0:00:03 > 0:00:09If you're critically ill or seriously injured in a place like this,
0:00:09 > 0:00:12there's only one thing that can save you and that's speed.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14It doesn't matter where you are.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18This helicopter with its trained team of pilots and paramedics
0:00:18 > 0:00:22will fly to your rescue at 2.5 miles a minute.
0:00:22 > 0:00:25These are Yorkshire's Helicopter Heroes.
0:00:46 > 0:00:50When the people of England's biggest county dial 999,
0:00:50 > 0:00:53there's a good chance help will come from the skies.
0:00:53 > 0:00:58The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is ready to scramble 365 days a year
0:00:58 > 0:01:02and each one brings a new life or death emergency.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Coming up on Helicopter Heroes,
0:01:05 > 0:01:09a walker slips on an icy ravine and starts a major rescue operation.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12Coming down here wasn't such a good idea.
0:01:12 > 0:01:17There's a race to save a golf club greenkeeper's badly injured hand.
0:01:17 > 0:01:20This gentleman's puts his fingers into what looks like a strimmer.
0:01:20 > 0:01:26- The team hit the language barrier after a French jockey falls from her horse.- La-bas ou non?
0:01:26 > 0:01:29I think his dialect's all wrong.
0:01:29 > 0:01:35And winter puts the skids under Yorkshire's motorists with painful results.
0:01:40 > 0:01:46There's something about scenery like this that makes you want to put your walking boots on.
0:01:46 > 0:01:52But the weather can turn a beautiful landscape into a dangerous place as one rambler found out last winter.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56Sutton Bank is one of Yorkshire's most stunning sights,
0:01:56 > 0:02:02a huge limestone cliff decorated by a white horse that can be seen 50 miles away on a clear day.
0:02:02 > 0:02:07It's also one of the UK's most picturesque airfields.
0:02:07 > 0:02:11Glider pilots love to soar in the up-draughts from its slopes.
0:02:12 > 0:02:17On a summer's day, this is a rambler's paradise, but winter makes it lethal.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Jane Johnstone has fallen heavily on an icy path
0:02:21 > 0:02:25and is in so much pain, she doesn't want to get off the freezing ground.
0:02:25 > 0:02:29Helimed 99 won't have any problem finding their location today.
0:02:29 > 0:02:34Jane and her husband Jim were walking down the steep path towards the Kilburn White Horse.
0:02:34 > 0:02:38The limestone landmark covers one and a half acres.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41This is one of the coldest winters I can remember.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45We're going for a lady who's got some leg injuries.
0:02:45 > 0:02:49If she can't walk, her temperature will plummet.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53We as crew have to be prepared as well with multiple layers on.
0:02:53 > 0:02:59For pilot Steve Cobb, the white horse might be easy to spot, but it could be a hazardous landing site.
0:02:59 > 0:03:05- I wonder if it's on that path that goes round?- Yeah, cos it goes down to the actual horse, doesn't it?
0:03:05 > 0:03:10- Yeah.- I don't know how... I've got someone on the floor halfway down.
0:03:10 > 0:03:13- We're not gonna get there, are we? - No chance.
0:03:13 > 0:03:20There's no way pilot Steve can land the helicopter close to Jane and Jim. The ground's just too steep.
0:03:20 > 0:03:27But he needs to get paramedics Sammy Wills and Pat Greaken as close to the path as possible.
0:03:27 > 0:03:33We've had a visual with the walker, so we know she's conscious and breathing. She's sat down.
0:03:33 > 0:03:37She's a good quarter of a mile down a footpath that's on a slope,
0:03:37 > 0:03:43so rather than going down and having to come back and get kit, we're doing it all at the same time.
0:03:43 > 0:03:47It's becoming clear that this isn't going to be a straightforward job.
0:03:47 > 0:03:54- Really slippy.- Jane is lying halfway down a steep slope and after days of freezing temperatures,
0:03:54 > 0:03:58the path resembles a bobsleigh run. Despite wearing all the right kit,
0:03:58 > 0:04:03Sammy and Pat know that carrying a patient back up the icy path will be very difficult
0:04:03 > 0:04:06and potentially dangerous.
0:04:06 > 0:04:08- Hello.- Hello.- What can you tell me?
0:04:08 > 0:04:13It's left leg. Upper left leg. And her left wrist as well, I think.
0:04:13 > 0:04:18- CRIES OF PAIN - What's hurting...? Pat, don't push me any further.
0:04:18 > 0:04:24- I'm sliding down to you. Let me come back up. The top of your left leg? - Yes.- Anywhere else?- My wrist.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28- When you fell, did you bang your head?- No.- Not at all.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32It was such a beautiful day, we decided we'd go for a walk.
0:04:32 > 0:04:35We live in Brafferton near Boroughbridge.
0:04:35 > 0:04:41We decided to come to the top of Sutton Bank and enjoy the views, but coming down here wasn't a good idea.
0:04:41 > 0:04:45I'm just not safe. I daren't get close to you. I'm gonna fall into you.
0:04:45 > 0:04:51While Sammy struggles to examine Jane, more resources and equipment arrive
0:04:51 > 0:04:55and one ambulanceman highlights the dilemma facing the rescuers.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58Were you going uphill or downhill?
0:04:58 > 0:05:02- We were coming down.- Did you hear anything pop or crack?- No.
0:05:02 > 0:05:06- You've not tried to get up?- Yes. - You have and you weren't able.
0:05:06 > 0:05:09Jane is lying precariously across the path
0:05:09 > 0:05:13and even small movements are causing her to slide further down the hill.
0:05:13 > 0:05:17- Don't you all slip as well. - Don't go backwards either.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21- Because we're walking on it, it's making it slippy.- I know.
0:05:21 > 0:05:24Below them is a 200-foot drop.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26One slip could be fatal.
0:05:26 > 0:05:32Your pain is my big challenge, all right? I need to make you as comfortable as I can.
0:05:32 > 0:05:35As pain goes, it's not like giving birth.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39That's why you're scoring five out of ten, rather than ten out of ten!
0:05:39 > 0:05:46- Where is all the pain? In the hip? - No, it's my left side. - It's her left.- My left side.
0:05:46 > 0:05:51- Further down and then round.- Is it more into your groin, my love?- Yes.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55- I think you might have damaged your hip.- My hip?- Yeah.
0:05:55 > 0:06:01- With it being right at the top, it's either your hip or the top of your...- Femur.- Yeah, your femur.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04This is bad news for Jane and her rescuers.
0:06:04 > 0:06:09Fractures to the hip or thigh bone are serious injuries and will be very painful.
0:06:09 > 0:06:15Sammy and Pat had hoped to escort Jane back up the path, but they must now reassess the whole situation.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18We risk hurting it even more...
0:06:18 > 0:06:22- It doesn't matter. You've got to get me out of here.- We will, we will.
0:06:22 > 0:06:28And they need to think fast. If they don't move Jane soon, she'll quickly become hypothermic.
0:06:28 > 0:06:33Jane needs to be in hospital. Sammy and Pat's options are running out.
0:06:37 > 0:06:43Coming up, the Helimed team call in the military as the cold gets to their patient.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46They're gonna pick you up. I'll have to take it away.
0:06:46 > 0:06:51In racing country, the rider of a race horse is thrown on the morning gallop.
0:06:52 > 0:06:57And the driver of a sports car is caught out by an icy road.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Quite a small car, so they're difficult to get out.
0:07:04 > 0:07:09Most of us rely on machinery at work, even if it's just a photocopier.
0:07:09 > 0:07:14But for some people, a vital tool of the trade can inflict serious injuries.
0:07:14 > 0:07:17And all it takes is one simple mistake.
0:07:17 > 0:07:21To get a round of golf, you've got to get up early on popular courses.
0:07:21 > 0:07:25And enthusiastic golfers demand high standards on the green -
0:07:25 > 0:07:28well-trimmed turf and no leaves.
0:07:28 > 0:07:32But today in North Yorkshire, a greenkeeper is in trouble.
0:07:32 > 0:07:35It's a golf course in my patch at Harrogate.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Somebody has amputated a hand.
0:07:38 > 0:07:40The crew know they can help.
0:07:40 > 0:07:46We might be able to take him direct to the LGI who specialise in that sort of thing.
0:07:46 > 0:07:49Let him know that the Air Ambulance is on its way.
0:07:49 > 0:07:54Lee and Tony are met by an ambulanceman who has collected the missing fingers.
0:07:54 > 0:08:01This gentleman's put his fingers into what looks like a strimmer. They look pretty badly chewed up.
0:08:01 > 0:08:07Inside the ambulance is 30-year-old greenkeeper Keith Emery. He can't bring himself to look at his hand.
0:08:07 > 0:08:11It is Luke Skywalker, innit? It's proper chopped off, yeah?
0:08:11 > 0:08:15Yeah, you've lost a few fingers.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17It looks like four fingers.
0:08:17 > 0:08:22So we definitely need to be at Leeds if we can.
0:08:22 > 0:08:27Keith was clearing leaves from the golf course when the accident happened.
0:08:27 > 0:08:29He put his hand into a leaf blower.
0:08:29 > 0:08:34We'll give you some to start you off and we'll give you some more as and when you need it.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37Tony gives Keith morphine to kill the pain.
0:08:37 > 0:08:42OK, let's get the story straight. You put your hand into what?
0:08:42 > 0:08:48It's the back of a machine. It's picking up leaves, but it's basically a lawn mower.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52Lee speaks directly to the hand surgeon at Leeds General Infirmary.
0:08:52 > 0:08:58We've got the digits bagged. We've got the hand dressed, so we'll fly him straight to you from Harrogate.
0:08:58 > 0:09:02It'll only be painful for a while. That'll kick in soon.
0:09:02 > 0:09:07The digits are completely missing and the less time spent between them being off and being back on
0:09:07 > 0:09:10is better for the patient.
0:09:10 > 0:09:16- I can't- BLEEP- believe I've done this!- It's too late to be concerned about that.
0:09:16 > 0:09:18OK?
0:09:18 > 0:09:20Nice and steady.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Leg in. Let's just get you settled properly.
0:09:23 > 0:09:28The trauma of what's happened is beginning to hit Keith hard.
0:09:29 > 0:09:31BREATHES DEEPLY
0:09:34 > 0:09:40We've got him bandaged up and everything. We've got him on the aircraft and we'll come to you now.
0:09:40 > 0:09:44It's seven minutes on to the helipad up top.
0:09:44 > 0:09:48Will they know I'm going to Leeds for getting my wife to see me?
0:09:48 > 0:09:51I told the lad who brought us on the buggy.
0:09:51 > 0:09:56All the crew are doing their best to make Keith comfortable.
0:09:56 > 0:09:59How is your pain now? Has it eased down from 10?
0:10:00 > 0:10:04- About an 8.- About an 8. So it's still quite painful.
0:10:04 > 0:10:10What I'll do, Lee, when we land, I'll very quickly give him some more morphine.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15- Yeah, OK.- He's scoring 8 out of 10, so I'll give him a bit more.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18- Want the heating up a bit? - I think we're all right. Cheers.
0:10:18 > 0:10:24You're doing well there, Keith. In a couple of seconds, we'll get you down.
0:10:24 > 0:10:29- OK, first crane is at 12 o'clock on this big, high building. Can you see it?- OK.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32Within minutes, the crew are over Leeds city centre,
0:10:32 > 0:10:36dodging the tower cranes on the way to the hospital's rooftop helipad.
0:10:36 > 0:10:39The tail's over the pad at the back.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42That's where we like to be.
0:10:44 > 0:10:50We'll get you some more morphine on board, then we'll get you down to Casualty. OK?
0:10:54 > 0:10:58- I'll give him morphine before we move.- Yeah, all right, OK.
0:10:58 > 0:11:02Keith has done really well, but the pain is kicking in hard
0:11:02 > 0:11:07and the crew suspect it's more than just physical pain.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10The paramedics have done their bit.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14Now it's up to surgeons to see if they can save Keith's hand.
0:11:18 > 0:11:25Coming up, surgeons have a few minutes to make a decision that will affect Keith for life.
0:11:25 > 0:11:30The important thing is getting the wounds covered and closed without infection.
0:11:30 > 0:11:37- A rambler's temperature is falling and her rescuers make the situation worse.- Agh!- Sorry.- That's enough.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41And the big freeze brings fun for some, but agony for others.
0:11:41 > 0:11:43Aagh!
0:11:47 > 0:11:51The paramedics rely on their patients to help them do their job.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Just asking them where it hurts can often result in the diagnosis.
0:11:55 > 0:11:59But what happens when the patient doesn't speak any English?
0:11:59 > 0:12:03In North Yorkshire's racing country, the Helimed team will find out.
0:12:04 > 0:12:10The market town of Middleham is famous for its castle, once the home of Richard III.
0:12:10 > 0:12:16It's several hundred years since he moved out, but the sport of kings is still part of the community here.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Hundreds of race horses are in training around the town
0:12:20 > 0:12:24and every morning they ride through the market square to the gallops.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27But up in the hills, there's been an accident.
0:12:27 > 0:12:32A jockey exercising a horse has come off and Helimed 99 is being sent to help.
0:12:32 > 0:12:36- She just fell straight down?- Yeah. - She didn't get dragged?- No.
0:12:36 > 0:12:42The trouble is the gallops include miles of track through the hills above the town.
0:12:42 > 0:12:45Finding the incident isn't gonna be easy.
0:12:45 > 0:12:47OK, let's print that off.
0:12:47 > 0:12:5330 miles away at Leeds Bradford Airport, today's crew includes Dr Ben Wyatt
0:12:53 > 0:12:57who is able to prescribe stronger painkillers than the paramedics.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59We have lots of riding stables
0:12:59 > 0:13:01in and around Yorkshire.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04A lot of the best training stables
0:13:04 > 0:13:07are based in God's own county.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11There are occasions when the horse actually falls on to the rider.
0:13:11 > 0:13:17These can be quite serious. We've had a number of patients that have been crushed by their own animal
0:13:17 > 0:13:21at the time of their accident and these are serious, serious injuries.
0:13:21 > 0:13:27With dozens of highly-strung race horses training below, pilot Andy Figg will have to be careful.
0:13:27 > 0:13:31An ill-timed landing could create more patients.
0:13:31 > 0:13:37All right, lots of horses on the gallops. I'll hold the height till we see where we're going.
0:13:37 > 0:13:40- Yeah.- About half a dozen race horses over there.
0:13:40 > 0:13:43The team's patient is lying where she fell.
0:13:43 > 0:13:49It's miles from the nearest road and the land ambulance has done well to beat the chopper to the scene.
0:13:49 > 0:13:55Paramedic Darren Axe is about to come across a problem he rarely sees in his home town of Castleford -
0:13:55 > 0:13:58the language barrier.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01She's French. You have to speak to this lady.
0:14:01 > 0:14:06Today's patient is Camille Mayeux, a French jockey who has just arrived in the UK.
0:14:06 > 0:14:09Her English is as good as Darren's French.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Ask her if she can feel this.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Dr Ben knows a few words of French.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18- La-bas ou non? - Just not the right ones.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23Ask her if she can feel me touching her legs. I think his dialect's all wrong.
0:14:23 > 0:14:27- Wiggle her toes.- Est-ce que tu peux bouger tes orteils?
0:14:27 > 0:14:31Luckily, one of Camille's French colleagues can translate.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36- T'as mal en fait quand t'as bouge? - Leg...- Leg. Yeah, we understand leg.
0:14:36 > 0:14:41Local trainer Mark Johnston attracts ambitious riders from all over Europe.
0:14:41 > 0:14:47Camille's just 18, but they start them young in the racing business and she's an experienced jockey.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50She's got quite a large bruise on one leg.
0:14:50 > 0:14:54As far as we can tell, it's not broken, but it could be
0:14:54 > 0:14:57cos she has fallen quite a height off a big horse.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59She's in severe pain.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02- When she breathes in...- Yes.
0:15:03 > 0:15:05Really deep. Let it go out.
0:15:05 > 0:15:12- Yes.- In really deep. She's got to suck quite hard on that cos it's a demand valve.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16As soon as she stops taking this, the effects will go.
0:15:17 > 0:15:23Darren and his colleagues are concerned that Camille was kicked by her horse as she hit the ground.
0:15:23 > 0:15:27In a moment, we want her to roll that way,
0:15:27 > 0:15:31but keep breathing the gas. OK?
0:15:31 > 0:15:36It's cold on top of the Yorkshire Dales and Camille was dressed for it
0:15:36 > 0:15:38which isn't helping Darren.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41She's got three coats on!
0:15:41 > 0:15:45This is the Dales. Sensible, that, yeah.
0:15:45 > 0:15:50Then we're gonna put her on to a stretcher, keep her warm, put her into the aircraft
0:15:50 > 0:15:53and we're gonna take her to Harrogate Royal Infirmary.
0:15:53 > 0:15:55She needs to be checked out.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Vas-y, doucement.
0:15:58 > 0:16:04Paramedics have their own styles of beside manner and Darren likes to keep his patients smiling,
0:16:04 > 0:16:07even if it does lose a little in translation.
0:16:07 > 0:16:10I bet she wishes she put her make-up on now!
0:16:10 > 0:16:12Which way are we going, guys?
0:16:12 > 0:16:15Race horses can travel at up to 40 miles an hour.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20Jockeys can sustain an impact similar to someone falling from a motorbike,
0:16:20 > 0:16:24but they don't wear the same protective clothing.
0:16:24 > 0:16:29Without a proper conversation with their patient, the team still have to use guesswork
0:16:29 > 0:16:31about how badly she's been hurt.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Sometimes it can be a problem if people don't speak the language.
0:16:35 > 0:16:39If you've got a risk of neck and back pain, any spinal injury,
0:16:39 > 0:16:44the patient needs to fully understand what you're asking of them.
0:16:44 > 0:16:49Hello. Are you warm enough? A little cold? OK.
0:16:49 > 0:16:55In any language, Camille is now just 10 minutes from hospital, but now communication gets even harder -
0:16:55 > 0:16:58there's no room for the translator.
0:16:58 > 0:17:02My French... I could probably order a McDonalds!
0:17:04 > 0:17:07That's clear. Just check over our shoulder.
0:17:07 > 0:17:15Camille's still breathing painkilling gas, but it's not having as big an effect as the crew hoped.
0:17:16 > 0:17:22She's in a lot of pain and obviously upset. we don't suspect it's fractured, but she took a nasty bang
0:17:22 > 0:17:30to that area of her leg and it is painful. Hopefully, at hospital, we'll have another French speaker
0:17:30 > 0:17:34who will be able to translate what she needs to say.
0:17:34 > 0:17:41Other than that, her friends I'm sure will be making their way down to Harrogate to speak to her.
0:17:41 > 0:17:48The NHS recruits staff from all over Europe and the chances are Camille will find a French-speaking doctor
0:17:48 > 0:17:55on duty at Harrogate District Hospital. She may be a long way from home, but she's in good hands.
0:17:55 > 0:18:00The young lady is in quite a lot of pain, with pressure on her leg.
0:18:00 > 0:18:04Travelling in by ambulance would have caused a great deal of discomfort.
0:18:04 > 0:18:10As it were, we lifted in less than 10 minutes and she's on her hospital trolley
0:18:10 > 0:18:14going through to be assessed and to receive any treatment she requires.
0:18:14 > 0:18:18Camille's injury turned out not to be serious
0:18:18 > 0:18:25and she returned home to recover for a month before resuming her riding career on the Yorkshire Dales.
0:18:25 > 0:18:32Finding out what it's like to fall off a horse the hard way hasn't put her off her chosen career.
0:18:32 > 0:18:35I'm OK now.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39I don't have a problem. My leg is very good.
0:18:39 > 0:18:46And, as you can hear, Camille's stay in hospital did at least improve her English.
0:18:50 > 0:18:56Coming up: a greenkeeper finds out if he's lost his hand in a freak accident
0:18:56 > 0:19:00- or if surgeons can save it. - We need to do that fairly soon.
0:19:00 > 0:19:05And a car skids on an icy road and the driver needs help.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13Nearly 1,000 feet up on the edge of the North York Moors,
0:19:13 > 0:19:19a rambler is the centre of a complicated rescue that's about to get even more complex.
0:19:19 > 0:19:26in North Yorkshire, the Helimed team are trying to help an injured walker near a famous landmark -
0:19:26 > 0:19:28the Kilburn White Horse.
0:19:28 > 0:19:34Jane Johnstone slipped on the icy path and Paramedic Sammy Wells thinks she's broken her leg
0:19:34 > 0:19:36where it joins the hip.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41We're going to go towards your back. I'd love to leave you until we got some pain management.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46- Are you absolutely sure you want to try?- Yes.
0:19:46 > 0:19:50- Please, please, do tell us. - If I start saying rude words... Ah!
0:19:53 > 0:19:55- I just...- Yeah.
0:19:55 > 0:20:02It's not just Jane's condition they need to worry about. She fell a quarter of a mile down a steep path
0:20:02 > 0:20:09and after weeks of freezing temperatures, the ground is too treacherous to carry her back up.
0:20:09 > 0:20:16- Can I check your temperature?- Pat's called for a mountain rescue team, but they're nearly an hour away.
0:20:16 > 0:20:22With the temperature dropping to minus five, they need a solution before Jane turns hypothermic.
0:20:22 > 0:20:27What we're going to do - walking you out will be too slippery -
0:20:27 > 0:20:34is we hope to get the Sea King search and rescue aircraft that has a rope attached to it...
0:20:34 > 0:20:39- Flippin' hell!- I know. It's because of the predicament you're in.
0:20:39 > 0:20:46It's the last resort, but they need the specialist skills of the RAF, who can winch Jane off the hill.
0:20:46 > 0:20:52I'm really grateful. It's at times like this you appreciate how valuable they are.
0:20:52 > 0:20:57Sammy's attention now turns to getting Jane's pain under control
0:20:57 > 0:21:03- and preparing her for a frightening experience. - Jane, we're preparing to move you.
0:21:03 > 0:21:07I need you to take some more. Open your eyes again, Jane.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12Jane's deteriorated. The cold is making her sleepy. This isn't good.
0:21:12 > 0:21:19Sammy and Pat need to move Jane before the RAF arrive, but it's going to be very painful.
0:21:19 > 0:21:23It's clear that she's done some pretty serious damage to her leg.
0:21:23 > 0:21:27Lift your head up, Jane. We'll put that behind your head.
0:21:27 > 0:21:29Take deep breaths.
0:21:29 > 0:21:36'She's in a lot of pain. We're giving her pain relief and waiting for the RAF to turn up
0:21:36 > 0:21:42'so we can winch her to the top. When the RAF get here, with the downdraft,'
0:21:42 > 0:21:47it's going to be very slippy, so we'll have to be very careful.
0:21:47 > 0:21:52You're a lot kinder than the midwives were when I gave birth.
0:21:53 > 0:21:56They just said, "Pu-u-ush!"
0:21:57 > 0:22:01Finally, to everyone's relief, the Sea King helicopter arrives.
0:22:01 > 0:22:08There are six search and rescue teams in the UK. When they're not responding to 1,000 calls a year,
0:22:08 > 0:22:13they spend three hours training every day for missions like this.
0:22:13 > 0:22:17They're bringing the stretcher down. You just stay nice and still.
0:22:17 > 0:22:22Winds of over 80 miles per hour, caused by the Sea King's huge rotors,
0:22:22 > 0:22:29batter Jane and her rescuers, causing the temperature to drop to below -10.
0:22:29 > 0:22:33Have some air now. When they pick you up, I have to take it away.
0:22:33 > 0:22:37They've made their patient as safe and warm as possible,
0:22:37 > 0:22:42but Sammy, Pat and the ground crew are now struggling to stand up.
0:22:42 > 0:22:47Eventually Jane's ready for the terrifying journey towards an eight-ton helicopter
0:22:47 > 0:22:50hovering over 50 foot above ground.
0:22:50 > 0:22:56There are trees just metres from the rotors and the pilot must keep the aircraft as steady as possible.
0:22:56 > 0:23:02As anyone who's been winched into a helicopter will tell you, it's an experience you'll never forget.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Jane's just glad to be off the hill.
0:23:05 > 0:23:08Very, very windy and very icy.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11I felt the cold blast on my face.
0:23:11 > 0:23:16As the team make their way back up, it's clear they made the right decision.
0:23:16 > 0:23:23- It is just like an ice rink down there.- It's taken well over an hour to rescue Jane.
0:23:23 > 0:23:28The whole team is exhausted, but the job's not finished for Sally.
0:23:28 > 0:23:32Jane's body temperature has dropped so much, hypothermia's a danger.
0:23:32 > 0:23:36Sammy will travel in the Sea King to monitor Jane's condition
0:23:36 > 0:23:40on the way to the James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough.
0:23:42 > 0:23:48It's really impressive to see the RAF, how they control the aircraft so close to the hills.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53I've seen them in the Lakes hovering feet from the mountains.
0:23:53 > 0:23:57It's incredible to watch. Luckily, we don't have to do that.
0:23:57 > 0:24:03After two hours on an exposed hillside, Jane's giving cause for concern. Her temperature's plunged.
0:24:03 > 0:24:09Hypothermia is dangerous enough when you're fit and healthy. Her life could be at stake.
0:24:17 > 0:24:23Coming up: Jane arrives at hospital and the medical team begins the fight to raise her temperature.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Her temperature is 33 degrees, which is hypothermic.
0:24:27 > 0:24:34And a local council's gritting team is a little late to prevent a nasty accident on an icy road.
0:24:39 > 0:24:44Now imagine losing your hand. It's an awful prospect,
0:24:44 > 0:24:50but one that's terribly real for one man after an accident with a leaf-blowing machine
0:24:50 > 0:24:55- on a golf course in North Yorkshire. - This gentleman's put his fingers in a strimmer.
0:24:55 > 0:25:0030-year-old groundsman Keith Emery has chopped all the fingers off his left hand.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03He put his hand into a leaf blower.
0:25:03 > 0:25:10It's barely half an hour later, but he's now on six floors from the operating theatre.
0:25:10 > 0:25:13Yes, we've got the digits.
0:25:13 > 0:25:20Leeds General Infirmary is a specialist centre for microsurgery. A surgical team is standing by.
0:25:24 > 0:25:31Once there would have been no chance of reattaching Keith's fingers, but now they can be grafted back,
0:25:31 > 0:25:35but only in some circumstances and time is crucial.
0:25:35 > 0:25:39They've given Keith the best chance they could.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44Look at the times we've done We're in A&E at LGI.
0:25:44 > 0:25:50We've taken off at 13.16 from Leeds Bradford to go and bring him back.
0:25:50 > 0:25:56And we've arrived at 13.52. So I mean... Time is crucial with things like this.
0:25:56 > 0:26:02The surgical team know that losing a hand or limb causes psychological injuries as well as physical.
0:26:02 > 0:26:09Some patients say it's like enduring a bereavement. At least doctors have ways of killing pain.
0:26:09 > 0:26:13The risk is that it's bleeding a lot so we have to get control of that.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17Then give everything a good clean as there's risk of infection.
0:26:17 > 0:26:23We'll get a good assessment to have an idea of what we're doing in the theatre.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25We'll have to crack on and do that.
0:26:27 > 0:26:33Keith's in pain and unable to take in the critical examination that's going on.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37Doctors are deciding if his fingers are fit to reattach.
0:26:37 > 0:26:43They've got to weigh the chances of success against the risks of infection and additional damage.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48There's a lot of mud on the fingers.
0:26:48 > 0:26:54So we'll need to clean them up and see whether they're viable to be reattached or not.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59Given the injury, it's unlikely, but we need to have a look.
0:26:59 > 0:27:05Surgery is part art, part science, but the doctors don't like the look of what they've seen.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09I've had a look at the bits that came off
0:27:09 > 0:27:13and none of those are going to survive any reattachment.
0:27:13 > 0:27:20If fingers come off with a clean cut from a guillotine or a knife, they can sometimes be reattached,
0:27:20 > 0:27:24but looking at those, there's lots of contamination and crushed elements,
0:27:24 > 0:27:28so it's unlikely they'll be reattached.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32The important thing is getting the wounds covered and closed,
0:27:32 > 0:27:37so that at a later stage we can reconstruct things for him.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Reattaching Keith's fingers is too risky.
0:27:40 > 0:27:46An unsuccessful attempt could lead to their patient losing more of his hand
0:27:46 > 0:27:49or developing a lethal infection.
0:27:50 > 0:27:54The accident at the golf course has cost Keith his hand.
0:27:54 > 0:27:59From now on, he will have to relearn how to carry out the simplest tasks.
0:27:59 > 0:28:05It will be a long road to recovery, but he knows the Helimed team gave the best treatment possible.
0:28:12 > 0:28:16Coming up: the crew recover from two hours in sub-zero temperatures,
0:28:16 > 0:28:20but there's still no news about the rescued rambler.
0:28:24 > 0:28:30We all live with the weather and most winters have to put up with icy roads or pavements,
0:28:30 > 0:28:37but every year an unlucky few motorists are caught out by the big chill.
0:28:37 > 0:28:43They may not be Torvill and Dean, but there's nothing more fun than slipping across the ice.
0:28:43 > 0:28:48Apart from a few bumps and bruises, they won't trouble the local A&E,
0:28:48 > 0:28:53but when it's a few tons of metal, that's a completely different story.
0:28:53 > 0:28:59We're going to this road accident where somebody's hurt their arm. Multiple fracture.
0:28:59 > 0:29:03It might need surgery, so we can take them to LGI,
0:29:03 > 0:29:05which has got surgeons standing by.
0:29:05 > 0:29:10It's the middle of one of the coldest winters people remember
0:29:10 > 0:29:15and that's putting huge pressure on Yorkshire's emergency services.
0:29:15 > 0:29:21Helimed 99 is on its way to one of many smashes caused by the icy conditions.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25Two cars have collided head on and one driver has nasty injuries.
0:29:25 > 0:29:31This is Robert, a 40-year-old gentleman, who's been involved in a head-on collision.
0:29:31 > 0:29:37- This is the position I found him in. - What's the matter, mate? - Oh, my God. My knee.- That knee?
0:29:40 > 0:29:46Robert isn't trapped inside his car, but he's broken his leg and his arm. They're serious injuries.
0:29:46 > 0:29:49The Helimed team are taking no chances.
0:29:49 > 0:29:54The roads here are quite icy. Quite treacherous for all vehicles.
0:29:54 > 0:30:00Two vehicles have collided head-on on a reasonably fast stretch of road
0:30:00 > 0:30:03and caused quite a bit of damage to both.
0:30:03 > 0:30:08- What's cracked your knee, then? - The dashboard's all destroyed.
0:30:08 > 0:30:14The plan is we'll get a board, stand you up, put the board behind you and lie you down. OK?
0:30:14 > 0:30:16All right.
0:30:16 > 0:30:23The gritters arrive half an hour too late. This is a back road used by commuters to avoid congestion.
0:30:23 > 0:30:28With the councils running low on salt, it has remained untreated.
0:30:28 > 0:30:33Without the Fire Service on hand, Paramedic Paul has to improvise.
0:30:33 > 0:30:35One, two, three.
0:30:36 > 0:30:42- Right, Robert, can we try and stand up?- Ah! - Head forward and stand.
0:30:42 > 0:30:46- One, two, three. Up. Push, Robert, push.- Push, mate.
0:30:48 > 0:30:54With no sign of a spinal injury, they're happy to help Robert out of the car,
0:30:54 > 0:30:59but that means moving his broken limbs and that's proving painful.
0:30:59 > 0:31:03- Aah!- Icy weather usually reduces the speed at which accidents happen.
0:31:03 > 0:31:09Robert's been lucky. Higher speeds could have made these injuries much worse.
0:31:09 > 0:31:14The bright yellow rigid spinal board is a welcome sight for Robert
0:31:14 > 0:31:20- and the team can finally keep his legs straight and start to give him more pain relief.- Aah!
0:31:22 > 0:31:23Aah!
0:31:23 > 0:31:26Well done, everyone.
0:31:26 > 0:31:31Give them a heads up to be ready on the helipad for about five to.
0:31:31 > 0:31:37The gritters should help prevent another accident here, but it's little consolation for Robert.
0:31:37 > 0:31:43He's on his way to Leeds General Infirmary and a specialist team of orthopaedic surgeons.
0:31:43 > 0:31:48After a lengthy stay in hospital, Robert made a full recovery,
0:31:48 > 0:31:52but he still hasn't forgiven the council for running out of grit.
0:31:52 > 0:31:58The helicopter gives the Helimed team one big advantage over colleagues on the ground.
0:31:58 > 0:32:03With the roads 500 feet below them freezing over again,
0:32:03 > 0:32:07Helimed 99 is called in to help another victim of the ice.
0:32:07 > 0:32:13A dry stone wall isn't the only casualty in this smash. The driver of an MG sports car is badly injured
0:32:13 > 0:32:15and trapped inside the wreckage.
0:32:15 > 0:32:20Quite a cold morning here again. Speed is of the essence, really.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24- People could get cold very quickly. - The crew know this road well.
0:32:24 > 0:32:29- They travel on it every day to work. - Just getting it at 12 o'clock.
0:32:31 > 0:32:34Here next to the fire engine.
0:32:36 > 0:32:43Today Lee's wearing a new, improved flight suit. This job could be the perfect test.
0:32:43 > 0:32:47There's debris everywhere and it's sub-zero temperatures.
0:32:47 > 0:32:51- She just spun off?- I think so. Complaining of left-sided neck pain.
0:32:51 > 0:32:58Got some pain above her left knee. And she's got some abdominal pain and tenderness on her left side.
0:32:59 > 0:33:01It's obviously been a big impact.
0:33:01 > 0:33:06Claire Harrington's beloved MG is now just a lump of mangled metal.
0:33:06 > 0:33:12I don't think the back is the easiest option. Just put the board at the side.
0:33:12 > 0:33:18If you had to score that pain out of 10, where zero is no pain and 10 is the worst ever.
0:33:18 > 0:33:22I've got a very high pain threshold. I'm a chef and burn myself a lot.
0:33:22 > 0:33:27Claire may have a high pain threshold but when they move her,
0:33:27 > 0:33:33the pain could become unbearable very quickly. Lee wants to make sure she's ready for the rescue
0:33:33 > 0:33:39- that lies ahead. - She's got some hip pain which I need to give her some pain relief for.
0:33:39 > 0:33:43Just before we try to move her. It's quite a small car.
0:33:43 > 0:33:48It's difficult to get out. I need to get her as pain-free as possible.
0:33:48 > 0:33:53I'll do that, then liaise with the Fire Service and we'll have her out.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56OK...
0:33:56 > 0:34:00Modern cars and tyres are designed to cope with the worst weather,
0:34:00 > 0:34:04but nothing will prevent your car from skidding on black ice.
0:34:04 > 0:34:09The plan is to get the long board under her bum to slide her out,
0:34:09 > 0:34:12causing the least amount of movement.
0:34:12 > 0:34:18She has a bit of tenderness in her spine, so we don't want to move her too much.
0:34:18 > 0:34:23Removing patients from the wreckage is never easy,
0:34:23 > 0:34:29but the cramped cockpit of the MG is causing Lee and the others more problems than normal.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39- You know what's happening, Claire? - Yeah.- One, two, three.
0:34:39 > 0:34:44As Claire has found out, sports cars with wide tyres and powerful engines
0:34:44 > 0:34:49are among the hardest vehicles to drive on ice.
0:34:51 > 0:34:57Across the country, hundreds of unsuspecting motorists skid and slide to work in the wintry weather.
0:34:57 > 0:35:04Chef Claire's customers are going to go hungry this morning as she heads to Harrogate Hospital.
0:35:06 > 0:35:10It's years since Britain saw a winter like this.
0:35:10 > 0:35:15Despite gritters dumping hundreds of thousands of tons of salt onto Yorkshire's road network,
0:35:15 > 0:35:22with temperatures dropping to minus 10 commuters are feeling the big freeze the most.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26Well, it just says, "Car on roof. One trapped."
0:35:26 > 0:35:30Then it says on the bypass and another in the town centre.
0:35:30 > 0:35:35The rush hour's barely begun and Helimed 99 is to help a driver
0:35:35 > 0:35:38who's crashed just a few miles from their base.
0:35:38 > 0:35:41Nice sunrise there. It is a nice sunrise.
0:35:41 > 0:35:46Despite the beautiful sunrise, it is, in fact, minus 5 outside
0:35:46 > 0:35:53and this driver lost it on black ice. It's another soft top sports car. That can mean serious injuries.
0:35:53 > 0:35:57'It's a gentle slope as it goes away from us now.'
0:35:57 > 0:36:02- We'll go down and have a look.- He may not have to worry about black ice,
0:36:02 > 0:36:06but pilot Steve has problems above and below.
0:36:06 > 0:36:11The accident's happened next to a housing estate. There's little space
0:36:11 > 0:36:16and they're so close to the airport, other aircraft circle overhead.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19- Still OK?- Yeah.
0:36:19 > 0:36:25There's nothing wrong with Steve's parking, allowing Pat and Sammy to quickly assess the situation.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28It's slipped on black ice
0:36:28 > 0:36:33and she's gone up the embankment. The car's at 90 degrees.
0:36:33 > 0:36:40There's no sign of the driver. In fact, a passing motorist bravely prised her out
0:36:40 > 0:36:45and she's now keeping warm in the back of the Good Samaritan's car.
0:36:45 > 0:36:51- Guys, what can you tell me? - I didn't hit the lamp-post! - Well done.- Got a red mark here,
0:36:51 > 0:36:53where the seatbelt's been.
0:36:53 > 0:36:56The lady's walked to this car.
0:36:56 > 0:37:01- We'll see what's going on.- Valerie Smyth had a remarkable escape.
0:37:01 > 0:37:06The car's flipped, but the lamp-post prevented it from rolling over.
0:37:06 > 0:37:10With only fabric for a roof, this could have been a lot worse.
0:37:10 > 0:37:16- Do you know what made you crash? - Ice.- You didn't feel dizzy or unwell?- Absolutely not.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20It went that way and I went into the hedge.
0:37:20 > 0:37:23- Well done.- 'She's been very lucky'
0:37:23 > 0:37:26that it hasn't been more serious.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31The car's been on its side. You have to suspect spinal injuries.
0:37:31 > 0:37:37I felt my car going that way... and then it veered that way. I just tried to steer it.
0:37:37 > 0:37:42- You had your seatbelt on?- I did.- Val may have been able to clamber out,
0:37:42 > 0:37:47but Sammy knows that back and neck injuries can take time to appear.
0:37:47 > 0:37:53- She wants to fully immobilise her patient before moving her again. - I'll hold the back of your skirt
0:37:53 > 0:37:56and raise you forward. Ready, guys?
0:37:56 > 0:38:02Some kind motorists have lived to regret allowing injured people to sit in their cars.
0:38:02 > 0:38:06More than once, fire fighters have cut the roof off an undamaged car
0:38:06 > 0:38:12to get at a patient with a suspected neck injury. Not today, thankfully.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15There we are.
0:38:15 > 0:38:21With Val successfully out of the car, Pam and Sammy are confident her injuries are not serious enough
0:38:21 > 0:38:24to warrant a flight in Helimed 99.
0:38:24 > 0:38:29Their colleagues on the ground will navigate the icy roads to A&E.
0:38:29 > 0:38:34That lady was driving a lovely soft top car that she managed to roll.
0:38:34 > 0:38:38It's hit a tree and just stopped short of the lamp-post.
0:38:38 > 0:38:43That's been the saving grace. She could've had serious head injuries.
0:38:43 > 0:38:49Well done to the ladies that stopped and offered assistance. Good teamwork. Good Samaritan.
0:38:49 > 0:38:54I'm pleased to say all patients have recovered and are back on the road,
0:38:54 > 0:38:58with the only damage to their No Claims bonuses.
0:38:58 > 0:39:03Now let's catch up with the rescue of a rambler.
0:39:05 > 0:39:12On a moorland airfield, Paramedic Pat and pilot Steve recover from two hours in freezing temperatures
0:39:12 > 0:39:15waiting for news of their patient.
0:39:15 > 0:39:21Jane Johnstone fell on a hillside path and suffered a suspected broken hip.
0:39:21 > 0:39:25The Helimed team had to call in an RAF chopper to rescue Jane
0:39:25 > 0:39:29but by then her body temperature had plunged.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33We've decided to go with the lady in the aircraft to Middlesbrough.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36By land, she'd be in a lot of pain.
0:39:36 > 0:39:40Her temperature is 33 degrees, which is hypothermic.
0:39:40 > 0:39:45Despite our best efforts, she's still become very, very cold.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49She's got a thermal warmer over her, it brings nice warm air.
0:39:49 > 0:39:54She's broken her hip or her femur and possibly her wrist.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57She'll possibly need surgery for it.
0:39:57 > 0:40:03Before they could deal with her injuries, doctors in Middlesbrough must slowly raise her temperature.
0:40:03 > 0:40:07Only then will they be able to operate on her broken bones.
0:40:09 > 0:40:14But, just a month later, Jane's back on her feet.
0:40:15 > 0:40:21It was a beautiful day. Blue skies, sunshine. Just the day for a nice walk.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23The views were just fantastic.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27We decided we'd go along the top.
0:40:27 > 0:40:35It was rough and there was a bit of snow, but we just automatically assumed it would be all right.
0:40:35 > 0:40:38And Jim was in front of me.
0:40:38 > 0:40:42And then, all of a sudden, I was on the floor.
0:40:43 > 0:40:48It was a very narrow path, so we walked one behind the other.
0:40:48 > 0:40:50I just heard this sort of yelp.
0:40:50 > 0:40:53My feet just went.
0:40:54 > 0:40:57And I went down with a bang.
0:40:57 > 0:41:01- I think you've damaged your hip. - My hip?!- Yeah.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06I just remember suddenly being in the worst pain I've ever been in.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13I kept on thinking it was my leg. I kept saying it was my leg.
0:41:13 > 0:41:17That's where it hurt, but it was my hip.
0:41:17 > 0:41:22If they hadn't been able to get to me, I wouldn't be here, would I?
0:41:22 > 0:41:28How on earth we'd have got off that path I've no idea. They were all absolutely amazing.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32I was so embarrassed that I needed so many people
0:41:32 > 0:41:38in just a... a second of my life. I slipped.
0:41:38 > 0:41:44I'm just so grateful that people like the air ambulance and all the others are there.
0:41:44 > 0:41:50You never know when you'll need them. If it wasn't for them, I don't think I'd be here.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52When Helicopter Heroes comes back:
0:41:52 > 0:41:55a jockey falls at 40mph.
0:41:55 > 0:42:01- He's fallen. - And Paramedic Lee is worried for his unconscious patient.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03She's had a fit.
0:42:03 > 0:42:09The team is scrambled to save a driver who is lucky to survive a smash with a milk tanker.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14A builder is trapped under his upturned dumper truck.
0:42:14 > 0:42:17The bone's sticking out of the leg.
0:42:17 > 0:42:22And there's a helicopter crash high in the Pennines.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2009
0:42:35 > 0:42:37Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk