0:00:02 > 0:00:05When you're with someone that's critically ill or seriously injured,
0:00:05 > 0:00:08every minute you wait for medical aid to arrive can feel like an hour,
0:00:08 > 0:00:11which is why a helicopter like this can be one of the most beautiful
0:00:11 > 0:00:14sights in the world - certainly was for me when I was a copper.
0:00:14 > 0:00:20This is the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, and their business is saving lives.
0:00:40 > 0:00:45From the Dales to the big cities of Leeds and Sheffield, patients in the UK's biggest county are never more
0:00:45 > 0:00:51than 10 minutes from a hospital, thanks to this 150 mile an hour life-saver.
0:00:51 > 0:00:56And every day brings a new life-or-death emergency for its team of flying paramedics.
0:00:56 > 0:01:00Two helicopters, four paramedics, five million patients.
0:01:00 > 0:01:06Today on Helicopter Heroes: A car crash leaves the paramedics with a terrible dilemma -
0:01:06 > 0:01:09two patients, but there's only room for one in the helicopter.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13Her partner was unconscious with no pulse when they arrived.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15An overheating truck is leaking fuel.
0:01:15 > 0:01:20It might blow, so we've just go to get the patient loaded and actually get out of the way.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26Helimed 99 races the setting sun to get a badly injured biker to hospital.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30Let's hope we're back to base before dark.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34And paramedic Pat turns shepherd to clear the chopper for take-off.
0:01:41 > 0:01:47Year-round, Yorkshire's flying paramedics go to more road accidents than any other incidents.
0:01:47 > 0:01:52It's never easy, but some emergencies leave them with some awful decisions to have to make.
0:01:55 > 0:02:00It's a weekend in the Pennines and the local roads have claimed yet more victims.
0:02:02 > 0:02:09- RTC, I think four vehicles, one trapped.- On the M62?
0:02:09 > 0:02:11No, just over the back of junction 25.
0:02:11 > 0:02:17Helimed 98's been scrambled to a multiple shunt - and it sounds like a bad one.
0:02:17 > 0:02:22The initial report is a four vehicle RTC, which we've got quite
0:02:22 > 0:02:25a number of casualties.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27We've also got one person that's trapped.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32We're possibly looking at the trapped person when we get there.
0:02:32 > 0:02:38On a back road near Huddersfield, a van and car have crashed head on.
0:02:38 > 0:02:39It looks quite a dip as well.
0:02:39 > 0:02:45Is it on the right off the road, as you look at it, or the left?
0:02:45 > 0:02:50- I think there's a fence on the left side.- Coming down this side.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Paramedics Paul Bradbury and Pete Vallance will be working with an old friend.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57Local flying doctor Jez Pinnell often flies with them.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59Feet and arm's trapped by the legs.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02- Right. Conscious, talking? - Conscious, talking but...
0:03:02 > 0:03:04- Bit bad?- Mmm.- Righty-ho.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07- A young lass in the back, there... - Yeah.
0:03:07 > 0:03:11And we've got this one here. Facial injury, she's got chest problems and her legs is trapped at the moment.
0:03:11 > 0:03:16Twenty minutes ago, Ebony Clements was driving friend Gemma Carver to see her new home.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20Now they're trapped in the wreckage of her Fiat hatchback.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24Loads and loads of back pain, numbness in her legs.
0:03:24 > 0:03:28The woman, the friend with her, she's got major facial injury, she's well trapped.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Her partner was unconscious with no pulse when they arrived.
0:03:32 > 0:03:36Just watch your back. He'll come through and give her something.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39Have you got a bandage on you?
0:03:39 > 0:03:41Ebony's bleeding heavily.
0:03:41 > 0:03:46She needs urgent hospital treatment but she'd still trapped behind the wheel,
0:03:46 > 0:03:48and Dr Jez is worried.
0:03:50 > 0:03:51She's going unconscious
0:03:53 > 0:03:57and will need intubating. I don't want have to intubate her at the roadside,
0:03:57 > 0:04:00cos potentially we can intubate her in the helicopter,
0:04:00 > 0:04:03so let's get her out and have a look at her when she's out.
0:04:03 > 0:04:06- She's a bit scared?- Yes!- Yeah. - All right.
0:04:09 > 0:04:11OK, relax for us.
0:04:11 > 0:04:15In the back of the car, Gemma's case is also causing concern.
0:04:15 > 0:04:20- Worryingly, she's got little sensation in her legs. - We need to have a look at her.
0:04:20 > 0:04:24She's potentially got a spinal injury. Can't feel her legs.
0:04:24 > 0:04:26So we'll have a look at her, see what we think, make a decision.
0:04:26 > 0:04:28All right.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30It's time to move both patients.
0:04:30 > 0:04:34Only when Gemma's on a special spinal stretcher will they be able
0:04:34 > 0:04:36to tell exactly where the feeling in her legs stops.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40- It works its way down, can you still feel that?- And the signs aren't good.
0:04:40 > 0:04:42No feeling whatsoever from her?
0:04:42 > 0:04:44Not in her feet, either.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46If you rub her feet, there's nowt at all.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50Dr Jez has a dilemma - two seriously injured patients and only one helicopter.
0:04:50 > 0:04:56The young lady in the front has got quite a bad facial injury, but obviously
0:04:56 > 0:05:00we were always taught to carry the ones with the worst looking injuries.
0:05:00 > 0:05:05Which of the girls is in most need of an airlift? It's a decision
0:05:05 > 0:05:08that can mean the difference between life or death.
0:05:11 > 0:05:16- Coming up on Helicopter Heroes: - We're more likely to save this lady.
0:05:16 > 0:05:21The team make their decision. One of the girls is prepared for
0:05:21 > 0:05:27her airlift. A biker with head injuries desperately needs help, but the chopper can't find him.
0:05:27 > 0:05:29Might be that grass there.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36And paramedic Pat chases off some local sightseers.
0:05:46 > 0:05:49If you're involved in a serious accident, one move can
0:05:49 > 0:05:54mean the difference between a good recovery and a long-term disability.
0:05:54 > 0:05:57That's why paramedics normally take extreme care with their patients -
0:05:57 > 0:06:01but sometimes they have to take a risk to save a life.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07We've left the M62.
0:06:09 > 0:06:16You can see the female's laid out in the road a distance away.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19The accident sounds serious.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22Then there's an update from their control room.
0:06:22 > 0:06:26Helimed 99, the accident involved five vehicles.
0:06:26 > 0:06:31- It's not clear how many patients are there.- Yeah, Roger. Thanks for that.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33ETA just a couple of minutes, over.
0:06:33 > 0:06:39Helimed 99, further update, there's a male trapped in a lorry that's on fire, over.
0:06:39 > 0:06:45Just got a further update that there's a male trapped in a lorry at this incident. The lorry is on fire.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49I don't believe the fire service are on scene, so obviously safety
0:06:49 > 0:06:56is of paramount importance until they actually get there, so we'll just assess the situation when we arrive.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00It's rush hour, the traffic is backing up from the incident.
0:07:00 > 0:07:03I think there is the HGV in the bushes.
0:07:03 > 0:07:08- It looks like it's missed a turning. - It's in the back of the bush.
0:07:08 > 0:07:13This is a busy intersection off the M62 trans-Pennine motorway.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15OK, you are clear on the left, now, I can see.
0:07:15 > 0:07:21Helimed 99 must touch down on an overgrown patch of waste ground next to the carriageway, and paramedic
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Tony is the pilot's rear-view mirror.
0:07:24 > 0:07:26There you go.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31The lorry has left the road and hit a tree.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35The gentleman's come off the sliproad and his brakes have failed.
0:07:35 > 0:07:40He's coming straight across and run into these trees that are under here. And we think he's got chest injuries.
0:07:40 > 0:07:42He's with the ambulance at the moment.
0:07:42 > 0:07:47The problem we've got now is because of the damage caused to the vehicle, we're unable to turn the engine off.
0:07:47 > 0:07:54The trouble is fuel is leaking from its ruptured fuel tank and the engine is overheating.
0:07:54 > 0:07:5820 years I've been in this job, and it's the first time I've come across owt like this.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01The situation has forced the first paramedics
0:08:01 > 0:08:05on the scene to take desperate measures to save the driver.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07We've had to extricate him without any spine protection.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11It was a case that it was starting to smoke, so we lifted him.
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Everybody else seems stable. We've got two more walking.
0:08:16 > 0:08:21There's gridlock around the incident - the patient'll have to go by air.
0:08:23 > 0:08:24Did you have a seatbelt on?
0:08:24 > 0:08:3140-year-old lorry driver Tony Taylor has a collapsed lung and could have other injuries.
0:08:31 > 0:08:36In other circumstances, he would have been immobilised to protect
0:08:36 > 0:08:39his spine before being carefully carried from his cab.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41We had to take his injuries into consideration,
0:08:41 > 0:08:43but we had to get him out in case it caught fire.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46Not ideal, but we've got him out.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50He's got quite severe chest pains.
0:08:50 > 0:08:53No obvious chest injuries.
0:08:53 > 0:09:00In view of what's happened, he could have some air escaping from his lungs, which is our main concern.
0:09:00 > 0:09:06The truck's engine is still revving and firefighters are standing by, but the driver needs hospital care,
0:09:06 > 0:09:09even if that means touching down on the only suitable landing pad -
0:09:09 > 0:09:13a lawn only metres from the overheating lorry.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Just gonna reposition the aircraft
0:09:15 > 0:09:18into the back field, which is a lot closer than where we are now.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22Take the patient down to the hospital.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25The fire service can't stop it revving out, so we've got a hazard
0:09:25 > 0:09:30that it might blow, so we've just got to get the patient loaded and actually get out of the way.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33The ambulance is gonna lift from where it is. This is
0:09:33 > 0:09:39a better location to get the patient onto the aircraft. We can approach in here,
0:09:39 > 0:09:42hopefully, guide the aircraft on to this bit of grass - fingers crossed.
0:09:45 > 0:09:51Paramedic Lee and Helimed 99 are about to take off for what could turn out to be a hazardous landing.
0:09:55 > 0:10:02Coming up on Helicopter Heroes: Can pilot Steve get the trucker to safety before the lorry blows?
0:10:02 > 0:10:05Just getting ready now to accept the patient on to the aircraft.
0:10:07 > 0:10:10Dr Jez decides which of two patients trapped in their car gets a flight to hospital.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15She's got no sensation below her waist.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20And up in the hills, Helimed 99 picks up the victim of a hiking accident.
0:10:20 > 0:10:23Nice of you to get the helicopter down.
0:10:28 > 0:10:32Helimed 99's crew are trained aviators as well as paramedics,
0:10:32 > 0:10:35and it's their job to find the patients they treat.
0:10:35 > 0:10:41But sometimes navigating at 150 miles an hour is harder than you'd think.
0:10:41 > 0:10:46It's late afternoon and Helimed 99 is on its way to a country road in North Yorkshire.
0:10:46 > 0:10:50We've got reports that the motorcyclist is unconscious. It is
0:10:50 > 0:10:53a notorious area for ourselves, that area in North Yorkshire.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59There are motorcycle groups in that area
0:10:59 > 0:11:03that do raise quite a lot of money for the air ambulance.
0:11:03 > 0:11:05It's paramedic Simon Cavanagh's job to find the biker.
0:11:05 > 0:11:12His navigation will only be as good as the information given by a 999 caller.
0:11:12 > 0:11:14Might be that crossroad there?
0:11:16 > 0:11:20That's... Down there, going to...
0:11:20 > 0:11:25Spin it round that way, then.
0:11:25 > 0:11:28But there's no sign of the crash at the grid reference given.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33Shall I give them a shout to see if they've got a better update for the location?
0:11:33 > 0:11:36Yeah.
0:11:36 > 0:11:38Control from Helimed 99.
0:11:38 > 0:11:43We've covered the road from Birkin to Brotherton and back again.
0:11:43 > 0:11:48We can't find any trace of the incident. Do you have any update of the location, please? Over.
0:11:48 > 0:11:53The crew know only too well the information given by a 999 caller
0:11:53 > 0:11:56can be unreliable. Mistakes are often made
0:11:56 > 0:12:00in the stressful aftermath of an accident, and delays can cost lives.
0:12:00 > 0:12:05- 'Helimed 99, this is control. No further information, over.' - Control to Helimed 99. Thank you.
0:12:05 > 0:12:11They've been searching for ten minutes now and there's no sign of the casualty.
0:12:11 > 0:12:15But what's worrying pilot Steve Cobb is that it's now getting late.
0:12:15 > 0:12:19By law, Helimed 99 must be on the ground back at base in little more than an hour.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27Their colleagues on the ground are having the same trouble.
0:12:27 > 0:12:31Back at base, dispatcher Dave Gardner turns detective and calls back the 999 caller.
0:12:31 > 0:12:33They're about five miles out.
0:12:33 > 0:12:35Location was wrong.
0:12:35 > 0:12:39The helicopter's there at the moment, now heading towards the A63, and I've
0:12:39 > 0:12:43given them a new grid reference of that roundabout, so they should be able to see him from there.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47At last, Paul spots the accident scene.
0:12:47 > 0:12:51Got it, Steve. On the nose. Over the wire, straight down there, mate.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53You can see the flashing blue light.
0:12:56 > 0:13:00Pilot Steve Cobb drops his lifesaving team within yards of their patient.
0:13:00 > 0:13:05The biker's in a bad way. He's been thrown down a roadside embankment.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Hello, Matt. We're the air ambulance crew.
0:13:08 > 0:13:13What we're gonna do is get this helmet off you, roll you on your back and put a collar on, all right?
0:13:13 > 0:13:18Biker Matthew Wood has a head injury, and it could be serious.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23He was out for an afternoon spin with some mates when he came off on a sweeping bend.
0:13:23 > 0:13:25Matthew was unconscious for 20 minutes.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28We're all coming down, all together, Matt went out front.
0:13:28 > 0:13:34I was watching myself, what I were doing. Next thing, I saw Matt going into a field.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36It was as quick as that, that were it.
0:13:36 > 0:13:40I didn't know why it happened, no idea. He just went.
0:13:40 > 0:13:42- Does it hurt your chest? - Yeah.- It does?
0:13:42 > 0:13:45Matthew's lapsing in and out of consciousness.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Apart from a few cuts and bruises, they can't find any obvious injury
0:13:49 > 0:13:54but he's clearly taken a major impact to his head.
0:13:54 > 0:13:59So we're gonna see if we can still land at LGI, which is obviously the head injury unit for this area.
0:13:59 > 0:14:01If we can land there, we'll go there,
0:14:01 > 0:14:05take us about seven, eight minutes. He is
0:14:05 > 0:14:08quite confusing and combative with us at the moment.
0:14:08 > 0:14:12We are trying to calm him down and we'll take him to LGI.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14There's no time to waste.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Helimed 99 can't land at Leeds General Infirmary's rooftop
0:14:18 > 0:14:23landing pad much after sunset, and the clock is ticking.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27The shadows are lengthening and Captain Steve Cobb's involved in
0:14:27 > 0:14:30a race against the setting sun to get Matthew to specialist care.
0:14:32 > 0:14:34At the moment, it's 10 to 4
0:14:34 > 0:14:38so we should be there in about 10 minutes' time, which will be 4 o'clock.
0:14:38 > 0:14:41All being well, we'll be away for about 20 past and back to base before dark.
0:14:41 > 0:14:47It's Civil Aviation Authority regulation that we have to be on the ground, with this aircraft
0:14:47 > 0:14:49at the latest half an hour after sunset.
0:14:49 > 0:14:54He seems OK, he seems to be quite stable. Still a bit drowsy.
0:14:54 > 0:14:59He's very confused, so he can't pinpoint any other injuries he might have.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02His pulse is OK. Quite steady. So I don't think
0:15:02 > 0:15:05he's bleeding internally anywhere.
0:15:05 > 0:15:07We're gonna have to X-ray his scalp and face.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11You can't tell specifically what's wrong with him,
0:15:11 > 0:15:14so that's why we're taking the precaution
0:15:14 > 0:15:18of strapping him down and immobilising him completely.
0:15:18 > 0:15:23Matthew will have no memory of his flight to hospital, but pilot Steve won't forget it.
0:15:25 > 0:15:30As well as the setting sun, the booming Leeds skyline presents one more hazard for Helimed 99's pilot.
0:15:32 > 0:15:35Pick our way through all the cranes.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Tower cranes litter his final approach.
0:15:43 > 0:15:44Two great cranes.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Your side, quite close, I think.
0:15:51 > 0:15:53Hey!
0:15:53 > 0:15:55That is close!
0:15:57 > 0:16:02It's a tricky landing, but one that has given Matthew the best chance
0:16:02 > 0:16:06of recovery from what will turn out to be a significant brain injury.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10The good news for him is that he's recovering well,
0:16:10 > 0:16:15and the good news for Helimed 99 is that Steve makes it back to base with a few minutes to spare.
0:16:17 > 0:16:20Speed is what makes the air ambulance special,
0:16:20 > 0:16:23but they like to keep a little bit in reserve.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32Coming up: A trucker needs an urgent flight to hospital but his lorry could be about to blow.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36I just got to get the patient loaded and actually get out of the way.
0:16:37 > 0:16:40And an injured walker's been hurt in the hills.
0:16:40 > 0:16:43It was either that way or a helicopter.
0:16:51 > 0:16:54Back in West Yorkshire, Dr Jez Pinnell and the team are trying to free the victims of
0:16:54 > 0:16:59a serious road accident, and they've got an awful dilemma to deal with.
0:16:59 > 0:17:05On a back road near Huddersfield, two friends are lying badly injured after a head-on smash.
0:17:05 > 0:17:09Ebony Clements was driving Gemma Carver to show off her new home.
0:17:09 > 0:17:17Now Gemma has a serious spinal injury and Ebony has a wound from her forehead to the end of her nose.
0:17:17 > 0:17:22Only one of the girls can fly in Helimed 98, and the choice is down to Dr Jez Pinnell.
0:17:22 > 0:17:26In my way, I'd take this lady. I'm bit worried about her having
0:17:26 > 0:17:30skin collapse, filling up with blood when she's laying on her back.
0:17:30 > 0:17:31We're taking...
0:17:31 > 0:17:33The girl in front, she's got quite a lot of...
0:17:33 > 0:17:36it's really bad, her facial injuries.
0:17:36 > 0:17:38But Jez is not too bothered about it...
0:17:38 > 0:17:41You know, it's not life threatening.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43The lady in the back, she's got no sensation below her waist,
0:17:43 > 0:17:47so we're suspecting quite a severe spinal injury, so... And it's LGI.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50But the crew of Helimed 98 face a serious hurdle.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55They had to land behind a steel security fence.
0:17:55 > 0:17:57The two paramedics managed to squeeze through a gap left by local
0:17:57 > 0:18:04vandals, but it's too small for Gemma and the stretcher, and that's where the fire brigade come in.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08We've landed the helicopter in the field. Is there any chance you guys can just take this...
0:18:08 > 0:18:12A fence post like this, top half's sort of come away.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17Any chance you could take this bottom part off so we can get back through, lads, please?
0:18:17 > 0:18:21At last, Gemma's on her way to specialist care.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24She's going to be flown direct to Leeds General Infirmary while friend
0:18:24 > 0:18:28Ebony goes by road to a plastic surgery unit.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32And the firemen have done their job just in time.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35The fire brigade have now gone down with their cutting equipment
0:18:35 > 0:18:40and they've made us quite a large hole to bring the patient through.
0:18:40 > 0:18:46- It's ideal.- But it's the extent of Gemma's spinal injury that's worrying paramedics Pete and Paul.
0:18:46 > 0:18:50You can remember everything that's happened today?
0:18:50 > 0:18:57It's just that pain you've got in your lower back, and you've got that numb sensation in your legs,
0:18:57 > 0:18:59from your waist down, yeah?
0:18:59 > 0:19:05Can you wiggle your toes for me, Gemma? All right, thank you.
0:19:05 > 0:19:08They're not ready to share the news with their patient yet, but Gemma's
0:19:08 > 0:19:12already showing symptoms of paralysis below her waist.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17The noise of the engines means Gemma's unable to hear Pete's assessment of her condition.
0:19:17 > 0:19:23She's complaining of severe lower back pain, and she's got a loss of sensation and movement
0:19:23 > 0:19:27below her waist, so obviously that's quite worrying.
0:19:27 > 0:19:31It needs to be checked out fully to find out why she's got that.
0:19:31 > 0:19:36The car was very badly damaged, hopefully it's just that she's been thrown forward. It appears to be
0:19:36 > 0:19:39an isolated back injury.
0:19:39 > 0:19:42It's only a ten-minute flight to the trauma centre where Gemma
0:19:42 > 0:19:45will find out the extent of the damage to her spine.
0:19:45 > 0:19:52For someone with her injuries, this is the best way to travel - it's smooth and fast.
0:19:52 > 0:19:57But it's going to be a tense few days for Gemma and her family.
0:19:57 > 0:20:01Ebony, too, will have to wait to see how her face will heal.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10Coming up: Will Gemma ever walk again? And can plastic surgery
0:20:10 > 0:20:14save Ebony's face from permanent disfigurement?
0:20:14 > 0:20:16What I've got
0:20:16 > 0:20:19is nothing compared to what she's gonna be going through.
0:20:20 > 0:20:28And Helimed 99 drops into a village cricket pitch with a walker whose country stroll ended in agony.
0:20:35 > 0:20:38When the air ambulance touches down, the pilot has to look out for
0:20:38 > 0:20:40the safety of his crew and their patient.
0:20:40 > 0:20:45But sometimes saving lives means taking a carefully calculated risk.
0:20:45 > 0:20:50Helimed 99's been called out to a rush-hour crash in West Yorkshire.
0:20:50 > 0:20:54A lorry has hit a tree and is in danger of catching fire.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59Fuel is leaking from a burst tank and firefighters can't stop its overheating engine.
0:20:59 > 0:21:03Paramedics had to drag the driver to safety.
0:21:03 > 0:21:05We had to take his injuries into consideration, but basically
0:21:05 > 0:21:10we had to get him out just in case it caught on fire. Not ideal, but we've got him out.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14The trucker has a punctured lung and needs to be in hospital, but the only way to get
0:21:14 > 0:21:19him there is to land Helimed 99 within metres of the truck.
0:21:19 > 0:21:24It's paramedic Tony's job to marshal the chopper into a very tight spot.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29Quite a few hazards we need to look out for, especially the trees and the light extensions.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32We'd also better take into account the wind.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35Ideally, he wants to land into wind.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39So hopefully this will be a decent place for him. Soon find out.
0:21:44 > 0:21:50For pilot Steve Cobb, it's been a challenge - but that's nothing compared with take off.
0:21:50 > 0:21:53It's not too bad. It's nice and easy to get in with two people on board,
0:21:53 > 0:21:56but going out with five on board will be tighter.
0:21:56 > 0:21:59It will be heavy. And apparently the patient's quite large as well.
0:21:59 > 0:22:03Just the other side of the tree line, firefighters still haven't
0:22:03 > 0:22:07managed to stop the truck's engine, and fuel is continuing to leak.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11Helimed 99's crew don't want to hang around.
0:22:11 > 0:22:13Just getting ready now to accept
0:22:13 > 0:22:17the patient on to the aircraft, and then we'll be away very shortly.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20Trucker Tony Taylor's in agony from a punctured lung.
0:22:20 > 0:22:24He's now strapped into a rigid stretcher that protects his neck and spine.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27Tony, can I just confirm he's got reduced air into the right side?
0:22:27 > 0:22:29'Affirmative.'
0:22:29 > 0:22:33Got reduced air entry on his right side of his chest.
0:22:33 > 0:22:39But no-one knows what damage - if any - the rapid rescue from his overheating lorry could have caused.
0:22:39 > 0:22:45It will take a thorough checkup at Pinderfields Hospital to rule out more serious injuries.
0:22:45 > 0:22:49You all right? Hopefully the pain will be easier, soon. We've given a lot of pain killer.
0:22:49 > 0:22:51Arm across your tummy.
0:22:51 > 0:22:53Arm across your tummy. Just down your side, then.
0:22:53 > 0:22:55- That's great. - How's your breathing feeling?
0:22:55 > 0:22:58- Doing absolutely fine.- Painful?
0:22:58 > 0:22:59Painful.
0:22:59 > 0:23:02Ambulance officer Graham Butterworth could have
0:23:02 > 0:23:05saved Tony's like by rapidly extricating him from his cab.
0:23:07 > 0:23:12Now he too must battle his way through the rush-hour traffic to find out his patient's condition.
0:23:12 > 0:23:15He didn't particularly want to move because of the pain in his chest.
0:23:15 > 0:23:21He were a genuinely big lad, so there were obviously weight issues and the very unceremonious way
0:23:21 > 0:23:26we got him out of the cab. It's just a balancing act, and we were lucky this time it worked.
0:23:26 > 0:23:30I still don't think it will prove fatal, but...
0:23:30 > 0:23:32I'm sure he'll be fine.
0:23:32 > 0:23:37It took just five minutes to get Tony to specialist care at Pinderfields Hospital.
0:23:39 > 0:23:45X-rays revealed that the impact had not only collapsed his lung but he had broken several ribs, but he
0:23:45 > 0:23:50was going to get better thanks to the paramedics' swift thinking.
0:23:50 > 0:23:55When your livelihood is driving lorries, an accident like this can end your career.
0:23:57 > 0:24:04Getting back behind the wheel of a ten tonne truck after a smash has nearly taken your life is hard.
0:24:06 > 0:24:11Paramedic Graham used to fly in Helimed 99, but a back injury grounded him.
0:24:11 > 0:24:18Today, he's come to a lorry stop near Castleford to meet a trucker who owes him a lot.
0:24:18 > 0:24:20- Now, then, mate. How you doing? - marvellous.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22You all right? Lucky man.
0:24:22 > 0:24:24Shall we get a cuppa? Yes.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Tony remembers very little of the accident, and piecing it
0:24:27 > 0:24:30together with Graham's help is helping him get over it.
0:24:30 > 0:24:37I still come to the same junction, and the first thing I do before I even indicate is make sure
0:24:37 > 0:24:39- my brakes...- Brakes work, yeah.
0:24:39 > 0:24:45For Graham, it's an opportunity to explain why he had to drag him out of his wagon so quickly.
0:24:45 > 0:24:49When I sort of got to the side of your wagon, where you were, all I could see
0:24:49 > 0:24:52was smoke and sparks out the front of engine.
0:24:52 > 0:24:55I thought, "This is gonna go."
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Basically, the dilemma was, "Do we drag him out and risk injuring
0:24:58 > 0:25:04"him further, or do we try and, you know, stabilise him and risk the engine catching fire?"
0:25:04 > 0:25:07So, it's not really a dilemma. We had to do what we did.
0:25:07 > 0:25:08We basically just dragged him out.
0:25:08 > 0:25:12I don't think, without him here, I wouldn't be here to tell the tale.
0:25:12 > 0:25:14He got me out so quick, and away from...
0:25:14 > 0:25:20Because he thought the vehicle was gonna go up in flames. So it was quite amazing.
0:25:20 > 0:25:23Graham's quick thinking got Tony out of his overheating truck
0:25:23 > 0:25:26and on his way to the medical care he needed fast.
0:25:28 > 0:25:32And it's no wonder Tony is very grateful - he had an important appointment to keep.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37Just a few weeks after he left hospital, he got married.
0:25:37 > 0:25:43Obviously, the care that you have given me, as far as I was concerned, my wife...
0:25:43 > 0:25:48You saved my life, and I thank you for that.
0:25:51 > 0:25:55Coming up on Helicopter Heroes: We catch up with car crash victims
0:25:55 > 0:25:58Gemma and Ebony as they recover from their terrible accident.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03The type of person I am, I can't stay angry with anybody.
0:26:09 > 0:26:14Yorkshire's flying paramedics get a bird's-eye view of some of England's most stunning countryside.
0:26:14 > 0:26:19The dales and moors are where the speed of the helicopter comes into its own.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24It's a sunny day in the Peak District and paramedic Lee Davison
0:26:24 > 0:26:28is stretching his legs with some friends after a week in the air.
0:26:28 > 0:26:32He's one of millions of ramblers keen on tramping the hills of the Pennines.
0:26:32 > 0:26:34It's a good social type of event.
0:26:34 > 0:26:38It gets you out in the fresh air, keeps you fit and it's an all-round nice day.
0:26:38 > 0:26:42Get great views and be able to look out and, you know, enjoy the view.
0:26:42 > 0:26:44It's great.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49But some of the walkers Lee and his colleagues come across are not enjoying their days out.
0:26:49 > 0:26:55Hiking provides dozens of patients every year for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
0:26:55 > 0:27:02On the edge of the rugged Derbyshire Peak Park, the unforgiving local terrain has claimed another victim.
0:27:02 > 0:27:08In the days before mobile phones, walker Ann Jackson could have lain for hours before help arrived.
0:27:08 > 0:27:14Not any more. Paramedic Darren Axe doesn't believe in pulling punches when it comes to pain.
0:27:14 > 0:27:18Ann, I'm going to be brutally honest with you.
0:27:18 > 0:27:21We've got to put this in a splint, straighten it, and it's gonna hurt.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24This is meant to be a safe pastime?!
0:27:24 > 0:27:26When they came, they said, "We can't get her out from here,"
0:27:26 > 0:27:29because they couldn't find it, for a start off.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33Then I came back down the track and I started looking, I thought, "There's no way
0:27:33 > 0:27:39"they can get her back down there, because it's quite narrow and tight and steep and rubbly underneath,"
0:27:39 > 0:27:42you know, so it was either that way, or helicopter.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Ann, try and relax, Ann.
0:27:45 > 0:27:48Relax.
0:27:48 > 0:27:52Keep breathing. Keep breathing. That's it.
0:27:52 > 0:28:02Just pull back on the knee for me.
0:27:57 > 0:28:02Just lift up to it, if you can. It's on bad ground.
0:28:04 > 0:28:09- I'm sorry!- All right, darling? - That's it. Let's just take that.
0:28:09 > 0:28:11- That's it.- All right.
0:28:11 > 0:28:13- That's it.- Relax.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15Just rest it down, Ann.
0:28:15 > 0:28:17It's nice and straight.
0:28:17 > 0:28:21But at least Ann's broken ankle is now straight again.
0:28:21 > 0:28:26Nice, easy pace. So we're not gonna be tripping.
0:28:26 > 0:28:32Since I've had a few accidents, as well, we always take at least one mobile phone with us, you know?
0:28:32 > 0:28:35She's just changed hers, so I took mine, actually.
0:28:35 > 0:28:39But, you know, you can't always get a signal, that's the problem.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43She's had a previous fall.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45We didn't call the ambulance then but we
0:28:45 > 0:28:48were told that we should have done, so this time we did, straightaway.
0:28:48 > 0:28:52Ann is well equipped and she's in good physical shape - unlike some of
0:28:52 > 0:28:57the hikers Helimed 99's match-fit crew is sometimes sent to help.
0:28:57 > 0:28:59It's no good playing with him, his knees are shot!
0:29:02 > 0:29:06Simply being unfit for the route you've chosen can make you a patient for an air ambulance.
0:29:06 > 0:29:11And if you don't know exactly where you are, help may never come.
0:29:11 > 0:29:15If you are gonna go off, do a route plan and know where
0:29:15 > 0:29:20you're going from and to, cos we can always quickly search that route.
0:29:20 > 0:29:25People can get into areas where it's difficult for us to see them.
0:29:25 > 0:29:30Their clothing might blend in with the area that they're walking, they might be in a wooded area.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32But they feel that we're able to see them
0:29:32 > 0:29:34easy cos we are trying to spot them from the air, but it's difficult.
0:29:34 > 0:29:38So it's best if they highlight where they are.
0:29:38 > 0:29:43That might be some form of reflective jacket in their rucksack, that they could just pull out
0:29:43 > 0:29:47and be waving to attract our attention, make it a lot easier.
0:29:47 > 0:29:52Today, Helimed 99 has been scrambled to rescue an injured rambler.
0:29:52 > 0:29:56We're heading towards a place called Bishop Wilton.
0:29:56 > 0:30:00We're going for somebody who's got a fractured ankle.
0:30:00 > 0:30:04It's not life threatening, it's that they're in the middle of nowhere.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07The land crew have asked for help. They need help because they're
0:30:07 > 0:30:13on a steep embankment and hopefully we'll be able to hoverlift them over to the land ambulance.
0:30:13 > 0:30:17Pilot Steve and paramedic Pat
0:30:17 > 0:30:22have to rely on their own eyesight to avoid other aircraft - and visibility is bad.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25But air traffic control are about to do them a big favour.
0:30:25 > 0:30:29Radar's picked up something on their flightpath.
0:30:29 > 0:30:32'11 o'clock there, it might be spurious, it might be something.
0:30:32 > 0:30:34'It appears to be southbound, slow moving.'
0:30:34 > 0:30:37Over there.
0:30:37 > 0:30:41- Visual. It's a glider for confirmation.- 'Thank you for that!'
0:30:45 > 0:30:51- No, that's not spurious. - Red and white? Good spot.
0:30:51 > 0:30:53It was a near miss with a towplane and glider.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57And Helimed 99's next objective won't be easy to see either.
0:30:58 > 0:31:02They're either on the Minster Way or part of the Northwold Walk.
0:31:02 > 0:31:04We know it's a group of walkers.
0:31:04 > 0:31:11The Yorkshire Wolds is a big place - 400 square miles of rolling hills and thousands of footpaths.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14This is going to be a nightmare, isn't it?
0:31:14 > 0:31:18They've been looking for five minutes now and there's no sign of their patient.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22This is where the fun starts then.
0:31:22 > 0:31:24It's more likely to be down...
0:31:24 > 0:31:27Is this Deepdale, this?
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Yeah, that's Deepdale down there.
0:31:29 > 0:31:34'Helimed 99, I've just spoken to the driver, he says you were overhead.
0:31:34 > 0:31:41'From where you are now, you need to go north and you should be able to see him, over.'
0:31:41 > 0:31:45- The land ambulance there, Steve at 3 o'clock. In the bushes.- Ah, yes.
0:31:45 > 0:31:47At last they've found their patient.
0:31:47 > 0:31:53Dorothy Hood was out walking on the Wolds Way long distance footpath when she fell and twisted her ankle.
0:31:53 > 0:31:58- She's in serious pain.- The lady's fallen and she heard a crack as she had gone over.
0:31:58 > 0:32:00So we're suspecting she has fractured her ankle.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02It's a serious injury but life threatening.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06Dorothy and her husband watched Helimed 99 fly over them twice
0:32:06 > 0:32:09as the crew searched for their patient.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11But there's no hard feelings.
0:32:11 > 0:32:15Not unexpected, in this situation.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19It's nice to be able to get the helicopter down.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23Right, now I'm going to put some straps around you and then we'll carry you down to the aircraft.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25VIP treatment!
0:32:25 > 0:32:28We're going to lift and move across to the other side of the village.
0:32:28 > 0:32:31There's a sports field with goalposts on.
0:32:31 > 0:32:36We're going to meet the land ambulance there and transfer the patient onto the land ambulance.
0:32:38 > 0:32:42The locals are certainly interested in Dorothy's case.
0:32:42 > 0:32:44Probably not got a chance to get travel sick.
0:32:44 > 0:32:47How do you feel about flying today?
0:32:47 > 0:32:51- Are you looking forward to it?- No!
0:32:51 > 0:32:52Oh, dear.
0:32:56 > 0:33:01Paramedic Pat Greakin's a big city ambulanceman, but today he's got to
0:33:01 > 0:33:06become a shepherd if Helimed 99 is ever to get off the ground.
0:33:06 > 0:33:08They're coming back!
0:33:08 > 0:33:09Rarrr!
0:33:14 > 0:33:17Dorothy has got a nasty broken ankle.
0:33:17 > 0:33:22But Helimed 99 is there to save lives and the UK's strict flying laws don't allow them to land
0:33:22 > 0:33:25at city-centre hospitals with minor injuries.
0:33:25 > 0:33:29So Dorothy is going to go by road.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32There's a new attraction at the village cricket pitch.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37Helimed 99 has just saved the local land ambulance crew a tricky
0:33:37 > 0:33:42mile-long hike carrying Dorothy to the nearest road.
0:33:42 > 0:33:45You're welcome, Dorothy. Nice to have met you.
0:33:48 > 0:33:51Dorothy and her friends had got it all right.
0:33:51 > 0:33:58But many don't and walkers can't count on a rapid rescue, especially if the weather turns nasty.
0:33:58 > 0:34:02You need to get a good rucksack. You need to get some supplies in there.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04You need a hot drink, food,
0:34:04 > 0:34:07some good protective clothing.
0:34:07 > 0:34:10You might set off and it might be a nice fine day, but then it
0:34:10 > 0:34:13might turn bad weather and you need some showerproof overcoat.
0:34:13 > 0:34:16Keep yourself warm and keep some safety stuff in there as well.
0:34:16 > 0:34:19If you do take medication, get that in the the bag.
0:34:19 > 0:34:23And it can all go wrong on the most gentle stroll.
0:34:23 > 0:34:26We are just going down to Brighouse,
0:34:26 > 0:34:33just south of Leeds, to a crew request for a patient that's fallen in a wooded area.
0:34:33 > 0:34:35Quite a common injury.
0:34:35 > 0:34:41They'll request for help in areas that are difficult for them to get people or vehicles to.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43I just
0:34:43 > 0:34:46slipped here, my foot went under me.
0:34:47 > 0:34:50The weather plays a part in a huge number of accidents.
0:34:50 > 0:34:5774-year-old Roy Hurst was out for a walk, something he does every day, when he just slipped and fell.
0:34:57 > 0:35:00Will you guys give us a hand just to carry him back round? Great stuff.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04The leaves that caught Roy out are now a dilemma for Lee and a growing
0:35:04 > 0:35:08band of stretcher-bearers who have all come to help.
0:35:08 > 0:35:10Roy, you're going on a diet!
0:35:15 > 0:35:19Didn't expect him to go in an air ambulance, or an ambulance for that matter.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23All the best, Roy! We'll come and see you there.
0:35:23 > 0:35:27- Take care.- See you later. - Goodbye, love. Thanks very much.
0:35:27 > 0:35:30I feel sorry for him. He's come for a walk and this is how it ends up.
0:35:32 > 0:35:37Within just a few minutes, Roy is landing at Huddersfield Royal Infirmary.
0:35:37 > 0:35:42I think it's fair to say he wasn't quite expecting his daily walk in the woods to end this way.
0:35:44 > 0:35:50And that goes for most walkers, even those who head for the hills for an adventure.
0:35:50 > 0:35:54Yorkshire's rugged landscape has a habit of coming out on top.
0:35:57 > 0:35:59And I'm pleased to say all those patients are back
0:35:59 > 0:36:02on their feet, with a new respect for the countryside.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06Now, let's catch up on Gemma and Ebony, the two girls badly injured
0:36:06 > 0:36:09in that nasty car crash in West Yorkshire.
0:36:10 > 0:36:16A Saturday morning trip out has ended in disaster - a head-on smash between a van and a small hatchback.
0:36:16 > 0:36:24Ebony Clements was driving. She has severe facial injuries, skull fractures and deep cuts.
0:36:24 > 0:36:28In the back of the car, her friend, 24-year-old Gemma Carver.
0:36:30 > 0:36:35Both girls are trapped, but are cut out of the wreckage by the fire crew.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37Ebony is taken by road to a waiting medical team
0:36:37 > 0:36:41to stitch up her facial wound and start reconstructive surgery.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45Gemma's condition is less certain.
0:36:45 > 0:36:49She is conscious but, worryingly, has no feeling in her legs.
0:36:49 > 0:36:52Can you wiggle your toes for me, Gemma?
0:36:52 > 0:36:55- I'm wiggling.- You're doing them all right, thank you.
0:36:55 > 0:36:59Helimed 98 flies her to the spinal injuries unit at the Leeds General
0:36:59 > 0:37:03Infirmary, for specialists to find out the extent of the damage.
0:37:07 > 0:37:13Two months on and Gemma has been transferred from Leeds to her home hospital in Middlesbrough.
0:37:13 > 0:37:19The tests on Gemma's back revealed her spinal chord had been damaged.
0:37:19 > 0:37:23The loss of movement in her legs is permanent.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26This machine is doing what she can't.
0:37:26 > 0:37:33A massive impact that lasted just a couple of seconds means it's unlikely that she will walk again.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37It's just giving your legs like a good stretch.
0:37:37 > 0:37:40You know, with them just being in one position all the time,
0:37:40 > 0:37:45in the chair or on the bed, this just gets them moving.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47Like how you would be able to move them before.
0:37:47 > 0:37:55With a lot of help from medical staff and family, Gemma remains positive and optimistic.
0:37:55 > 0:37:59I was quite bad for a couple of weeks, upset and crying and things.
0:37:59 > 0:38:02But now I've got past that stage.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05You just have to get on with it, don't you?
0:38:05 > 0:38:07There's nothing you can do.
0:38:07 > 0:38:13Sink or swim. I'm exactly the same person as I was before.
0:38:13 > 0:38:15Just in a wheelchair now.
0:38:17 > 0:38:24Gemma's friend Ebony, who was driving the car, suffered serious facial injuries.
0:38:24 > 0:38:28I don't really want to have to intubate her at the roadside.
0:38:28 > 0:38:32The surgery to reconstruct her face started as soon as she got to hospital.
0:38:34 > 0:38:40My face was open from the top to the tip of my nose.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43And all the skin was over here.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45There's still a little bit more to do.
0:38:45 > 0:38:49The skill of surgeon Kanak Patel has put Ebony's face back together.
0:38:49 > 0:38:55You've obviously hit something here, something quite sharp, because that's cut the skin up.
0:38:55 > 0:38:58Outwardly, she's made a remarkable recovery.
0:38:58 > 0:39:01You see scars, you see cuts.
0:39:01 > 0:39:06For me, I knew that I could get those skin edges together.
0:39:06 > 0:39:09What was more worrying to me what was underneath.
0:39:09 > 0:39:15But he's aware that there is more at stake here than just Ebony's physical injuries.
0:39:15 > 0:39:19I did notice there were other members of your family in the car. That's obviously very traumatic to you.
0:39:19 > 0:39:24I dare say, perhaps because you are driving, you might feel responsible.
0:39:24 > 0:39:26But that's not...
0:39:26 > 0:39:30not necessarily the case. All right?
0:39:32 > 0:39:39Gemma has had a long time to think about the accident, the morning of the crash and how it happened.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42And she doesn't blame her friend Ebony.
0:39:42 > 0:39:46I don't obviously blame her for the accident.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49She didn't know what was going to happen.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53Even though it's something as serious as this, the type
0:39:53 > 0:39:56of person I am, I can't stay angry with anybody.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58No matter what they have done.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02Even though, because of that accident, I'm like this now.
0:40:03 > 0:40:08The skilful hands that have helped reconstruct Ebony still have work to do.
0:40:08 > 0:40:11But much of it now is to help with the psychological trauma
0:40:11 > 0:40:12of the crash.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19This is a very severe injury to go through for anybody.
0:40:19 > 0:40:24And she will suffer with flashbacks and feelings of guilt,
0:40:24 > 0:40:27all sorts of things she will have to deal with.
0:40:27 > 0:40:32More so than her physical injuries, which is going to take a long time.
0:40:33 > 0:40:38'I don't think for one minute that the accident was my fault.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40'But you've always
0:40:40 > 0:40:44'got to take responsibility for the lives that are in your car.'
0:40:46 > 0:40:50Trying to work out what I can do to make it better.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54They keep telling me the only thing I can do is get better.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59'I'd swap with her in a minute.'
0:40:59 > 0:41:05Because what I've got is nothing compared to what she's going to be going through.
0:41:05 > 0:41:07Gemma continues to work hard.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11She want to get a job, her own house, to be independent.
0:41:11 > 0:41:17And her doctors say with her positive attitude she will continue to make slow but steady progress.
0:41:19 > 0:41:26I've been quite lucky, because there are a lot of people that are a lot worse off than me.
0:41:26 > 0:41:30Yeah, it's horrible having to live like this at the moment.
0:41:30 > 0:41:32But I'll come round to it.
0:41:32 > 0:41:37Because I know there are people that are a lot worse off.
0:41:37 > 0:41:41A lot, lot worse than what I am.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44When Helicopter Heroes comes back:
0:41:44 > 0:41:49There's drama in Yorkshire's racing country as a jockey stops breathing after a serious fall.
0:41:49 > 0:41:52I just turned her over, put her head back and gave her mouth to mouth.
0:41:52 > 0:41:59On the M62 motorway, a wedding party are caught up in a terrible crash as the groom's cousin fights for life.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01- It's OK.- We're helping you.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07Helimed 98 get involved in an uphill struggle to rescue an injured walker.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10I'll follow in his footsteps anywhere.
0:42:12 > 0:42:14Are we gonna sing "Hi-ho"?
0:42:14 > 0:42:18And miner turned paramedic Darren goes back down the pit.
0:42:38 > 0:42:40Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd