0:00:02 > 0:00:08If you're seriously ill or critically injured, every second counts,
0:00:08 > 0:00:12especially if you're up high or off the beaten track.
0:00:12 > 0:00:16But thanks to these guys, the people of the UK's biggest county
0:00:16 > 0:00:19are never more than ten minutes from a hospital.
0:00:19 > 0:00:23The Yorkshire Air Ambulance can do 150 miles an hour
0:00:23 > 0:00:27and every day brings a new life or death emergency.
0:00:45 > 0:00:52Five million people depend on these yellow helicopters to bring life-saving care from the skies.
0:00:52 > 0:00:56When a multiple pile-up closes Britain's highest motorway
0:00:56 > 0:00:59or there's an accident on the shop floor,
0:00:59 > 0:01:05the highly trained paramedics and pilots of the Helimed team are there to rescue the casualties.
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Today on Helicopter Heroes...
0:01:07 > 0:01:12Two buses crash and the driver is fighting for his life.
0:01:12 > 0:01:15They're trying to see where his foot's trapped.
0:01:15 > 0:01:21- There's a difficult landing for pilot Tim as the team struggle to reach their patient.- Hello!
0:01:21 > 0:01:24I don't know where we are.
0:01:24 > 0:01:28The chopper heads into Yorkshire's steel city to rescue a quad biker.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31He's got a possible fractured femur.
0:01:31 > 0:01:36Paramedic Al is battling the blizzards to save people stranded in the snow.
0:01:43 > 0:01:47Some of the Helimed team's most serious cases
0:01:47 > 0:01:49come when least expected.
0:01:49 > 0:01:53They're just as likely to happen when the chopper's busy elsewhere.
0:01:55 > 0:01:59As road accidents go, it doesn't get much worse than this -
0:01:59 > 0:02:05a head-on crash between a coach on the school run and a bus carrying elderly passengers.
0:02:05 > 0:02:10Several people are already on their way to hospital.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15The local ambulance service is treating this as a major incident.
0:02:15 > 0:02:22Newfield is a tiny village ten miles south of Newcastle and is way outside Helimed 98's usual patch.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26But the team has just dropped a patient off at a nearby hospital,
0:02:26 > 0:02:31so they arrive before the locally based Great North Air Ambulance.
0:02:31 > 0:02:33One of the bus drivers is dead...
0:02:34 > 0:02:39The driver of the coach is trapped and while the fire crew struggles to free him,
0:02:39 > 0:02:44it's up to flying doctor Jez Pinnell to assess his condition.
0:02:44 > 0:02:49- Is he talking?- He is, but... - Not very much.- It's best if you have a look, Doc.
0:02:49 > 0:02:52He's going to come in now and see what he can do.
0:02:52 > 0:02:56I've spoken to the officer in charge of the fire service about how long.
0:02:56 > 0:03:02Not sure. So we're going to let him in. If you just tell him what you have to do. Excellent.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05- I'll just go round and get a view from the other side.- OK.
0:03:05 > 0:03:11The good news is that driver Jack Hall has dropped off his last schoolgirl passenger
0:03:11 > 0:03:14just moments before the accident happened.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17The bad news is he's caught up in the mangled wreckage
0:03:17 > 0:03:21and isn't likely to be getting out any time soon.
0:03:21 > 0:03:24I see what they mean by "well and truly trapped".
0:03:24 > 0:03:28Ambulance-wise, there's probably 25 people here.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32Another few dozen firemen, half a dozen police.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35Two helicopters, two doctors.
0:03:35 > 0:03:39We're just getting rid of the door, so we've got a bit more access.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44Unfortunately, the man driving the other bus was killed in the accident.
0:03:44 > 0:03:49One of his passengers will be taken to hospital by the Great North Air Ambulance
0:03:49 > 0:03:53while the Helimed 98 team focus on the trapped coach driver.
0:03:53 > 0:03:58At the moment, they're trying to expose to see where his foot's trapped.
0:03:58 > 0:04:04Once they've exposed that, they can get him sorted out, so they can pull him out.
0:04:04 > 0:04:07They're having to cut away the vehicle. Crucial timescale.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10Spinal boards here, Jez, ready.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12Spinal boards ready.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15But time isn't on their side.
0:04:15 > 0:04:21Back at base, dispatcher Chris knows Helimed 98 has to take off before it gets dark.
0:04:21 > 0:04:25They've got to be back on the ground a half hour after sunset.
0:04:25 > 0:04:31Even when lives are at stake, pilot Chris Atrill can't break the Civil Aviation Authority curfew,
0:04:31 > 0:04:34designed to prevent accidents.
0:04:34 > 0:04:37I would say we need to be leaving here, worst case...
0:04:39 > 0:04:43..half five. We've got plenty of time yet.
0:04:44 > 0:04:49Driver Jack Hall has now been trapped for 45 minutes.
0:04:49 > 0:04:53But these kind of operations can't be rushed.
0:04:54 > 0:04:58Meanwhile, doctor Jez and paramedic Sammy Wills are trying
0:04:58 > 0:05:02to keep him as comfortable as possible.
0:05:02 > 0:05:04We're just drawing up some ketamine.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07We're looking at putting the patient to sleep.
0:05:07 > 0:05:10He's the driver and he's significantly trapped,
0:05:10 > 0:05:14so this might be a bit of a prolonged entrapment.
0:05:14 > 0:05:18We have no idea how this has happened. It's just carnage, really.
0:05:18 > 0:05:21Because the patient is in a critical condition,
0:05:21 > 0:05:26doctor Jez is planning to perform a procedure called rapid sequence induction.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30This will mean Jack will be anaesthetised
0:05:30 > 0:05:34and have a tube placed down his throat to keep his airway open.
0:05:34 > 0:05:39We're just preparing now to RSI this patient. I'm just drawing up the drugs for Jez.
0:05:39 > 0:05:42As the light begins to fade,
0:05:42 > 0:05:47the Great North Air Ambulance lifts off with the injured bus passenger on board.
0:05:47 > 0:05:49Our challenge also is daylight hours,
0:05:49 > 0:05:54so we don't want to get caught out on the wrong side of it going dark.
0:05:54 > 0:05:58But if needs be, we'll go by... we'll go by land.
0:05:59 > 0:06:06Meanwhile, the Helimed 98 team have to hope the light will hold until their patient is freed.
0:06:06 > 0:06:10We've got a number of options with the way he has to be taken out.
0:06:10 > 0:06:15We can't take him out the front way. We can bring him down the back and out this window.
0:06:15 > 0:06:20If we can fit him through the door, great, otherwise, we'll bring him out the back window.
0:06:24 > 0:06:29Coming up, doctor Jez turns the accident scene into an operating theatre.
0:06:29 > 0:06:33We're going to pop you off to sleep, mate, OK?
0:06:33 > 0:06:38Helimed 98 heads into the city and paramedic Ben Anderson is on the case.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41Possible fractured femur, the long bone in his leg.
0:06:41 > 0:06:45And up in the peaks, there's a tricky mountain rescue.
0:06:45 > 0:06:47Get your breaths in. Come on.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Thanks to postcodes and computer databases, finding a patient
0:07:03 > 0:07:07who needs medical help is a lot simpler than it used to be.
0:07:07 > 0:07:11But when you're a paramedic 1,000 feet up in a helicopter
0:07:11 > 0:07:14and all you've got is a map reference, things get complicated.
0:07:14 > 0:07:18The old quarries and woods at Conisborough near Doncaster
0:07:18 > 0:07:22are a perfect playground for mountain bikers.
0:07:22 > 0:07:28But when they have an accident, the emergency services often end up playing "hunt the patient".
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Today, Helimed 99 has been scrambled to a cyclist
0:07:31 > 0:07:35who has fallen around 15 feet to the bottom of a ravine.
0:07:35 > 0:07:39We've just had an update from the crew on the scene.
0:07:39 > 0:07:41They've now arrived at the patient
0:07:41 > 0:07:44and he may have chest and back injuries.
0:07:45 > 0:07:50- The ambulance is there now at your seven o'clock.- Yeah, yeah.
0:07:50 > 0:07:55The dense woodland makes it doubly difficult for the Helimed crew.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59Not only does it block their view of the accident scene,
0:07:59 > 0:08:04but it also means there are very few places to land.
0:08:04 > 0:08:10Yeah, we've put down in a big quarry just down by the canal. We're going to head in...
0:08:10 > 0:08:15Now they're on the ground, paramedic Pete Vallance and doctor Andy Pountney
0:08:15 > 0:08:18are still struggling to find the patient.
0:08:18 > 0:08:23Go another 50 yards, 100 yards and straight up to t'top and there's all hills and woods.
0:08:23 > 0:08:27Nobody's turned up down there with you, have they, Daz?
0:08:27 > 0:08:30We've spoken to the crew. They seem to think we're not far off.
0:08:30 > 0:08:35We're still walking into the woods. No sign of anybody yet.
0:08:35 > 0:08:36Hello!
0:08:36 > 0:08:41We'll give you a call back if we continue to get lost.
0:08:41 > 0:08:43I don't know where we are.
0:08:43 > 0:08:47We're somewhere near...I think probably south-west of Doncaster
0:08:47 > 0:08:51in a fairly densely wooded area looking for a mountain biker
0:08:51 > 0:08:55who's fallen 15, 20 foot. We're struggling to find him.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59We want to make sure we don't walk past the path that they're on.
0:08:59 > 0:09:03Pete's run up into the woods to see if he can see anybody at all.
0:09:03 > 0:09:09Pete is a keen runner in his spare time, so a long hike through the woods is no problem for him.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Hello!
0:09:15 > 0:09:18And at last, they've tracked the patient down.
0:09:18 > 0:09:25This was 41-year-old Stephen Fullerton's first time biking in these woods
0:09:25 > 0:09:27and it will probably be his last.
0:09:27 > 0:09:33He came down this bridge at this end, slammed on his brakes and went over the handlebars.
0:09:34 > 0:09:37And he landed down here near that tree.
0:09:37 > 0:09:43I couldn't move him. I had to get out on to the main road to find someone to come and get him.
0:09:43 > 0:09:47He's almost certainly broken his collarbone. He's got a lot of pain
0:09:47 > 0:09:53and a crunchy feeling over the shoulder blade and the ribs, so he's probably got some broken ribs.
0:09:53 > 0:09:58You have to worry about the collapse of the lung underneath or any bleeding,
0:09:58 > 0:10:04but he's got good amounts of air going in and out of his chest and his oxygen saturations are fine,
0:10:04 > 0:10:08so we'll just keep a close eye and intervene, should he deteriorate.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12There are now two problems facing the team.
0:10:12 > 0:10:16They need to get Stephen safely out of the deep ravine
0:10:16 > 0:10:21and then they must get Helimed 98 on to the ground in the middle of the woods.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31Coming up, is this a bridge too far for pilot Tim?
0:10:31 > 0:10:35He turns a disused viaduct into a landing pad.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38You wouldn't want to land anywhere smaller than this.
0:10:38 > 0:10:42Jez fears he's losing the fight to save a bus driver.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45He's gone asystolic. Can we give him some adrenaline?
0:10:45 > 0:10:49And the team shelter a patient from a Pennine gale.
0:10:49 > 0:10:52We'll pass this over your head. Kate's going in with you.
0:11:01 > 0:11:04Even though they rarely have time to enjoy the view,
0:11:04 > 0:11:11the Helimed teams spend a lot of their time flying over some of the UK's most beautiful countryside.
0:11:11 > 0:11:15But sometimes they face a tricky mission in an urban area.
0:11:15 > 0:11:20The crew of Helimed 98 have been scrambled to their own back yard.
0:11:20 > 0:11:24From their base at Sheffield Airport, they're heading into town
0:11:24 > 0:11:28to bring pain relief to a man injured riding a quad bike.
0:11:28 > 0:11:35Near where the old cooling towers used to be or as near as damn it, so it can't be far from here.
0:11:35 > 0:11:41This is Britain's steel city with lots of back-to-back housing and industry.
0:11:41 > 0:11:46It's not ideal territory for an air ambulance, but pilot Steve can handle it.
0:11:46 > 0:11:53- Where am I supposed to be looking? - Down at your three o'clock, that big field.- The playing field?- Yeah.
0:11:53 > 0:11:57- Are you all happy in the back?- Yeah. Looks quite gravelly, doesn't it?
0:11:57 > 0:12:00Just a quick bounce down.
0:12:03 > 0:12:09The quad rider Altaf is in agony and the nearest landing site is a quarter of a mile away.
0:12:09 > 0:12:15Ben's anxious to get his stock of morphine to his patient as soon as possible.
0:12:15 > 0:12:20This is Altaf. He's gone head-on into this car. Been in the standard position at the time.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24It seems as if the collision's happened just here
0:12:24 > 0:12:29where the quad biker's come up the road and collided with the front of the taxi,
0:12:29 > 0:12:31throwing the rider on to the road.
0:12:31 > 0:12:37Paramedics Tony Wilkes and Ben must work quickly to find out what injuries Altaf has.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Is that painful even to touch now?
0:12:40 > 0:12:43That means he must say goodbye to his designer jeans.
0:12:43 > 0:12:47He's got a possible fractured femur, the long bone in his leg.
0:12:47 > 0:12:50We're going to put a traction splint on
0:12:50 > 0:12:55which will hopefully straighten his leg and reduce any pain he's got.
0:12:55 > 0:13:00Once the splint's on and we get an update from our desk, we'll know what we're doing.
0:13:00 > 0:13:06If you get a fracture of this kind, you get a lot of muscle spasm and a lot of nerve pain.
0:13:06 > 0:13:13This is a very serious injury. Patients with a broken femur can suffer lethal blood loss,
0:13:13 > 0:13:18- so morphine is given to numb the pain. - You can have a bit more, mate.
0:13:18 > 0:13:24Quads are more common on farms than city streets, but Altaf is a skilled rider and his bike was road-legal.
0:13:24 > 0:13:29He's badly hurt, but it could have been much worse. He wasn't wearing a helmet.
0:13:29 > 0:13:35They are becoming more frequent on the roads, but no particular problem with them generally.
0:13:35 > 0:13:38The road-legal ones are fine.
0:13:38 > 0:13:43- Aaagh!- The accident's happened not far from Sheffield's Northern General Hospital.
0:13:43 > 0:13:48For all Helimed 98's speed, it will be faster taking him by road.
0:13:48 > 0:13:54Yeah. Roger. He's had a total of 20 milligrams of morphine and he's got a traction splint in situ. Over.
0:13:54 > 0:13:57Altaf's soon on his way to hospital,
0:13:57 > 0:14:02just the start of what turned out to be several months of rehabilitation
0:14:02 > 0:14:06before he was ready to get back on the streets of Sheffield.
0:14:11 > 0:14:17Coming up, mountain biker Simon needs hospital treatment, but how do they get him out of the woods?
0:14:17 > 0:14:22- And a harsh winter puts Al under pressure. - That Jag's not going anywhere.
0:14:29 > 0:14:33Let's return to the major emergency operation under way
0:14:33 > 0:14:36on a road in Durham after two buses crashed.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40In the village of Newfield near Newcastle, there's been a crash
0:14:40 > 0:14:44between a coach on the school run and a bus with elderly passengers.
0:14:44 > 0:14:49One casualty is on his way to hospital in the air ambulance.
0:14:49 > 0:14:53The driver of the coach is still trapped one hour after the accident.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56We're bringing him straight out the back.
0:14:56 > 0:15:02When he does come out, can you go on to the trolley that's ready? We're going to put him to sleep.
0:15:03 > 0:15:06Right, make a start with his platform.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11It's impossible for fire crews to get driver Jack Hall out of the front of the bus,
0:15:11 > 0:15:16so they're planning to build a platform and bring him out of the back window.
0:15:16 > 0:15:23Paramedic Sammy is preparing a makeshift operating theatre, so Dr Pinnell can put Jack to sleep.
0:15:23 > 0:15:30- Jez, we've just ketamine drawn up. - That's lovely.- Do you want any midazolam or anything?- No.
0:15:30 > 0:15:35- OK, so here you go. That is your kit. - Lovely. Thank you.
0:15:35 > 0:15:40Jack has head and chest injuries and his trapped foot has almost been cut off,
0:15:40 > 0:15:44so it's better for him to be unconscious on the trip to hospital.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47- Legs!- Legs! - Shin straps coming forward.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52- One shin strap up.- Right, I'm on. Second one up yet?
0:15:52 > 0:15:57But it's by no means certain that he'll be travelling by helicopter.
0:15:57 > 0:16:03By law, Helimed 98 has to be back at base in Leeds soon after sunset and time is running out.
0:16:05 > 0:16:11Chris reckons we've probably only got a maximum of 20 minutes before we need to lift.
0:16:11 > 0:16:14I think we're going to get stuck.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Ready, brace, move!
0:16:16 > 0:16:20And rest there. Right, just straighten his body up a bit, lads.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25Just keep your hand on his back, so he doesn't fall.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27Jack is strapped to a spinal board
0:16:27 > 0:16:33and it's a tricky manoeuvre to get him out of the bus without jolting him around.
0:16:33 > 0:16:37Any sudden movements could make his injuries worse.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41Keep going, lads, keep going. Well done. Well done.
0:16:41 > 0:16:42Superb.
0:16:42 > 0:16:46Jack, we're going to pop you off to sleep, mate, OK?
0:16:48 > 0:16:52Watch the glass, guys. Watch your glass.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56Can we take his collar off?
0:16:56 > 0:17:01Putting Jack to sleep will help stop his head injury getting worse.
0:17:04 > 0:17:06I can feel that passing through.
0:17:06 > 0:17:10RSI is a complex procedure. Once the drugs have been administered,
0:17:10 > 0:17:14Jack will no longer be able to breathe by himself.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17That's why a tube has to be put down his throat.
0:17:17 > 0:17:21It's a potentially dangerous procedure, even in hospital.
0:17:27 > 0:17:33- Adrenaline!- Coming up, Jack's heart stops beating. Can the team save him?- Can we try some CPR?
0:17:35 > 0:17:39And up in the Pennines, there's an unlucky break for a charity walker.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43- This is Lynn.- Hiya. - Are you all right there?
0:18:02 > 0:18:06Helicopter pilots hate trees. They're responsible for many crashes
0:18:06 > 0:18:09and landing near them is fraught with danger.
0:18:09 > 0:18:13But in South Yorkshire, pilot Tim Taylor must find a way
0:18:13 > 0:18:17to rescue an injured cyclist trapped in the woods.
0:18:17 > 0:18:19Aagh, me ribs, me ribs! Aagh!
0:18:19 > 0:18:26Mountain biker Stephen Fullerton is laying at the bottom of a ravine with a suspected broken shoulder.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31The dense woodland has made it difficult for emergency services to reach him.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35And now they face the problem of getting him out.
0:18:35 > 0:18:39We're going to take you up to the helicopter and fly you to hospital.
0:18:39 > 0:18:45- You'll need to have some X-rays of your collarbone and your chest and your shoulder.- All right, sir?
0:18:45 > 0:18:49Helimed 99 is relocating.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52But landing on a viaduct which stands 100 feet high
0:18:52 > 0:18:59and is narrower than the span of the helicopter blades is going to test all pilot Tim's skills.
0:19:00 > 0:19:05- We'll have four at this side and four up top and we'll lift him up. Are you happy?- Yeah.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Oh, there's professionals here.
0:19:07 > 0:19:13- Steve's mate is amazed at the emergency service's response. - They've got a helicopter.
0:19:13 > 0:19:17While Dr Andy Pountney keeps Stephen's pain under control,
0:19:17 > 0:19:23paramedic Pete helps pilot Tim to navigate Helimed 99 on to the disused viaduct.
0:19:23 > 0:19:25It's a tight squeeze.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27One, two, three.
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Nice and steady.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32All right, step over.
0:19:34 > 0:19:37Watch your fingers, guys and girls.
0:19:38 > 0:19:41- Aagh! Aagh!- Steady, steady.
0:19:41 > 0:19:46It's not the only tricky manoeuvre being undertaken today.
0:19:46 > 0:19:52The Fire Service Technical Rescue Unit have got the job of getting Stephen safely out of the ravine.
0:19:52 > 0:19:54There's the chopper.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58It's the first time Helimed 99 has landed on a viaduct
0:19:58 > 0:20:02and pilot Tim isn't keen to repeat the experience.
0:20:02 > 0:20:06So if you wheel round, so we've got the feet towards the aircraft...
0:20:06 > 0:20:10I wouldn't really want to squeeze in anywhere tighter.
0:20:10 > 0:20:14Fortunately, cos the walls are quite low and the blades are quite high,
0:20:14 > 0:20:20there's no risk of the blades clipping the sides. You wouldn't want to land anywhere smaller than this.
0:20:22 > 0:20:26Thanks to Helimed 99's powerful engines,
0:20:26 > 0:20:32it only takes four minutes to get Stephen to Sheffield Northern General Hospital.
0:20:32 > 0:20:35The same journey by road would take 40.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39At the hospital, he's treated for a catalogue of injuries,
0:20:39 > 0:20:44but two weeks on, he's well enough to return home and continue his recovery.
0:20:44 > 0:20:48I broke my collarbone in several places and I broke six ribs,
0:20:48 > 0:20:52punctured a lung and I was told that one of the ribs
0:20:52 > 0:20:54that broke and punctured my lung
0:20:54 > 0:20:58was extremely close to puncturing my heart,
0:20:58 > 0:21:00so I was very lucky.
0:21:00 > 0:21:03This accident has been a long time coming.
0:21:03 > 0:21:08Stephen's passion for dangerous sports make mountain biking look pretty tame.
0:21:08 > 0:21:14I've done bungee jumping, bridge swinging, caving, rock climbing, mountaineering.
0:21:14 > 0:21:17All sorts. And I fall off a bike and do this!
0:21:17 > 0:21:22So, it's just one of them things, innit? I'll still mountain-bike.
0:21:22 > 0:21:26He'll be off work for at least two months whilst he heals.
0:21:26 > 0:21:32Fortunately, pilot Tim's landing that day was more successful than Stephen's biking.
0:21:32 > 0:21:36I know the viaduct. I thought, "How have they landed here?"
0:21:36 > 0:21:39That was just unbelievable.
0:21:39 > 0:21:42So that were impressive flying.
0:21:43 > 0:21:46"How did you get this on here?!"
0:21:50 > 0:21:58- Try some CPR?- Coming up: the patient is in cardiac arrest and they're about to lose the chopper.
0:21:58 > 0:22:01Unfortunately, I'm out of daylight.
0:22:08 > 0:22:12Here in the Pennines, we're around 1,000 feet above sea level.
0:22:12 > 0:22:16The temperature is around 3 degrees colder than it is lower down.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21If you have an accident up here, you will deteriorate much more quickly
0:22:21 > 0:22:26and that is when you really need the help of Mountain Rescue.
0:22:26 > 0:22:30Paramedic Al Day gives the Helimed team their Pennine grip.
0:22:30 > 0:22:35He loves the hills and he's the main link with Mountain Rescue,
0:22:35 > 0:22:39the other half of a lifesaving partnership.
0:22:39 > 0:22:45There's a good reason for that. When he's not flying, Al rescues people on the ground
0:22:45 > 0:22:49as a leading member of the Calder Valley Rescue Team.
0:22:49 > 0:22:54We're just on our way up to a couple of vehicles stuck in the snow.
0:22:54 > 0:23:00These roads are only passable by four-wheel drive and it's very cold up here.
0:23:00 > 0:23:04These guys are in a bit of bother, so we'll help them out.
0:23:04 > 0:23:08This is his day off, but you can't keep Al out of trouble.
0:23:08 > 0:23:12A January blizzard has trapped several motorists above Halifax.
0:23:12 > 0:23:17- Will you pull me through? - No, we'll leave your car here.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21This is dangerous work. The temperature is well below freezing
0:23:21 > 0:23:25and an arctic wind could cause hypothermia in minutes.
0:23:25 > 0:23:29This one's broken down. It'll get shifted to the side.
0:23:29 > 0:23:34Then the guy in the Discovery can get out. That Jag's not going anywhere.
0:23:34 > 0:23:41As well as navigating a hi-tech helicopter, Al's just as happy with a four-wheel drive.
0:23:41 > 0:23:47He knows the moorland tracks that criss-cross the Pennines like the back of his hand.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51We've just had to pull two vehicles out.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54We're still slipping and sliding.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56It's just unbelievable
0:23:56 > 0:24:01that anybody's got up here and tried to carry on through this.
0:24:02 > 0:24:09Al was a volunteer for Mountain Rescue long before he became a paramedic for Air Ambulance.
0:24:09 > 0:24:13He believes each role feeds into the other.
0:24:13 > 0:24:17I've been doing mountain rescue for quite a long time.
0:24:17 > 0:24:23It was great preparation for working on the Air Ambulance. In a lot of ways it's quite similar.
0:24:23 > 0:24:29They're the type of jobs you go into and the fact that you're often away from the road, up in the wilds,
0:24:29 > 0:24:36and having to think on your feet a bit and make stuff up as you go along and adapt stuff
0:24:36 > 0:24:43and change your plans in order to do the best job for the casualty at that time.
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Like Al, thousands of people are in love with the Pennines
0:24:48 > 0:24:56and these peaks that separate Yorkshire from Lancashire have some of the most challenging hill walks.
0:24:56 > 0:25:01Today Helimed 99 is on its way to a hilltop rendezvous with Al.
0:25:01 > 0:25:08Somebody's broken their wrist. Where they are is about half an hour travel
0:25:08 > 0:25:11back down to the land ambulance.
0:25:11 > 0:25:17So it's best part of an hour before they can get them into the warm.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19So we're going to go over there.
0:25:20 > 0:25:27Paramedics Paul and Pete know that even a minor emergency up here can be serious.
0:25:30 > 0:25:35An entrant on a long-distance walk above the town of Todmorden has had an accident,
0:25:35 > 0:25:371,500 feet up.
0:25:39 > 0:25:45Linda Dean's fallen and broken her wrist. She suffers osteoporosis, a weakening of the bones.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48- This is Linda. - You all right there?
0:25:50 > 0:25:56Even though he's on his day off, Al has prescribed a flight down from the hills.
0:25:56 > 0:26:01The Todmorden Boundary Walk is a big walking event, about 200 people.
0:26:01 > 0:26:07This lady's been out on the walk, tripped over, fallen onto her arm and broken her arm.
0:26:08 > 0:26:13She's not too bad, but from here it's a fair walk down to the road.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17It'll be quite difficult to get her down without a stretcher, really.
0:26:17 > 0:26:23So we've asked for assistance from the Air Ambulance to make it more comfortable for her.
0:26:23 > 0:26:25These hills are bleak.
0:26:25 > 0:26:30Even in May, you can quickly develop hypothermia up here.
0:26:30 > 0:26:36- Linda's been sheltering behind a monument.- She does suffer from osteoporosis and had a fall before.
0:26:36 > 0:26:41I looked round and she were down and her wrist has gone right back.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44I don't know if it's broken yet.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49- Can you walk unaided to the helicopter?- Yes, once I get up.
0:26:49 > 0:26:53We'll leave the Bacofoil on to keep a bit of chill off you.
0:26:55 > 0:26:59- Are you a regular walker? - Yes. Well...- Cheers, guys.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03Thank you very much, all of you.
0:27:03 > 0:27:07Pilot Tim Taylor's often the butt of the paramedics' jokes.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09You do know you're flying with him?
0:27:09 > 0:27:14He says he's qualified, but no one's seen his certificate.
0:27:14 > 0:27:20Despite the ribbing, Tim's actually a very experienced helicopter pilot who flew for years with the army.
0:27:20 > 0:27:26His skills will ensure Linda reaches hospital in Huddersfield in a few minutes.
0:27:26 > 0:27:33Once again, Al's saved a casualty of the Peaks a lot of pain and discomfort.
0:27:33 > 0:27:38Linda's wrist was treated and a few weeks later she was back in the hills.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42There are 55 Mountain Rescue teams across England and Wales.
0:27:42 > 0:27:49All volunteers know their patches inside out. That specialist local knowledge makes all the difference
0:27:49 > 0:27:53when someone has an accident well off the beaten track.
0:27:53 > 0:27:59Dr Steve Rowe is another Mountain Rescue volunteer who often flies in the Air Ambulance choppers.
0:27:59 > 0:28:05He's a consultant anaesthetist so his skills are invaluable to both teams.
0:28:06 > 0:28:13It takes a minute or two to kick in. When it does, the pain will get easier, you can breathe easier. OK?
0:28:15 > 0:28:19Today the Helimed team are on their way to the Rivelin Valley
0:28:19 > 0:28:26- where a climbing group from London have had an accident. One has a badly broken leg.- Aaah!
0:28:26 > 0:28:29This is quite a way from where we were.
0:28:29 > 0:28:36Yeah. I know exactly where it is, but I think where the kids will be playing in the trees,
0:28:36 > 0:28:40it will be hard for us to get down. So we'll see.
0:28:40 > 0:28:44If anybody can do it, Tim, that's you.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46Looking at the valley,
0:28:46 > 0:28:51we've been here before and it's quite difficult to get in and land,
0:28:51 > 0:28:55so it may be that we're not able to offer much support,
0:28:55 > 0:28:58but once we're overhead we'll see.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02- Ambulance coming up t'road. - Something's down here.
0:29:02 > 0:29:09Pilot Tim Taylor has little choice. He must land at the top of the valley and let his colleagues hike.
0:29:09 > 0:29:14Helimed 99. We're on the ground down at Rivelin.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16I don't think we've had an update.
0:29:16 > 0:29:21We're going to have to walk a couple of hundred metres to get to this guy.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25We'll update you when we're on scene with him. Over.
0:29:26 > 0:29:32Paramedic Pete knows he has a difficult climb ahead of him with a heavy rucksack,
0:29:32 > 0:29:38- but at least he has a guide. - Hi, there! Do you know the best place to come down?
0:29:39 > 0:29:41Here?
0:29:41 > 0:29:4529-year-old Ian Bell has fallen more than 20 feet.
0:29:45 > 0:29:49His femur, the biggest bone in the body, is broken and he's in agony.
0:29:49 > 0:29:56- This is Ian. He's fallen about five metres. Conscious throughout. - Hi, Ian. Just relax.- Aaah...!
0:29:56 > 0:30:02- Breathing rate is 30 at the moment. - Aaah!- Equal expansion both sides of his chest.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06He's got pain in his chest. There's no crepitus at the moment.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09- His pulse is 64.- Oh, my leg...!
0:30:09 > 0:30:14- Is it OK there, Ian?- A little pain. - Got any salts, guys?
0:30:14 > 0:30:20Ian's mates dialled 999 and got a response few patients can even dream of.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22I'll just check your pulse.
0:30:22 > 0:30:27As well as a helicopter and crew, there are two ground paramedics,
0:30:27 > 0:30:35a fully-equipped Mountain Rescue team and two doctors, including Helimed regular Dr Steve Rowe.
0:30:35 > 0:30:37Look at that, Steve.
0:30:37 > 0:30:39Oh, right.
0:30:41 > 0:30:47Ian's in a bad way. As well as his broken leg, they fear he may have damaged his spine.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50- Aaaah!- Ian? Ian?
0:30:50 > 0:30:53Breathe in. Steady breaths in.
0:30:53 > 0:30:57That's better. Nice, steady breaths.
0:30:57 > 0:31:02The painkilling gas is helping, but Ian needs something stronger.
0:31:02 > 0:31:07Dr Steve has the answer - a nerve block which numbs his leg.
0:31:07 > 0:31:12Ian, you've got a needle in this arm so try to keep it nice and still.
0:31:12 > 0:31:17He was in pain. I've done a nerve block on his leg.
0:31:17 > 0:31:21It will hopefully numb his leg. It's not fully working yet,
0:31:21 > 0:31:25but he's quietened down a fair bit. We can get his splint on.
0:31:25 > 0:31:31The hardest bit is to come. Ian's leg must be straightened with the traction splint.
0:31:31 > 0:31:35Right, we've got to put some splints on, Ian.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39We'll put one around your waistband and tie the belt
0:31:39 > 0:31:43and then a splint on your leg to pull it straight.
0:31:43 > 0:31:49But this rockface is treacherous. The last thing the team need is another accident.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Good lad. OK.
0:31:52 > 0:31:56We're going by road to the Northern General.
0:31:56 > 0:31:58- Ready, steady, lift.- Aaaaah!
0:31:58 > 0:32:03Ian is slid onto the rigid spinal board for his trip to hospital.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06Set to go onto the stretcher?
0:32:06 > 0:32:11It is awkward here. We've got crags up above us and it's steep below.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14But the road isn't that far,
0:32:14 > 0:32:16which goes straight into Sheffield.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19Have you got enough bodies there?
0:32:19 > 0:32:23It's too dangerous to carry him back up to the helicopter.
0:32:23 > 0:32:27He's not far from Sheffield Northern General.
0:32:27 > 0:32:29He'll be going by road.
0:32:29 > 0:32:36This is where Mountain Rescue teams come into their own. Most of the volunteers have climbed here
0:32:36 > 0:32:40and they know the best route down. Ian will soon be in hospital.
0:32:40 > 0:32:45Surgeons repaired his femur and he was sent closer to home,
0:32:45 > 0:32:50but it will be some time before he climbs again.
0:32:50 > 0:32:56The Arctic conditions of New Year 2010 meant the Air Ambulance and Mountain Rescue were relying
0:32:56 > 0:32:59on each other's skills more than usual.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06Climbing to 1,000 feet.
0:33:06 > 0:33:12We're bound to a place called Froggatt, which is approximately 10 miles south-west of Sheffield.
0:33:12 > 0:33:20The worst of the winter weather is behind us, but up in the Peaks there is still snow on the ground.
0:33:20 > 0:33:26Not only that, but today there's a bitter wind causing temperatures to plunge even lower.
0:33:26 > 0:33:32It's a really nice area, beautiful, and because of that we get a lot of walkers up there.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35Occasionally, they get into trouble
0:33:35 > 0:33:39and find themselves like this poor chap with a broken leg.
0:33:39 > 0:33:45Helimed 98 has been scrambled to a 64-year-old who's stranded on the top
0:33:45 > 0:33:48of windswept Stanage Edge.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50It's Edale Mountain Rescue team.
0:33:50 > 0:33:53- I'll see if anyone is talking. - OK.
0:33:53 > 0:34:00- If it's just a normal fracture, we can relocate to the ambulance. - When a walker has an accident here,
0:34:00 > 0:34:04there's a much higher chance of hypothermia, which can be fatal.
0:34:04 > 0:34:06- Is that somebody down there?- Yeah.
0:34:06 > 0:34:13- They're waving. - 64-year-old Leo Cortz was out walking with his wife and friends
0:34:13 > 0:34:15when he fell and broke his ankle.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19Helimed 98, landing on scene. Over.
0:34:19 > 0:34:25Even though Leo is wearing good warm clothing, his body temperature will drop extremely quickly
0:34:25 > 0:34:29unless he's protected from the icy wind.
0:34:29 > 0:34:33- I slipped and my foot went under me. - Right. Which foot? This one here?
0:34:33 > 0:34:40- I don't know if it's broke or sprained.- The best way to protect Leo is to put him inside a tent
0:34:40 > 0:34:47- called a bothy bag.- This is where we get to keep you out of the wind and it gets lovely and warm.
0:34:47 > 0:34:51We're going to pass this over your head. Kate's going in with you.
0:34:51 > 0:34:56And then I need you to hooch your bottom up a little bit.
0:34:56 > 0:34:59- Quite intimate, isn't it?- It is!
0:34:59 > 0:35:03Helimed 98 to Edale. Pass your message. Over.
0:35:03 > 0:35:08'Morning. Just seeing what the situation report is up there. Over.'
0:35:08 > 0:35:13The familiar voice on the radio is Mountain Rescue Dr Steve Rowe.
0:35:13 > 0:35:20'All the usual kit's on its way up and should be with you in 5-7 minutes. Over.'
0:35:21 > 0:35:24Roger that, Steve. Thank you.
0:35:24 > 0:35:27Now just stay nice and still.
0:35:27 > 0:35:33Leo says he has a high pain threshold, but he still needs some morphine.
0:35:33 > 0:35:36- Have you ever had morphine before? - No.- No.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38All right.
0:35:38 > 0:35:46What we'll do, with you being relatively comfortable, we'll just give you a bit and see how you go.
0:35:46 > 0:35:52Sometimes it can make people feel a bit dizzy and horrible. If that happens, just let me know.
0:35:52 > 0:35:55'Pain management he's tolerating.'
0:35:55 > 0:35:59The next bit, although it's only 10 metres to the aircraft,
0:35:59 > 0:36:02because of the rocks, snow and ice
0:36:02 > 0:36:06we're waiting for Edale Mountain Rescue to come and support us
0:36:06 > 0:36:09and we'll carry him to the aircraft.
0:36:09 > 0:36:13- Sounds like a party out there! - It does, doesn't it?
0:36:13 > 0:36:20Working on the road, you get used to working in weird conditions and just doing the best you can,
0:36:20 > 0:36:24but it's quite odd in here with this strange, orangey light.
0:36:26 > 0:36:28It's quite atmospheric, but...
0:36:31 > 0:36:38Now Mountain Rescue are here, it's time for Leo to leave his warm and snug bothy bag.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42The back of my head's been rubbing against this tent for 20 minutes.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46I think there will be a static explosion when we get out!
0:36:46 > 0:36:49There we go, Leo.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53A vacuum splint will keep Leo's leg still and stable during the move.
0:36:54 > 0:37:01There's an ambulance waiting on the road below, but rather than being carried on a stretcher,
0:37:01 > 0:37:05Leo's going to get a lift in the helicopter.
0:37:05 > 0:37:09When we take off, it's really noisy. I won't be able to hear you.
0:37:09 > 0:37:12So just wave if there's a problem.
0:37:12 > 0:37:14OK?
0:37:14 > 0:37:19Leo's ankle is broken, but it's not a time-critical injury.
0:37:19 > 0:37:25And, in any case, the nearest hospital doesn't have a helicopter landing pad,
0:37:25 > 0:37:29- so it makes more sense to take him by road.- Beautiful.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31We're down!
0:37:31 > 0:37:33OK, yeah?
0:37:33 > 0:37:38Dr Steve Rowe is waiting near the land ambulance.
0:37:38 > 0:37:43- He's been directing operations by radio.- I've been controlling.
0:37:43 > 0:37:47I knew the Air Ambulance was on scene,
0:37:47 > 0:37:53so we just assisted with the carry. Now it's over to the land ambulance and free the helicopter up again.
0:37:53 > 0:37:58When Leo gets to hospital, doctors confirm that he's broken his ankle.
0:37:58 > 0:38:05Although he's now back on his feet, it'll be a while before he attempts another ambitious winter walk.
0:38:06 > 0:38:10You'll be glad to hear all our patients are recovering well.
0:38:10 > 0:38:16Now a bus driver badly injured when he collided with a coach is clinging to life.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20His only hope is a high-speed trip to hospital.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24Can you give him some adrenaline, please?
0:38:24 > 0:38:30On a road in County Durham, flying doctor Jez Pinnell is fighting to save his patient.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32- Shall we start some CPR?- Yeah.
0:38:32 > 0:38:35His heart has stopped beating.
0:38:35 > 0:38:43Thanks to the team's prompt action, Jack Hall's heart is restarted, but could stop again at any time.
0:38:43 > 0:38:48- Adrenaline, 1 in 10,000.- Thanks. Just give him a couple of mils.
0:38:48 > 0:38:51He's just been freed from the mangled wreckage.
0:38:51 > 0:38:58He has serious head and chest injuries and his foot may have to be amputated.
0:38:58 > 0:39:03He's not a very well man at all. This is just to keep him asleep.
0:39:03 > 0:39:07Because it's taken so long to get Jack out, it's almost dark.
0:39:07 > 0:39:11Pilot Chris Atrill has had to make a hard decision.
0:39:11 > 0:39:16Unfortunately, I'm out of daylight. I've got enough to get back to Leeds,
0:39:16 > 0:39:20but unfortunately I can't carry the crew and patients.
0:39:20 > 0:39:26Under the UK's tough aviation laws, Chris has no choice. He has to fly home alone.
0:39:26 > 0:39:32We'll take him to Newcastle. He's not able to go by air, which is unfortunate for him
0:39:32 > 0:39:35and frustrating for us.
0:39:35 > 0:39:41Reluctantly, pilot Chris heads back to Leeds, leaving Paramedic Sammy to travel with Jack by road.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46It's been a tremendous team effort, great co-ordination.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50Em, a very tragic accident, though. Very, very tragic.
0:39:50 > 0:39:56But hopefully this gentleman will get there and make good progress.
0:39:56 > 0:39:58I hope.
0:40:00 > 0:40:04It's 10 miles by road to Newcastle General Hospital.
0:40:04 > 0:40:09Doctors will be able to establish how serious Jack's head and chest injuries are.
0:40:09 > 0:40:14They'll also decide whether he'll lose his foot.
0:40:14 > 0:40:19It's nearly three months since Jack had his terrible accident
0:40:19 > 0:40:22and his fiancee Michelle Dixon makes her daily visit.
0:40:22 > 0:40:27Jack broke both arms and seven ribs. He also had to have an amputation.
0:40:27 > 0:40:32- Did physio go again? - Yes. 8.30 until 9.
0:40:32 > 0:40:36- Right.- And she wondered why I wasn't smiling!
0:40:36 > 0:40:39'He was lucky not to be crushed.'
0:40:39 > 0:40:43He was lucky just to lose part of his lower right leg.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46I'd rather that than lose him.
0:40:46 > 0:40:53Jack still doesn't feel comfortable talking about the accident. When he finally came round,
0:40:53 > 0:40:58he'd lost his memory. He couldn't even remember he was engaged to Michelle.
0:40:58 > 0:41:03He knew the face, he knew me, but didn't realise we were a couple.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05He couldn't remember that at first.
0:41:05 > 0:41:10I sort of said, "You do know we're engaged?"
0:41:10 > 0:41:16And he went, "Are we?" And I went, "Yes, we are!" and showed him the engagement ring.
0:41:16 > 0:41:23He went, "All right, OK. I can't remember that," but I brought some photographs in to show him,
0:41:23 > 0:41:28so he could have a look. He'd seen our engagement pictures and our cake.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32He just couldn't remember it, but he'd seen it.
0:41:32 > 0:41:38Although Jack can recognise family and friends, he can't remember the accident.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41Michelle's just glad he's alive.
0:41:41 > 0:41:48What the ambulance crew did for Jack, I will never be able to thank them enough.
0:41:48 > 0:41:51That's how the family feel.
0:41:51 > 0:41:53And his friends.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57Because, to me, without them we wouldn't have Jack now.
0:41:58 > 0:42:00So I'll...
0:42:00 > 0:42:04I'll never be able to thank them enough.
0:42:05 > 0:42:07When Helicopter Heroes comes back:
0:42:07 > 0:42:12the family day out ends in a car crash and a passing mum turns medic.
0:42:12 > 0:42:15They asked if we had a First Aid kit.
0:42:15 > 0:42:21A man loses his fingers in a factory accident. Can Paramedic Sammy save them?
0:42:21 > 0:42:23There's so many nerve endings.
0:42:23 > 0:42:25A cyclist is badly injured.
0:42:25 > 0:42:28I'll just pop you off to sleep.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32And the swimmer who didn't look before he leapt.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2010
0:42:45 > 0:42:47Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk