0:00:03 > 0:00:07If you're critically ill or injured in a place like this,
0:00:07 > 0:00:12there's only one thing that can save you, and that's speed.
0:00:12 > 0:00:17Wherever you are, this helicopter with a team of pilots and paramedics
0:00:17 > 0:00:22will fly to your rescue at two and a half miles a minute.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25These are Yorkshire's helicopter heroes.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50'When the people of Britain's biggest county dial 999,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53'there's a good chance help will come from the skies.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58'The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is ready to scramble 365 days a year,
0:00:58 > 0:01:02'and each one brings a new life-or-death emergency.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04'Today on Helicopter Heroes,
0:01:04 > 0:01:09'a police spy in the sky swoops on a National Park's bikers,
0:01:09 > 0:01:12'but too late to prevent a serious accident.'
0:01:12 > 0:01:16All I could see was an explosion of bike bits.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20'There's a road smash and the Helimed team are scrambled.'
0:01:20 > 0:01:24Looks like his femur's gone as well.
0:01:24 > 0:01:27'High in the Pennines, a paraglider crashes
0:01:27 > 0:01:30'and needs a life-saving flight.'
0:01:30 > 0:01:33He's just come in to land.
0:01:34 > 0:01:37'And the show-jumpers riding for a fall.'
0:01:42 > 0:01:46It's not just sightseers who are drawn to our National Parks.
0:01:46 > 0:01:50The twisting roads through the Derbyshire Peak District
0:01:50 > 0:01:55attract bikers out to pit their skills against the local terrain.
0:01:55 > 0:02:00'The Helimed team aren't the only tenants at Sheffield airport.
0:02:00 > 0:02:02'Next door are noisy neighbours,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05'the South Yorkshire Police air support unit.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10'Their job is to catch criminals but, with identical helicopters,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13'it's inevitable the teams have a lot in common.'
0:02:15 > 0:02:18We've got a running total all the time.
0:02:18 > 0:02:23- The number of jobs? - Yeah, like arrests.
0:02:23 > 0:02:27Vehicles recovered, missing people recovered.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32'Today, the worlds of Helimed 98 and Sierra Yankee 99
0:02:32 > 0:02:35'are about to collide over the Peak District.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38'It's the first day of Operation Octane,
0:02:38 > 0:02:43'a police campaign to reduce the number of deaths among local bikers.
0:02:45 > 0:02:50'The focus is the snake pass scenic route from Sheffield to Manchester,
0:02:50 > 0:02:56'a favourite with bikers, thanks to sweeping bends and stunning views.'
0:02:56 > 0:02:58Vehicle check, please.
0:02:58 > 0:03:03'This biker's sticking to the speed limit, but many don't.'
0:03:03 > 0:03:05Let's see if we can't catch him.
0:03:05 > 0:03:10'But a joy ride has just ended in a terrible accident.'
0:03:10 > 0:03:14We're off to a road traffic accident involving two motorcyclists
0:03:14 > 0:03:17near Ladybower reservoir west of Sheffield.
0:03:17 > 0:03:20We believe one motorcyclist is unconscious.
0:03:20 > 0:03:24That's pretty much all the information we've got.
0:03:24 > 0:03:27It's quite a way out of Sheffield.
0:03:27 > 0:03:34'Paramedic Tony Wilkes and Dr Jez Pinnell know the snake pass's grim reputation.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38'The A57 is notorious for accidents like this.
0:03:38 > 0:03:41'Paul Davies and brother-in-law Andrew Brown
0:03:41 > 0:03:46'took advantage of the first nice day of spring for a ride.'
0:03:46 > 0:03:49You've got a helmet on. We're going to take it off.
0:03:49 > 0:03:53I'm just going to take hold of your neck.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58Basically, two bikes overtook me further back down the road.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02The white bike did a U-turn in the middle of the road.
0:04:02 > 0:04:07His mate behind him couldn't stop and just smacked straight into him.
0:04:07 > 0:04:12All I could see was an explosion of bike bits.
0:04:12 > 0:04:17'The damage to the petrol tank shows where Andrew's bike hit.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20'Paul was unconscious for five minutes,
0:04:20 > 0:04:25'his brother-in-law watching, thinking he was dead.'
0:04:25 > 0:04:30I went straight into the side of him. I've gone over the top.
0:04:30 > 0:04:35I think he took the brunt of it with the bike hitting him.
0:04:35 > 0:04:38'Andrew's foot is crushed. He can't move.
0:04:38 > 0:04:42'All he can do is watch as doctor Jez and paramedic Tony
0:04:42 > 0:04:44'work on their patient.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49'First, they need to take off the gear that probably saved his life.
0:04:49 > 0:04:54'The medics see that the helmet is badly damaged, a bad sign.'
0:04:54 > 0:04:56I'll be as gentle as I can, OK?
0:04:56 > 0:05:01'He could have a serious neck injury. They must take care.'
0:05:01 > 0:05:04I'm going to pop a collar on, Paul. OK, mate?
0:05:04 > 0:05:07You're doing really well, mate.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12'Thanks to Operation Octane,
0:05:12 > 0:05:16'there's no shortage of traffic cops on the snake pass.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20'Among the first to arrive is Sergeant Nick Pulphrey,
0:05:20 > 0:05:23'head of the accident reduction campaign.'
0:05:23 > 0:05:26The A57 is one of the main routes.
0:05:26 > 0:05:32We're patrolling it to advise motorcyclists on speed and safety.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35We got here late for this one.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39'Sergeant Pulphrey has dealt with many accidents like this.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43'Dr Jez is going to need him to join the medical team.'
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- Stop struggling, pal. - PAUL MOANS
0:05:46 > 0:05:50- We're going to help you now. - MOANING INCOHERENT
0:05:50 > 0:05:54'The severity of Paul's head injury is hard to assess,
0:05:54 > 0:05:58'but is causing him to fight against his rescuers.
0:05:58 > 0:06:03'It's a struggle on the ground, but keeping Paul calm 500 feet up
0:06:03 > 0:06:06'will be impossible and potentially dangerous.'
0:06:06 > 0:06:09- Which leg's hurting? - MOANS
0:06:09 > 0:06:15'Like this, the Helimed crew can't take him. It's just too risky.'
0:06:15 > 0:06:17Paul, do you know where you are?
0:06:17 > 0:06:23'The medics need to come up with another plan, quickly.
0:06:29 > 0:06:32'Coming up, Dr Jez carries out a tricky procedure
0:06:32 > 0:06:36'to ensure his patient reaches hospital alive.'
0:06:36 > 0:06:39He's asleep. He won't know anything about this.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43'A bird man crashes.'
0:06:43 > 0:06:46If he hits the ground at that speed something's got to give.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48It's not usually the ground.
0:06:48 > 0:06:54'And a show-jumping horse launches its rider to a painful landing.'
0:06:58 > 0:07:04Driving to work in the morning can be a chore for most people.
0:07:05 > 0:07:10It can also end in serious injury and a trip to hospital.
0:07:12 > 0:07:17'If you commute to work by car, you'll know about the rush hour.
0:07:17 > 0:07:22'When millions of cars pour onto our roads there's bound to be accidents.
0:07:22 > 0:07:27'On a country road in Rotherham, there's been a head-on smash.
0:07:27 > 0:07:31'The Helimed team get to work early to beat the rush hour,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34'and also to help injured commuters.
0:07:34 > 0:07:38'This 999 call's from the driver himself,
0:07:38 > 0:07:40'trapped inside his car.'
0:07:40 > 0:07:44Helimed 98, just landing on scene now.
0:07:44 > 0:07:48'Soaring above the traffic, the team arrives in minutes.'
0:07:48 > 0:07:53Where's the other occupants in the other car?
0:07:53 > 0:07:56'The other motorists had a lucky escape.
0:07:56 > 0:08:00'But the man who made the 999 call is still trapped.'
0:08:00 > 0:08:03He's complaining of discomfort in his shoulder.
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Looks like his femur's gone as well. Lacerations to his face.
0:08:07 > 0:08:09We think done by the air bag.
0:08:09 > 0:08:12'Veterinary nurse Kevin Rogers
0:08:12 > 0:08:17'has collided with the blue car at a combined impact of 120mph.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22'He's injured, but the driver of the blue car had a miraculous escape.'
0:08:22 > 0:08:24She said she's fine.
0:08:24 > 0:08:27- Is that the lady there?- That's her.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30'The crew's surprised she hasn't got any injuries
0:08:30 > 0:08:36'and can get on with her trip to work - but Kevin is going nowhere.'
0:08:37 > 0:08:40He's got a significant leg injury.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42That's masking any other injuries.
0:08:42 > 0:08:49Only once we get him out will we be able to examine him properly for any underlying injury.
0:08:49 > 0:08:53'Kevin's legs have been crushed underneath the dashboard.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56'An injection of morphine should help with the pain.'
0:08:56 > 0:09:00Describe the pain in your body between zero and ten?
0:09:00 > 0:09:04- About a seven.- About a seven?
0:09:04 > 0:09:09- Is that mostly in your leg? - It's all in my leg.
0:09:09 > 0:09:12'To get Kevin out safely, the team needs the skills
0:09:12 > 0:09:16'and hydraulic cutting equipment of the fire brigade.
0:09:18 > 0:09:21'They train for hours for situations like this.'
0:09:21 > 0:09:24Kevin, this might make you feel a bit sick.
0:09:24 > 0:09:28Tell me and I'll give you something for it.
0:09:28 > 0:09:32'The fire brigade call these hydraulic cutters the jaws of life.
0:09:32 > 0:09:37'Before they were invented, crews struggled with angle grinders.
0:09:37 > 0:09:40'Now, a car roof can be taken off in minutes,
0:09:40 > 0:09:44'allowing Lee to make a better assessment of Kevin's injuries.'
0:09:44 > 0:09:48- Pulse of 102... - I've got scissors in my pocket.
0:09:48 > 0:09:52- Say again.- I've got scissors in my pocket.- All right.
0:09:52 > 0:09:59'Kevin has the presence of mind to warn Lee about his medical scissors.'
0:09:59 > 0:10:01We've got them.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04'Kevin's legs are obviously fractured.
0:10:04 > 0:10:09'The impact has been so great, Lee's also worried about his spine.'
0:10:09 > 0:10:11One, two, three, lean.
0:10:11 > 0:10:14KEVIN GROANS All right, mate.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Can you do me a favour? Trust me.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21Put your right arm over your left and hold them together.
0:10:21 > 0:10:26We're going to support your leg and everything, all right, mate?
0:10:26 > 0:10:31'Kevin has multiple fractures and can't support his own weight.
0:10:31 > 0:10:34'He's relying on the strength of his rescuers
0:10:34 > 0:10:39'and the medical skills of Helimed 98's paramedics.
0:10:44 > 0:10:50'Coming up, the patient begins his trip to hospital, but there's a problem.'
0:10:50 > 0:10:55We're going to put something round, like a girdle around your pelvis.
0:10:56 > 0:11:02'I'm meeting the horsey set to find out why they risk their lives tackling fences like this.
0:11:04 > 0:11:09'And a speed cop comes to the aid of a badly injured biker.'
0:11:14 > 0:11:18Old rivalries die hard, just ask any football supporter.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22Few come as big as those between Lancashire and Yorkshire.
0:11:22 > 0:11:28When it comes to saving lives, even a born and bred Tyke can't let geography get in the way.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32'Navigation's always a problem for the Helimed team.
0:11:32 > 0:11:37'Finding your way at 2,000 feet is surprisingly difficult.
0:11:37 > 0:11:45'But today, paramedics Darren Axe and Simon Cavanagh are heading into uncharted territory - Lancashire.'
0:11:45 > 0:11:50Looks like we're skirting a bit north than where we need to be.
0:11:50 > 0:11:53- See that wind farm?- Yeah. - Straight over that, mate.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57'They have been called to the other side of the Pennines
0:11:57 > 0:12:01'to rescue a downed bird man, a paraglider who has crashed.
0:12:01 > 0:12:04'When you're landing a parachute,
0:12:04 > 0:12:08'the only undercarriage is your legs.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12'It's feared James Watson's hard landing has damaged his back.
0:12:12 > 0:12:19'The only thing that prevents collisions is eyesight, and there's plenty of air traffic.'
0:12:19 > 0:12:24- I've got an aircraft at 2 o'clock. - Are they away from us?
0:12:24 > 0:12:28- Can't tell. Looks like a helicopter coming towards us.- It is.
0:12:28 > 0:12:31'Picking out other aviators is difficult,
0:12:31 > 0:12:34'especially in bright sunshine.'
0:12:34 > 0:12:40- Is it a Chinook?- I think it's a paraglider.- It's a microlite.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43We've been to some paragliders before.
0:12:43 > 0:12:51And, er... Usually when a body hits the ground at that kind of speed something's got to give.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53It's not usually the ground.
0:12:53 > 0:12:58'Yorkshire has some of the UK's busiest air space,
0:12:58 > 0:13:04'and the chopper is heading towards Manchester International Airport's crowded skies.'
0:13:04 > 0:13:10There's another helicopter at 3 o'clock. It's busy round here!
0:13:13 > 0:13:16This road here. Ambulance. Low here, mate.
0:13:16 > 0:13:18Helimed 98 now landing.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26A paramedic, Ian, dealing with a lad called James
0:13:26 > 0:13:30with a suspected spinal due to a paragliding incident.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34- Paramedic Ian's asked if you've got a long board.- Yeah.
0:13:34 > 0:13:36This is James. He's 34.
0:13:36 > 0:13:39He's been on a paraglider and he's come in to land.
0:13:39 > 0:13:43He's basically landed down on his bum on his back.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Keep nice and still, James.
0:13:45 > 0:13:50All right, James? We're getting a long board from the helicopter.
0:13:50 > 0:13:54- Where's the nearest hospital? - I guess it's Fairfield.
0:13:54 > 0:13:58I'm not sure they've got a helipad. Royal Blackburn has.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02- Ten miles over the hills.- Brilliant. - Supposed to be best in area.
0:14:02 > 0:14:06There's no tenderness or pain in your neck?
0:14:06 > 0:14:10- No.- And were you knocked out at all?- No.
0:14:10 > 0:14:17'They're in deepest Lancashire, but Darren and Simon discover their patient's also crossed the border.'
0:14:17 > 0:14:19He's from Leeds, mate.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22LAUGHTER We're not taking you back!
0:14:22 > 0:14:25'It's feared he may have damaged his spine.
0:14:25 > 0:14:29'James will be strapped to a rigid board to prevent injury,
0:14:29 > 0:14:33'until he can be checked out in hospital.'
0:14:33 > 0:14:36OK, James? Everyone ready?
0:14:36 > 0:14:38Ready? One, two, three, lift.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43JAMES CRIES OUT
0:14:43 > 0:14:45And one, two, three, down.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47You're on.
0:14:48 > 0:14:51'It's 700 years since Yorkshire
0:14:51 > 0:14:56'went to war with its Lancastrian neighbours in the War of the Roses.
0:14:56 > 0:15:00'But in the minds of some proud residents of the white rose county,
0:15:00 > 0:15:03'it might have been yesterday.'
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Are you from Lancashire?
0:15:05 > 0:15:08- LAUGHTER - He's a Blackburn fan and all!
0:15:08 > 0:15:12- Are you a Leeds fan? - I'm not. No. Thank God!
0:15:12 > 0:15:15If you were, I'd leave you here!
0:15:15 > 0:15:18'Paragliding's one of the UK's most hazardous sports.
0:15:18 > 0:15:22'Pilots are at the mercy of invisible air currents
0:15:22 > 0:15:26'and the unforgiving landscape of the hills they fly from.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31'James has found that out the hard way.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36'James's accident has happened 2,000 feet up in the Pennines.
0:15:36 > 0:15:41'This is no place to be injured, unless there's an Air Ambulance.'
0:15:41 > 0:15:44We were called out to assist Lancashire Ambulance.
0:15:44 > 0:15:49We arrived, ferried paramedics up here, got to the casualty,
0:15:49 > 0:15:53and got our helicopter over from Yorkshire to assist.
0:15:53 > 0:15:58We're going to take him to Blackburn hospital, if Tim can find it!
0:15:58 > 0:16:02Royal Blackburn, or Blackburn Royal Infirmary. This patient.
0:16:02 > 0:16:09'Lancashire's hospitals aren't as familiar to the team as their local A&E units.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13'But some of them boast facilities Yorkshire lacks.'
0:16:13 > 0:16:17ON RADIO: It's a brand new hospital and they've got a large helipad.
0:16:17 > 0:16:21Straight off the aircraft into hospital!
0:16:21 > 0:16:24There's the pad. This is lovely, isn't it?
0:16:24 > 0:16:28- We should come here all the time. - It's got a wind sock!
0:16:28 > 0:16:34'The crew's warming to Lancashire, even if they won't admit it!'
0:16:34 > 0:16:39Forward-thinking people. Fantastic helipad at this facility.
0:16:39 > 0:16:42They've got to get ten out of ten, in my book.
0:16:43 > 0:16:46'James has arrived so quickly,
0:16:46 > 0:16:49'it caught the nursing staff on the hop.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52'But he'll soon be undergoing treatment.
0:16:52 > 0:16:57'Paragliders know paralysis is a danger every time they take off.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00'Most believe the thrills are worth the risk.'
0:17:00 > 0:17:04See you again! This is cracking, this helipad!
0:17:04 > 0:17:07'The good news is, James wasn't badly hurt.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11'He crossed back home to Yorkshire after a short stay in hospital.
0:17:16 > 0:17:21'Coming up, a veterinary nurse badly needs treatment in hospital.'
0:17:21 > 0:17:24Just pulling on your hips a bit, all right.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28'Helimed 99 achieves a clear round
0:17:28 > 0:17:32'as it touches down in a show-jumping arena.'
0:17:36 > 0:17:40Back to the snake pass in the Peak District.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43The team's fighting to save a badly injured biker.
0:17:43 > 0:17:49'Paul and Andrew are among the year's first casualties on the snake pass.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52'They represent a set-back for the cops in the sky
0:17:52 > 0:18:00'trying to drive down the toll of deaths on the roads of the Peak District.'
0:18:00 > 0:18:05Operation Octane is a campaign aimed at motorcycles on the busier roads.
0:18:05 > 0:18:10'Paul, who has a head injury, is married to Andrew's sister.'
0:18:10 > 0:18:13All accidents can be avoided, can't they?
0:18:13 > 0:18:19Accidents only happen as a result of either negligent behaviour or excessive speed.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21These are brothers-in-law.
0:18:21 > 0:18:25I imagine there'll be ramifications within the family.
0:18:25 > 0:18:31'Paul's injury's making him confused and he's fighting the medical team.'
0:18:31 > 0:18:35- PAUL MOANS INCOHERENTLY - You need to try and relax for me.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Paul, do you know where you are?
0:18:38 > 0:18:40'Dr Jez Pinnell is flying today.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44'It's a good thing, too. He's an anaesthetist.'
0:18:44 > 0:18:47He's going in and out of consciousness.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51We're going to pop him off to sleep for safety.
0:18:51 > 0:18:53BP's absolutely fine.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55No chest problem...
0:18:55 > 0:18:59'Dr Steve Rowe, who lives nearby, has also come to help.
0:18:59 > 0:19:02'He, too, is an anaesthetist.'
0:19:02 > 0:19:07We'll give him a short anaesthetic to get the tube in, control his breathing.
0:19:07 > 0:19:12If he was agitated in the helicopter it'd be an uncontrolled situation.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14By doing this now
0:19:14 > 0:19:18in relatively controlled circumstances, we've gained control.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23CRIES OUT We're going to help you now.
0:19:23 > 0:19:26MOANING You're going to be all right.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30'Jez knows his patient's condition could become unstable.'
0:19:30 > 0:19:35If you move, it's going to hurt. Lie very still.
0:19:35 > 0:19:40'There's no time to worry about Paul's expensive leather suit.'
0:19:40 > 0:19:46You'll be all right now. Your arm will feel a lot better.
0:19:46 > 0:19:51'To fly Paul to hospital, Jez must first take control of his breathing.
0:19:51 > 0:19:57'It's a procedure called an RSI, usually performed in hospital.'
0:19:57 > 0:20:03Are you happy to do that? I'll get Steve to pass me the bits and bobs.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07'Today, in the snake pass and with his brother-in-law watching,
0:20:07 > 0:20:10'Jez is going to anaesthetise Paul
0:20:10 > 0:20:13'and insert a breathing tube into his windpipe.'
0:20:13 > 0:20:18Try not to move your leg. I'm just going to give you some painkillers.
0:20:18 > 0:20:22'Jez has performed this procedure hundreds of times.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26'Without the extra expertise of an A&E department,
0:20:26 > 0:20:30'putting Paul asleep is not without risk.
0:20:30 > 0:20:34'A cocktail of drugs stops Paul breathing,
0:20:34 > 0:20:37'at which point, Jez quickly inserts a tube
0:20:37 > 0:20:40'so he can breathe for his patient.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43'This is the critical part of the procedure.'
0:20:43 > 0:20:45Yeah. Sounds good.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51'Jez's experience has worked again and the team can prepare Paul
0:20:51 > 0:20:55'for his emergency flight to hospital.'
0:20:56 > 0:20:59OK. And relax.
0:20:59 > 0:21:04It's a case of getting him up to the aircraft monitors and to hospital.
0:21:04 > 0:21:07We've done what we can roadside.
0:21:07 > 0:21:10Needs care now at Sheffield Northern.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14'Despite huge advances in the design of crash helmets,
0:21:14 > 0:21:20'head injuries are still the most common cause of deaths and serious injuries to bikers.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25'To prevent Paul becoming another statistic on a notorious road,
0:21:25 > 0:21:29'the team need to get him to hospital fast.
0:21:34 > 0:21:38'Coming up, the biking brotherhood decide to hang up their leathers,
0:21:38 > 0:21:43'thanks to a tearful request from a member of the family.'
0:21:43 > 0:21:47I'd rather spend time with her than be on the bike.
0:21:47 > 0:21:50'And there's no such thing as a soft landing
0:21:50 > 0:21:52'when you come off one of these.'
0:21:57 > 0:22:03Rush hour ended in agony for one commuter on his way to work at the vet surgery.
0:22:03 > 0:22:06Now the Helimed team have to get him to hospital.
0:22:06 > 0:22:09'Rush hour in Rotherham, South Yorkshire.
0:22:09 > 0:22:15'Veterinary nurse Kevin Rogers' commute has come to a dramatic halt.
0:22:15 > 0:22:21'He's trapped in his car after being involved in a head-on collision.
0:22:21 > 0:22:26'Helimed 99's paramedics Lee Davison and Pete Vallance stabilised Kevin,
0:22:26 > 0:22:30'but his legs have been crushed and until he's prised out,
0:22:30 > 0:22:34'they won't know if he's suffered life-threatening injuries.'
0:22:34 > 0:22:37One, two, three, lift.
0:22:37 > 0:22:39KEVIN MOANS
0:22:40 > 0:22:43Ease the board down a little bit.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46'Lee and Pete don't want to wait
0:22:46 > 0:22:51'and the process of carefully sliding Kevin out his car begins.'
0:22:51 > 0:22:55Somebody take the C spine off me at this end, if you can?
0:22:55 > 0:22:57That's superb.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04'Morphine is paramedics' painkiller of choice and Kevin needs more.'
0:23:05 > 0:23:07What's your pain score now?
0:23:07 > 0:23:11- Back up to about six. - Back up to six. OK.
0:23:11 > 0:23:13'There's more bad news for Kevin.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17'Lee's worried he may have a fractured pelvis.'
0:23:17 > 0:23:20We're going to put something round, like a girdle.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Just to go round your pelvis.
0:23:23 > 0:23:25'It's painful but worth it.
0:23:25 > 0:23:31'The splint will hold Kevin's bones together until he reaches the waiting surgeons.'
0:23:31 > 0:23:34This is going to pull on your hips.
0:23:34 > 0:23:39'It's only 9 o'clock in the morning but Kevin's ordeal is nearly over,
0:23:39 > 0:23:43'thanks to more than 20 members of the emergency services.'
0:23:43 > 0:23:47We were the first on scene, responding from not far away.
0:23:47 > 0:23:54As we approached, we knew it was a bad RTC. Patient in a lot of pain. Bilateral fractured femurs.
0:23:54 > 0:23:59He knew he was seriously injured but he was quite chatty.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03We're going to lift you into the aircraft now, mate.
0:24:03 > 0:24:09'Normally, Kevin would be making a cup of tea and preparing the veterinary surgery.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14'Instead, he's being air-lifted to hospital for life-saving treatment.'
0:24:14 > 0:24:19You're doing fine, mate. You're doing fine.
0:24:19 > 0:24:24We're flying to Northern General so you'll not be far from work.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27I don't think you'll be nipping in today.
0:24:28 > 0:24:33'Sheffield's Northern General hospital is a major trauma centre,
0:24:33 > 0:24:36'containing all the skills and equipment that Kevin needs.
0:24:36 > 0:24:40'It's a short flight, but Lee and Pete know Kevin faces
0:24:40 > 0:24:44'a long and very painful journey back to full health.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47'Kevin suffered a list of injuries,
0:24:47 > 0:24:52including a fractured pelvis and broken legs, arms and collarbone.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56'After surgery, he spent months in hospital.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01'I'm pleased to say he's back at work doing the job he loves.'
0:25:01 > 0:25:03It's just a country road.
0:25:03 > 0:25:09I thought it was a bit icy so I slowed down generally.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Cos of the ice on the road.
0:25:12 > 0:25:17But went around a corner, one of my back tyres hit the ice
0:25:17 > 0:25:19and came out.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23Very lucky, the passenger side was completely non-existent.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27There wasn't a passenger side of the car.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32If I'd swung the other way, probably wouldn't have been here.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36'Although he looks fully recovered,
0:25:36 > 0:25:39'Kevin has a physical reminder of the crash.'
0:25:39 > 0:25:41For the rest of my life,
0:25:41 > 0:25:48I'll have to have a foot raised cos I'm missing 3.5 centimetres off the leg.
0:25:48 > 0:25:54I certainly have learned from it. Something I'd never want to repeat.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57I wouldn't wish it on anyone to go through.
0:25:57 > 0:26:00It's not been a nice experience
0:26:00 > 0:26:03but something, hopefully, I'll take away a lot from.
0:26:08 > 0:26:09'Coming up,
0:26:09 > 0:26:14'the girl who persuaded a biker to give up two wheels when Mum failed.'
0:26:14 > 0:26:17My daughter and my wife could have been without me.
0:26:22 > 0:26:26Name a dangerous sport. Motor racing? Boxing?
0:26:26 > 0:26:30If you asked a paramedic, he'd say horse riding.
0:26:30 > 0:26:36Some of their most serious cases involve showjumping or three-day eventing.
0:26:37 > 0:26:42'More than two million people regularly ride horses in the UK.
0:26:42 > 0:26:46'Equestrianism is one of the most popular countryside pursuits.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49'For the paramedics of Helimed 99,
0:26:49 > 0:26:52'it's one of the major reasons for emergency call-outs.
0:26:52 > 0:26:57'The only problem is, horses and helicopters don't mix.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00'At a centre in North Yorkshire,
0:27:00 > 0:27:04'an American student has taken a tumble off a horse
0:27:04 > 0:27:06'and could be seriously injured.'
0:27:06 > 0:27:10I guess she just lost balance and fell right over.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15I think it was the way she fell that she hit her leg really hard.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Who knows at this point what's really wrong?
0:27:19 > 0:27:22We don't know yet, but she's in pain.
0:27:22 > 0:27:26'A land ambulance has arrived and called for back-up.
0:27:26 > 0:27:31'The patient has a broken femur, which is potentially very serious.
0:27:31 > 0:27:37'Helimed 99 is on the way, but paramedic Tony is only too aware of the obvious hazards.'
0:27:37 > 0:27:43Ask the air desk to get in touch with the riding school,
0:27:43 > 0:27:48obviously, to get any loose horses secured as best as possible.
0:27:48 > 0:27:54'They find the riding school and put the helicopter down away from the scene of the accident.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58'The last thing they want to do is spook any horses.
0:27:58 > 0:28:04'But the helicopter is now too far away to be any real use.'
0:28:04 > 0:28:10It looks like this incident's a fair distance from where we've landed.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14Can you give JJ a call on the mobile
0:28:14 > 0:28:16ask him to stay with the aircraft?
0:28:16 > 0:28:18We'll have to relocate.
0:28:18 > 0:28:21Hi, folks. How are we doing?
0:28:21 > 0:28:25'Michelle Lombard is in a great deal of pain. She's from America.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28'She's learning to be a riding instructor.
0:28:28 > 0:28:32'But things have gone badly wrong. She's had a big fall.
0:28:32 > 0:28:36She fell over the horse. She hasn't hit her head or anything...
0:28:36 > 0:28:39Michelle, what's your pain score?
0:28:39 > 0:28:43Ten being the highest, nought being nothing? Is it quite high?
0:28:45 > 0:28:47- MUFFLED: Relatively.- Pardon?
0:28:47 > 0:28:49Relatively.
0:28:49 > 0:28:53'Michelle is stable, but she needs to get to hospital.
0:28:53 > 0:29:00'It's decided to try and bring the helicopter in closer, but there are some loose horses about.
0:29:00 > 0:29:03'Pilot JJ thinks he's found somewhere safe.'
0:29:03 > 0:29:08The three fields on the left, the middle field of that.
0:29:08 > 0:29:12- Middle field?- Can't miss it. It's a big yellow thing.
0:29:12 > 0:29:14Deep breaths.
0:29:14 > 0:29:18'Before Michelle can be moved, they need to straighten her leg.
0:29:18 > 0:29:22'Ben uses a traction splint to separate the broken bone.
0:29:22 > 0:29:28'It should make her more comfortable but it's not a pleasant experience.'
0:29:29 > 0:29:32Well done! Keep breathing.
0:29:32 > 0:29:38'She's given some more pain relief, which helps her sense of humour.'
0:29:38 > 0:29:42# I've got a lovely bunch of coconuts! #
0:29:42 > 0:29:44It's amazing what morphine does!
0:29:44 > 0:29:49A fractured femur is a big bone and gives a lot of pain.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52Looks like we've got on top of that.
0:29:52 > 0:29:57JJ's relocated from where we landed a bit closer.
0:29:57 > 0:30:00Couldn't get too close. There are horses about.
0:30:00 > 0:30:05Our plan is to get Michelle on the land ambulance, to the helicopter.
0:30:05 > 0:30:09We've pre-alerted the hospital. Then we'll get away.
0:30:09 > 0:30:14'Michelle is now just minutes away from hospital,
0:30:14 > 0:30:17'but will takes months to recover.'
0:30:17 > 0:30:19She's doing pretty well.
0:30:19 > 0:30:25She seems quite stable. The traction splint worked a treat.
0:30:26 > 0:30:29Don't need to give her any more pain relief.
0:30:29 > 0:30:34She's saying she's got no pain now so a nice smooth flight to hospital.
0:30:34 > 0:30:40The roads round here into Harrogate aren't the nicest, are quite bumpy.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43As you can see, she's having a little a rest now.
0:30:43 > 0:30:49'If Michelle had been rescued by helicopter in America, it could have cost her thousands.
0:30:49 > 0:30:53'Here it's free, paid for by charitable donations.
0:30:53 > 0:30:58'Thanks to the paramedics of Helimed 99, she's in safe hands.
0:30:58 > 0:31:02'Michelle had to put her plans to become a riding instructor on hold.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05'The femur is our largest bone
0:31:05 > 0:31:09'and Michelle's is held together with plates and pins.
0:31:09 > 0:31:13'But she's determined to get back to the sport she loves.'
0:31:13 > 0:31:18Every year, around a dozen riders are killed in equestrian events.
0:31:18 > 0:31:22It's not hard to see why. Fences can top six feet.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25The animals themselves could crush a rider.
0:31:25 > 0:31:30'This is Allerton Park, Harrogate, a famous showjumping estate
0:31:30 > 0:31:35'with six-foot fences that test even the most talented of riders.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39'This young jockey's been injured and she wasn't even riding.
0:31:39 > 0:31:44'Lee Davison and Tony Wilkes are no strangers to injured horse riders.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48'Showjumping events are different. The horses are bigger.
0:31:48 > 0:31:52'The fences are higher and injuries usually more severe.'
0:31:52 > 0:31:57Looks like the casualty's on the right there.
0:31:57 > 0:32:01If we land near the lake, we'll be well away from the event.
0:32:01 > 0:32:05Clear to the right. Clear of the bushes. Tail is clear.
0:32:05 > 0:32:07'Horses are easily spooked
0:32:07 > 0:32:13'so landing a noisy helicopter in a showjumping arena isn't easy.
0:32:13 > 0:32:17'Pilot Andy Figg gets them down safely.'
0:32:17 > 0:32:21You're not allergic to any medications?
0:32:21 > 0:32:25You've not bumped your head? Your breathing's fine?
0:32:25 > 0:32:27Can I pop this boot off?
0:32:27 > 0:32:33'This is an unusual accident because 19-year-old Coral Mowbray
0:32:33 > 0:32:36'wasn't riding when the accident happened.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40'She was walking her horse to the stable when it fell onto her.'
0:32:40 > 0:32:44Tell me where it hurts. Is your knee OK?
0:32:44 > 0:32:47Is that OK? It hurts there?
0:32:47 > 0:32:52'With the horse weighing in at nearly half a ton,
0:32:52 > 0:32:55'it's no surprise she got a nasty leg injury.'
0:32:55 > 0:32:58'We're in quite an isolated area.
0:32:58 > 0:33:01'Because of the time it'll take the land crew,'
0:33:01 > 0:33:06we're going to pop this lady on and just take her over to Harrogate.
0:33:06 > 0:33:10'That's the plan, but Coral has other ideas.'
0:33:10 > 0:33:14I don't want to go to hospital. I want to go home.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16You want to go home?
0:33:16 > 0:33:21- Thing is, this will need an X-ray. - No! I don't want one!
0:33:21 > 0:33:28'Coral is about to go on holiday and doesn't want to go to hospital in case they stop her jetting off.
0:33:28 > 0:33:36'Tony and Lee know that if fractures are left untreated, it can lead to serious complications.'
0:33:36 > 0:33:40- A quick flight with us, get you X-rayed...- I don't want to!
0:33:40 > 0:33:45Just have it checked, Coral. It's fine. I just want to go!
0:33:45 > 0:33:50- I want to go on holiday.- But you can't leave it if it's fractured.
0:33:50 > 0:33:54That's the thing. You've got to take care of yourself first of all.
0:33:54 > 0:34:01'They can't force Coral to go to hospital but Lee's persuasion finally pays off.'
0:34:01 > 0:34:06We're going to get a board to put you on. It's a five-minute flight.
0:34:06 > 0:34:13Get it checked over and if it's not fractured you'll be on your way home before you know it.
0:34:13 > 0:34:19It's an isolated injury so there's no panic. Just load her on and fly her over to Harrogate.
0:34:19 > 0:34:22'Coral's looking forward to a bit of relaxation
0:34:22 > 0:34:26'so she probably doesn't realise how lucky she's been.
0:34:26 > 0:34:33'Tony and Lee know that any accident involving a rider crushed by a horse is usually very serious.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37'While her compatriots carry on tackling the jumps,
0:34:37 > 0:34:41'Coral should be just a quick X-ray away from her holiday.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43'Although there's no room for Mum,
0:34:43 > 0:34:47'Lee lives down the road and passes on some local knowledge.'
0:34:47 > 0:34:50Across the A1 towards Harrogate.
0:34:50 > 0:34:54- Big sign for the hospital. Have you been to the showground?- Yes.
0:34:54 > 0:34:57Past the showground on the righthand side.
0:34:57 > 0:35:01'I'm pleased to say that Coral's leg wasn't broken.
0:35:01 > 0:35:06'After a quick check-up in hospital, she was allowed to go on holiday.'
0:35:07 > 0:35:12When you see a horse, it's not hard to see the appeal of the sport.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16The best riders can almost control their mounts by instinct.
0:35:16 > 0:35:20Even the most experienced horse men and women can get it wrong.
0:35:20 > 0:35:24'Showjumping arenas are not just in the countryside.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28'The Helimed team's soaring over Castleford and West Yorkshire
0:35:28 > 0:35:31'on their way to another injured rider.
0:35:31 > 0:35:38'Amy Holdsworth has been thrown off her horse while jumping a fence over five feet high.'
0:35:38 > 0:35:40Hiya, all right?
0:35:40 > 0:35:42This young lady's Amy.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46She's been doing her jumps, come off a 15-hand horse...
0:35:46 > 0:35:51'Amy has landed awkwardly and is still lying face down in the dirt.
0:35:51 > 0:35:56'These arenas are on soft ground to try to prevent serious injuries,
0:35:56 > 0:35:59'but Amy has some worrying symptoms.'
0:35:59 > 0:36:02No C spine. Right hip shooting pain into her legs.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05We're going to give her some morphine.
0:36:05 > 0:36:09'Lee's worried about her neck, spine and pelvis.'
0:36:09 > 0:36:11Had your helmet on, did you?
0:36:11 > 0:36:15Good lass. Have you got a back protector? No.
0:36:15 > 0:36:20'Morphine is the strongest painkiller the paramedics carry.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22'It's done little to help Amy.'
0:36:22 > 0:36:25- And move... - SHE CRIES OUT
0:36:25 > 0:36:30'With Amy lying on her front, immobilising her is not easy
0:36:30 > 0:36:34'but its essential to prevent making any injuries worse.'
0:36:34 > 0:36:39Anybody got a tissue? Can you dab her eye? Her eyes are watering.
0:36:39 > 0:36:42'Competitive show-jumpers ride against the clock.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45'That's when most accidents happen.
0:36:45 > 0:36:50'Amy's a promising rider and has been pushing herself and her horse.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53'This is a massive set-back for her training.'
0:36:53 > 0:36:57We managed to get her from the position she was in.
0:36:57 > 0:37:00She was complaining quite a lot of pain.
0:37:00 > 0:37:05We've got her onto the board and given a bit more pain relief.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07Mum's flying with us.
0:37:07 > 0:37:12We're going to whip her to Wakefield and let them have a look at her.
0:37:12 > 0:37:17She'd have been in for a prize today. This isn't much of a prize.
0:37:17 > 0:37:21'Mum Sheila has encouraged her daughter's riding
0:37:21 > 0:37:25'and watched in horror as Amy fell.'
0:37:25 > 0:37:31She got into the jump-off so she wanted to get a good time.
0:37:31 > 0:37:33He just didn't jump the fence.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36He reared away. She came off the side.
0:37:36 > 0:37:39I was OK until she didn't move
0:37:39 > 0:37:41when she hit the ground.
0:37:41 > 0:37:44Normally, they jump straight back up again.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47When she didn't move I went to pieces.
0:37:47 > 0:37:52'It's no wonder Amy was in pain. X-rays revealed an unusual injury.
0:37:52 > 0:37:57'Amy broke her coccyx, the tip of her spine.
0:37:57 > 0:37:59'It took a while to heal,
0:37:59 > 0:38:05'but she's back on her mount, ready to tackle the fences once more.'
0:38:05 > 0:38:10All our horsey patients recovered and are back in the saddle.
0:38:10 > 0:38:14Two men that won't be following their dangerous sport
0:38:14 > 0:38:18have a little girl to thank for their decision to give it up.
0:38:18 > 0:38:24'High above the Peak District, a life-or-death race is under way.
0:38:24 > 0:38:29'In the back of Helimed 99 lies a critically injured biker.
0:38:29 > 0:38:37'Paul Davies has a head injury so serious the crew had to anaesthetise him in the middle of the A57.
0:38:37 > 0:38:42'He's arriving at Northern General, where a crash team is waiting.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46'For four days, Paul drifts in and out of consciousness
0:38:46 > 0:38:50'between visits to the operating theatre.
0:38:51 > 0:38:56'It was two weeks before the brothers-in-law were reunited.
0:38:56 > 0:39:01'They used to come to polish their bikes, their pride and joy.
0:39:01 > 0:39:08'Now their riders are recovering from a smash that could have killed both of them.'
0:39:08 > 0:39:12He'd got more polish on that paintwork than paint.
0:39:12 > 0:39:17Must have been an inch layer of polish. Surprised it didn't bounce.
0:39:17 > 0:39:22We were down two or three times a week, polishing it.
0:39:22 > 0:39:27That's all I wanted since being a kid, a bike. It were pride and joy.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31'But Paul's made up his mind his biking days are over.
0:39:31 > 0:39:36'His wife Becky and three-year-old Keira convinced him.'
0:39:36 > 0:39:42I'd rather spend time with Keira than be out on a bike.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44That's a big eye-opener, really,
0:39:44 > 0:39:49knowing that my daughter and my wife could have been without me.
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Big eye-opener.
0:39:51 > 0:39:57We were just out enjoying ourselves. the weather had come nice.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00Went out to have a ride.
0:40:00 > 0:40:05Over Ladybower way, there's some nice roads and nice views.
0:40:05 > 0:40:12It is beautiful there, if you know the roads, especially.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14Got both bones in me forearm.
0:40:14 > 0:40:18I've had metal plates and bars put in.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22Severe bruising to me leg and bad head injury.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25I were in intensive care for five days.
0:40:25 > 0:40:30Out cold for most of it. Four days, I think I was out.
0:40:30 > 0:40:32So, mucky.
0:40:32 > 0:40:37'Andrew's injuries weren't as serious but he remembers the anguish
0:40:37 > 0:40:40'of thinking his brother-in-law was dead.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42'He won't ride again, either.'
0:40:42 > 0:40:46All I could think were it were my fault.
0:40:46 > 0:40:48I didn't have chance to think.
0:40:48 > 0:40:53All I thought was, "I just hit my brother-in-law.
0:40:53 > 0:40:59"I don't know whether he's dead. I can see he's breathing now."
0:40:59 > 0:41:03To begin with, I thought he was dead. He was not moving.
0:41:03 > 0:41:06With leathers, I couldn't see any breathing.
0:41:06 > 0:41:11I'd have rather it had been me laying on the floor than him.
0:41:11 > 0:41:15But you can't change places with people, can you?
0:41:15 > 0:41:19'The impact had shattered Andrew's foot.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22'It's held together with metal pins.
0:41:22 > 0:41:26'He still managed to get up and help his mate.'
0:41:26 > 0:41:29My first reaction was to run to him.
0:41:29 > 0:41:33Obviously, adrenalin was going so I couldn't feel my foot was broken.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36Ran over and just tried to wake him up.
0:41:36 > 0:41:41I'm a first-aider at work, so I knew I couldn't do anything.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43I weren't allowed to move him.
0:41:43 > 0:41:49'I tried to keep him as still as possible, tried to bring him round by talking to him.'
0:41:49 > 0:41:52I've hurt me foot a bit, that's all.
0:41:52 > 0:41:57I do feel bad. Obviously, he's in a bad way as well, with his foot.
0:41:57 > 0:42:01He's got a smashed-up bike and he didn't before.
0:42:01 > 0:42:07I do feel responsible but maybe if I could remember what happened, I'd feel even worse.
0:42:07 > 0:42:11We're glad we're still here, that's the main thing.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14'When Helicopter Heroes comes back,
0:42:14 > 0:42:17'a major road accident paralyses a village.
0:42:17 > 0:42:20'One victim can only think of others.'
0:42:20 > 0:42:24- How's the other guy? - He's stuck in the cab.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27'A driver's crushed by his truck.'
0:42:27 > 0:42:30He's been dragged down the road.
0:42:31 > 0:42:35'A little boy falls six foot on a day out at Gran's.'
0:42:35 > 0:42:37Can I have a listen of your tummy?
0:42:39 > 0:42:43'And the unsung heroes who help the Helimed team save lives.'
0:42:57 > 0:42:59Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd