolaba, just in case.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44I met Les about ten years ago.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47We started off with being sailing buddies.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Then I also started doing Les' book-keeping for him.
0:12:49 > 0:12:52We argue like a married couple would, I suppose, you'd say
0:12:52 > 0:12:55but, I mean, we're not a couple in that respect.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57We are just good buddies and she's looked after me in a big way.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59And on his journey up there,
0:12:59 > 0:13:01he always checks in and lets me know where he is.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11It's a Sunday in November and Les is sailing back after diving on the
0:13:11 > 0:13:13Great Barrier Reef.
0:13:13 > 0:13:16But he realises he is going to be passing another famous
0:13:16 > 0:13:18dive site, the Yongala wreck.
0:13:18 > 0:13:22The Yongala is a ship that sank in the early part of the 20th century.
0:13:22 > 0:13:25And I had always thought, "Gee, I'd love to dive it."
0:13:26 > 0:13:30As he arrives at the site, a dive boat is just leaving.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32He has a word with the captain.
0:13:32 > 0:13:35When I said I might have a quick look myself he said,
0:13:35 > 0:13:37"Well, just be careful. There's a bit of a current running."
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Les is an experienced diver,
0:13:39 > 0:13:43but sometimes flouts the sport's fundamental rule
0:13:43 > 0:13:45to always go with a buddy.
0:13:45 > 0:13:47However, he does take precautions.
0:13:47 > 0:13:50I have a box with a personal locator beacon in.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52If ever I was swept away,
0:13:52 > 0:13:55I could start the beacon off and one of those nice gentleman in a
0:13:55 > 0:13:57helicopter would come along and get me.
0:13:57 > 0:14:00Today as backup, Les e-mails Jillian
0:14:00 > 0:14:03to tell her his plans and promises to call her when
0:14:03 > 0:14:04he's back on board.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07Anchoring the yacht, he gets into his dinghy.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12What I thought I'd do is go over and go down the line.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16If there was any current or anything like that, I would call it quits.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20But when Les drops into the water, he gets a shock.
0:14:21 > 0:14:23It was a heck of a current.
0:14:23 > 0:14:26When I bounced back up, I was three or four metres or more behind the
0:14:26 > 0:14:29dinghy and I thought, this isn't a good situation.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31You know, and straightaway I thought, "Forget diving,
0:14:31 > 0:14:33"let's get back to the dinghy."
0:14:33 > 0:14:34But he can't.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36The current's too strong.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40He makes a grab for the safety line on the side of his dinghy.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43My fingertips looked like they were nearly touching this line
0:14:43 > 0:14:45and I was trying to get there.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Busted every vessel in my body.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49I just couldn't make it to the line.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52He gives up and instead tries to get back to his yacht.
0:14:52 > 0:14:56But the current pulls him away from that as well.
0:14:56 > 0:14:58The mast was getting smaller...
0:14:58 > 0:15:00I knew I was in the middle of the Coral Sea.
0:15:00 > 0:15:03There is no-one around. It's just a really desolate part of the world.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05I'm in trouble.
0:15:05 > 0:15:08Les decides he has only one option left,
0:15:08 > 0:15:10to set off his personal locator beacon.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14I had the box in my hand, out of the water.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17And I opened the box and the bloody box was empty!
0:15:19 > 0:15:22Devastated, he remembers taking it out earlier
0:15:22 > 0:15:23to check for water damage,
0:15:23 > 0:15:26but he forgot to put it back.
0:15:26 > 0:15:27It's a game changer.
0:15:27 > 0:15:29It was probably the worst moment of my life.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32His only hope now is Jillian.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36It's 3:30pm when she reads Les' message saying
0:15:36 > 0:15:38he is diving the Yongala wreck.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42"If I don't contact you by 5pm, try calling me.
0:15:42 > 0:15:44"I should be back on board by 3pm."
0:15:45 > 0:15:48I just knew that something was not good.
0:15:50 > 0:15:53Her anxiety turns to fear when five o'clock comes
0:15:53 > 0:15:56and goes with no word from Les.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Minutes later she takes the decision to call the coastguard
0:16:00 > 0:16:02and report him missing at sea.
0:16:03 > 0:16:06A search operation is immediately launched.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10Unaware of this, Les is losing hope.
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Just thinking, this is looking like it's the end.
0:16:12 > 0:16:14And you know, my chances aren't good.
0:16:18 > 0:16:19Later...
0:16:19 > 0:16:22A helicopter rescue team think they have spotted Les in the water.
0:16:24 > 0:16:26But they are low on fuel.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28The clock was running.
0:16:28 > 0:16:31We didn't know what his medical condition would be at the time
0:16:31 > 0:16:33and we have 20 minutes on scene to get him back to Townsville.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42Darlington, County Durham.
0:16:43 > 0:16:47Emergency services have received the 999 call from a farm stables.
0:16:53 > 0:16:5719-year-old Matt received a blow to the face from the hooves of his
0:16:57 > 0:16:59girlfriend's horse.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02Beth witnessed the whole horrifying episode.
0:17:02 > 0:17:06His eyes started sinking into the back of his head and then I thought,
0:17:06 > 0:17:09"This is a brain injury, this is not going to end well."
0:17:09 > 0:17:11Matt is rushed to North Tees Hospital
0:17:11 > 0:17:14and immediately sent for scans.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18They show no signs of serious head, neck or brain injury.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21But he does have multiple facial fractures.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25He is transferred to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough,
0:17:25 > 0:17:27a specialist local trauma centre,
0:17:27 > 0:17:30where surgeon Richard Langford makes an initial assessment
0:17:30 > 0:17:32of his injuries.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35It was quite obvious that the nose and the upper part of his face had
0:17:35 > 0:17:38been displaced and his nose was shortened and it was turned upwards.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40So that when you looked at him from the front,
0:17:40 > 0:17:42you were looking straight up his nostril.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46Matt has further CT scans to give Richard a clearer idea
0:17:46 > 0:17:48of the bone fractures.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51The 3-D reconstruction makes grim viewing.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56So the fractures start up at this level, at the top of his nose.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00They run down through the eye sockets and then down either side,
0:18:00 > 0:18:02between the top jaw and the cheekbones and again on this side,
0:18:02 > 0:18:04between the top jaw and the cheekbones.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07And the whole top jaw and the teeth have been pushed
0:18:07 > 0:18:09backwards and downwards.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13The fractures in the lower jaw are running through the chin here.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15And if I just rotate round,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17you can see the fractures going through the chin still.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19That joint should be there.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21And this joint should be there.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25So both of those joints have been knocked out of the correct position
0:18:25 > 0:18:28and broken. It also shows that his top jaw was split in half.
0:18:30 > 0:18:34Matt's first real memory of the incident is waking up the next day
0:18:34 > 0:18:35in a hospital ward.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38I remember asking what had happened.
0:18:38 > 0:18:39I kind of knew what had happened,
0:18:39 > 0:18:41but without knowing, if that makes sense.
0:18:41 > 0:18:44I knew I'd been kicked, but I don't know how, or anything like that.
0:18:44 > 0:18:46So I did ask again what had happened.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50At first I thought I'd just dislocated my jaw.
0:18:50 > 0:18:53It all felt really tight, but I could kind of move it slightly.
0:18:53 > 0:18:56So I just presumed I had maybe dislocated it or something like that
0:18:56 > 0:18:59until one of the surgeons came up and explained what injuries had
0:18:59 > 0:19:01actually happened to me.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04Richard also explains to Matt how they will access the broken bones in
0:19:04 > 0:19:07his face to be able to prepare them.
0:19:07 > 0:19:10We decided the best approach was to do a sort of scalping sort of
0:19:10 > 0:19:13incision, which is an incision that goes from in the front of the ear on
0:19:13 > 0:19:15one side to in front of the ear on the other side,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17over the top of the scalp.
0:19:17 > 0:19:18And by bringing that all the way forwards,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21we can expose the top of the nose and the forehead,
0:19:21 > 0:19:24and we can also expose the jaw joint on the left-hand side,
0:19:24 > 0:19:27which we decided that we were going to have to fix.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29There was a lot of risks with the left side of my face, he said,
0:19:29 > 0:19:32potentially could be weakened by it.
0:19:32 > 0:19:35So I could have had paralysis of the left side.
0:19:35 > 0:19:37That put me right on edge. It really did put me on edge.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40I think from then on I was panicking a lot about the surgery.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Matt is worried he may never be able to pursue his dream
0:19:43 > 0:19:46of becoming a paramedic.
0:19:46 > 0:19:49The night before his surgery, Beth stays at his bedside.
0:19:51 > 0:19:53She stayed really late on that one night,
0:19:53 > 0:19:55to try and talk me through it.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58And just say that everything will be fine.
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Matt is on the operating table for six hours.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03It's an anxious wait for Beth.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05We got a phone call off the hospital
0:20:05 > 0:20:06saying he was back up on the ward and
0:20:06 > 0:20:09I was like... I've never ever driven so fast to the hospital.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12I was, like... I was there so quick.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14First thing, she came and put her arms around me
0:20:14 > 0:20:16to make sure I was still there, if that makes sense!
0:20:16 > 0:20:19The surgery goes according to plan.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23Matt's face is pinned back together with multiple plates on his chin,
0:20:23 > 0:20:25jaw, and nose.
0:20:25 > 0:20:29Arch bars are wired onto his teeth and screws hold the jaw
0:20:29 > 0:20:31joints in place.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33His scalp is held together by clips.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37Later that day, Matt is allowed to see his face in a mirror for the
0:20:37 > 0:20:39first time since the accident.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41To be honest it wasn't as bad as I thought.
0:20:41 > 0:20:43Because I think I was expecting like external cuts
0:20:43 > 0:20:46and everything like that, where really it wasn't.
0:20:46 > 0:20:50I think I had two tiny little cuts on my chin, but nothing externally.
0:20:50 > 0:20:51It was all internal, so...
0:20:51 > 0:20:54The only lasting damage is that bit there.
0:20:54 > 0:20:56I don't know if you can see that bit, maybe.
0:20:56 > 0:20:59And the same on that side, as well.
0:20:59 > 0:21:02They're the only things that you can see, really.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Just two days after his operation and a week after the accident,
0:21:06 > 0:21:08Matt is sent home.
0:21:09 > 0:21:12Some weeks later he has made a full recovery.
0:21:12 > 0:21:16And not long after that, he gets the news he's been hoping for.
0:21:16 > 0:21:19He's been accepted at university to train as a paramedic.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Matt was the victim of a freak accident,
0:21:32 > 0:21:33something he couldn't have foreseen.
0:21:33 > 0:21:37But sometimes an unwise last-minute change of plan that hasn't been
0:21:37 > 0:21:39thought through can lead to a series
0:21:39 > 0:21:41of events with potentially tragic consequences.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46In the Coral Sea, off Australia's eastern coast,
0:21:46 > 0:21:5069-year-old British diver Les Brierley has been swept away
0:21:50 > 0:21:52from his yacht by strong currents.
0:21:53 > 0:21:57He has now been in the water for 15 hours and is drifting further and
0:21:57 > 0:21:59further out to sea.
0:21:59 > 0:22:04A search has been launched after his friend Jillian reported him missing.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08The worst time for me was about nine o'clock that night
0:22:08 > 0:22:11when he said they had found Les' boat and they had found
0:22:11 > 0:22:15Les' dinghy and there was no sight of Les.
0:22:15 > 0:22:19Through the night, Les sees several large ships in the distance,
0:22:19 > 0:22:21but is unable to attract attention.
0:22:22 > 0:22:24I'm drifting into the shipping lanes,
0:22:24 > 0:22:27but if these ships aren't seeing me,
0:22:27 > 0:22:28I'm just going to get mowed down.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31Then I thought, I can't just float here and wait to die,
0:22:31 > 0:22:34I've got to try and swim towards shore.
0:22:34 > 0:22:38But as dawn approaches, he begins to face up to his situation.
0:22:38 > 0:22:40This is probably the end for me.
0:22:40 > 0:22:42I had just finished a really big
0:22:42 > 0:22:44renovation of my house and I had done all
0:22:44 > 0:22:47that work just before I left and I thought I'll never get to sit on the
0:22:47 > 0:22:49patio and have a beer and watch the sun go down.
0:22:50 > 0:22:54But now the sun is coming up over the Coral Sea.
0:22:54 > 0:22:58It's going to be a hot day and his ordeal is taking its toll on Les.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03I didn't wish it upon myself but I decided by then
0:23:03 > 0:23:06that a shark might not be a bad way to go.
0:23:06 > 0:23:07But there is hope.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Unknown to Les, the Townsville air rescue team,
0:23:10 > 0:23:12made up of pilot Nick Kelly,
0:23:12 > 0:23:14flight paramedic David Singleton and crew members,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16Mark Bryant and Alan Griffiths
0:23:16 > 0:23:19have been scouring the sea since first light.
0:23:19 > 0:23:21He had been in the water for 22 hours
0:23:21 > 0:23:24and his chances of survival were just...
0:23:24 > 0:23:29Every minute, every hour that goes on, it's just less and less.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34Footage filmed from their chopper shows clear skies and calm water.
0:23:34 > 0:23:36But it's a big sea to search.
0:23:36 > 0:23:39There was at least four or five times that we spotted something and
0:23:39 > 0:23:43we turned around to check it out and it is sort of like,
0:23:43 > 0:23:46"Ah, that's just a turtle, or it is a large clump of seaweed."
0:23:46 > 0:23:50Frustrated and fearful for the diver's safety,
0:23:50 > 0:23:52the crew know they are low on fuel.
0:23:52 > 0:23:55Soon they will have to turn back.
0:23:55 > 0:23:57Around that area it's fairly well-known as one of the biggest
0:23:57 > 0:24:00tiger shark breeding grounds in the world.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02We were worried that he'd start drifting into that.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08But just as the crew complete the final turn of their search pattern,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11paramedic David spots something in the water.
0:24:12 > 0:24:13Whatever it was was being rhythmic.
0:24:13 > 0:24:16Like it was, you could see the back of his bright yellow flippers just
0:24:16 > 0:24:17starting to clear the water.
0:24:17 > 0:24:20As the adrenaline builds, you realise that this is it.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22This is the guy we have been looking for.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27It was awesome to turn the aircraft around at the right time,
0:24:27 > 0:24:29I could actually see him and see him in the water waving to us.
0:24:29 > 0:24:32That's definitely not a turtle. Let's go.
0:24:34 > 0:24:35They are against the clock.
0:24:36 > 0:24:39And we had to work quickly because we were coming back for fuel for a
0:24:39 > 0:24:42reason. We didn't know what his medical condition would be at the
0:24:42 > 0:24:45time and we had 20 minutes on scene to get him back to Townsville,
0:24:45 > 0:24:46so that's why the clock was running.
0:24:48 > 0:24:51Alan, wearing a helmet camera, is winched down towards Les.
0:24:51 > 0:24:53This is his footage.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Alan swims towards the stricken driver.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05I thought, "How is he going to be when I get there?"
0:25:13 > 0:25:16Les, who greeted me with a handshake.
0:25:16 > 0:25:19It was loud but I said to him, "Do you want a lift?"
0:25:19 > 0:25:21He was so overwhelmed at the time.
0:25:21 > 0:25:24You could see the relief in his face.
0:25:24 > 0:25:27To be met with a handshake. I was just...
0:25:27 > 0:25:28You are tough. You're a tough guy.
0:25:28 > 0:25:31I had tears in my eyes. I was overwhelmed.
0:25:32 > 0:25:34I could hardly speak to the guy when he came down,
0:25:34 > 0:25:36I was so overcome by it, by that emotion.
0:25:38 > 0:25:40And I just reached out and shook his hand.
0:25:40 > 0:25:43It was just a big relief, a big relief.
0:25:49 > 0:25:51But the rescue isn't going to be easy.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Got to go.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02Alan puts a special rescue harness around Les to hoist him up
0:26:02 > 0:26:04in seated position.
0:26:07 > 0:26:12He has been floating for so long, if blood suddenly rushes to his legs,
0:26:12 > 0:26:13he could pass out.
0:26:16 > 0:26:18The helicopter stands off while Alan works.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26But then he signals to the crew, they are ready to be winched up.
0:26:29 > 0:26:32The rescue is not over until he is at the hospital.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34There's a lot of things that could have been wrong.
0:26:34 > 0:26:36He's been all wound up for 22 hours and he has just been out there,
0:26:36 > 0:26:38it is quite an ordeal.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42What happens when that wears off? The adrenaline fades away a little.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45But when he gets to the helicopter, Les surprises paramedic David.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50I expected him to be severely ill and he wasn't.
0:26:50 > 0:26:51He was the complete opposite of that.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53He was fit, well.
0:26:53 > 0:26:55His vital signs checked out.
0:26:55 > 0:26:57He just had a little bit of sunburn on his face.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00That was probably the worst thing that he had.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02For 22 hours in the water, it's not a bad effort.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04I mean it was tremendously emotional.
0:27:04 > 0:27:06And all I think, "Thank God it's all over."
0:27:06 > 0:27:11How great it is that these guys have made this massive effort to find me.
0:27:11 > 0:27:14It was like a very humbling experience, if you like, you know.
0:27:17 > 0:27:19Les is very lucky to have been found.
0:27:19 > 0:27:22And under the circumstances in the waters up here,
0:27:22 > 0:27:24he's very lucky that he has all his limbs.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27Les is flown to nearby Townsville Hospital
0:27:27 > 0:27:31where doctors discover the only affects of his time in the water
0:27:31 > 0:27:35are mild hypothermia and low blood pressure.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38Jillian is relieved to hear the news.
0:27:38 > 0:27:40We found him and he's OK.
0:27:40 > 0:27:42They were the words I needed to hear very quickly
0:27:42 > 0:27:45and there were a few tears then.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47Later, she visits Les in hospital.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50And he just looked at me and he said, "Jillian, you saved my life."
0:27:50 > 0:27:52I will be forever grateful.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55You know, I mean, she was my lifeline. She didn't let me down.
0:28:03 > 0:28:07That's what you need, a friend you can truly rely on in a crisis.
0:28:07 > 0:28:09Join us next time for more stories from people who have had
0:28:09 > 0:28:12extraordinary close calls.