0:00:02 > 0:00:06If you're seriously ill or critically injured up here,
0:00:06 > 0:00:08your life is in real danger.
0:00:10 > 0:00:12Complaining of severe pain.
0:00:12 > 0:00:14Mid-30s. Been ejected from a vehicle.
0:00:14 > 0:00:16Hospital's an hour away by road.
0:00:16 > 0:00:19Speed is the only thing that can save you.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Roger. Helimed 99 is en-route to you. Over.
0:00:22 > 0:00:27The Yorkshire Air Ambulance and its highly-trained paramedics are scrambled 1,000 times a year.
0:00:27 > 0:00:31- What's happened?- A small child has been on a path. A wagon's run over it.
0:00:31 > 0:00:36Many of its ex-military pilots flew the SAS into action.
0:00:36 > 0:00:39That's not a suitable landing site. This one here is.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Welcome to the life and death world of the Helicopter Heroes!
0:01:05 > 0:01:07Today on Helicopter Heroes:
0:01:07 > 0:01:10a lumberjack is badly injured by a falling tree.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13Paramedic Darren has to call in reinforcements.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15Call in the RAF and winch him out.
0:01:15 > 0:01:18The Helimed team deal with the casualties
0:01:18 > 0:01:21after a veteran motorist goes for a spin in a high-powered car.
0:01:24 > 0:01:26- Nothing digging in your back?- No.
0:01:26 > 0:01:30There's a serious accident on the shop floor and a worker is in agony.
0:01:30 > 0:01:32Trapped by his fingers and hands.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35And a winter sportsman's accident is caught on camera.
0:01:36 > 0:01:38Couldn't tell what was wrong. Not a happy bunny!
0:01:44 > 0:01:49Thanks to helicopters, sophisticated emergency vehicles and satellite tracking,
0:01:49 > 0:01:51when you dial 999 today,
0:01:51 > 0:01:55you can expect help far faster than was the case a few years ago.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58But there are still some places technology can't reach.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02Then it's down to the ingenuity of the paramedics sent to save you.
0:02:04 > 0:02:06Yorkshire's two air ambulances save lives
0:02:06 > 0:02:09by getting to places vehicles struggle to reach.
0:02:09 > 0:02:13But today the crew of Helimed 99 are about to be beaten
0:02:13 > 0:02:16by the same problem as their colleagues on the ground.
0:02:16 > 0:02:19'It's in some woods. Looks like there's a clearing.
0:02:19 > 0:02:24'It's just north of the village of Grewelthorpe, which is south of Masham.'
0:02:24 > 0:02:28Tree surgeon Kevin Ward was felling elms with a chainsaw
0:02:28 > 0:02:32when a falling branch hit his lower leg, shattering his tibia and fibula.
0:02:32 > 0:02:35Workmates dialled 999.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38He was cutting a branch and he got to the forked bit
0:02:38 > 0:02:42and made a cut. He thought he was out of the way of it.
0:02:42 > 0:02:48He cut into the thing and it broke back and caught his foot.
0:02:48 > 0:02:54Ground paramedic Paula Etherington and a colleague have hiked to the scene.
0:02:54 > 0:02:57But they need help to get Kevin out of the woods.
0:02:57 > 0:02:59How close can we land to the patient?
0:02:59 > 0:03:01'Sounds like he's been down for an hour.
0:03:01 > 0:03:06'If you get there and you need more assistance, I'll get Fell Rescue or someone.'
0:03:06 > 0:03:0999 Roger. We need to know where the patient is.
0:03:09 > 0:03:15We can see a guy in the field. We need to know where the patient is in relation to that.
0:03:15 > 0:03:21The tree cover is dense and there's no hope of finding a helipad on the steep sides of the ravine
0:03:21 > 0:03:22where the patient lies.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25- There's a building there. - It's not that far up.
0:03:25 > 0:03:28It's down to our right somewhere.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32If you just track directly left, turn left.
0:03:32 > 0:03:35We can bring it onto my side.
0:03:35 > 0:03:37Yeah, I can see them.
0:03:37 > 0:03:43Right, Chris, do you see this strip of white that runs up?
0:03:43 > 0:03:47- I've got them. Yeah. Visual. - Wearing a blue top.
0:03:47 > 0:03:48Got them, yeah.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51Pilot Chris knows this case is hopeless.
0:03:51 > 0:03:54If his medics are to reach their patient,
0:03:54 > 0:03:56they're going to have to walk a long way!
0:03:56 > 0:04:02It's not just a mile distance. It's the terrain that they're in. An awkward position.
0:04:04 > 0:04:09He's broken his leg just above his ankle. I guess both bones, the way his foot is sat.
0:04:09 > 0:04:14- OK.- He's getting cold. - He needs to be out of there. That's not in dispute.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16He needs to be out of there as quick as he can.
0:04:16 > 0:04:21Daz knows their patient's only hope may be an RAF rescue chopper
0:04:21 > 0:04:23with a winch.
0:04:23 > 0:04:25What I'm thinking, the terrain that you're in,
0:04:25 > 0:04:28it'll be difficult to carry him out.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30And we'll have a wait for Fell Rescue.
0:04:30 > 0:04:36Is it going to be easier for us to carry him out or easier for him to be winched out?
0:04:36 > 0:04:40Just go steady, Ian. It's icy.
0:04:40 > 0:04:44The path down to their patient is steep and slippery.
0:04:44 > 0:04:47Carrying a stretcher up here would be lethal.
0:04:48 > 0:04:51All right? You can pick your spot, can't you?
0:04:53 > 0:04:55Kevin is a mile from the nearest road.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58But he urgently needs hospital treatment.
0:04:58 > 0:05:03- How was the ankle?- It was kind of banana-shaped when we got here.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06We've straightened it out and his pain has reduced.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10- Closed?- Closed, yes. Just a couple of grazes on the inside.
0:05:10 > 0:05:11Right, sweetheart.
0:05:11 > 0:05:13Kevin's not only badly hurt,
0:05:13 > 0:05:15but he's very cold.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19It's an hour since the accident and it's minus three Celsius.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23He must be kept warm or his condition could worsen.
0:05:24 > 0:05:25Well done, Kev. Brilliant.
0:05:25 > 0:05:28That's it.
0:05:28 > 0:05:30And again.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Let me get out of the road then we'll move that leg.
0:05:33 > 0:05:38This super-insulated sleeping bag is called the Flectalon.
0:05:38 > 0:05:42But it's more often known by the Helimed crew as the pizza bag!
0:05:42 > 0:05:44All right, my love? There you go.
0:05:44 > 0:05:51Just a wee wait till the helicopter comes. Try and keep you warm.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55Kevin's out of the cold, but there's a problem.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59The RAF chopper can winch casualties in all weathers,
0:05:59 > 0:06:01but it can't cope with tree cover.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04If the winchman decides these woods are too dense,
0:06:04 > 0:06:09Kevin could be stranded with darkness fast approaching.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11They should be able to get in, but they're the experts.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15They'll be able to tell us straightaway where they want it to be.
0:06:31 > 0:06:35A helicopter like this costs three million pounds -
0:06:35 > 0:06:36second-hand!
0:06:36 > 0:06:40There's only two of them to cover five million people round here.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43But sometimes, there's an incident so serious
0:06:43 > 0:06:46both of them are needed.
0:06:47 > 0:06:50Down there by those trees. The red roofs.
0:06:50 > 0:06:53I think that's it, mate.
0:06:53 > 0:06:57On a country road just south of York, there's been a high-speed collision.
0:06:57 > 0:06:59- How many are in here?- Just one.
0:06:59 > 0:07:03Two cars, head-on. The force of the impact immense.
0:07:03 > 0:07:07During the 999 call from the driver of this red Honda,
0:07:07 > 0:07:11he says he thinks his passenger, his wife, is dead.
0:07:12 > 0:07:16In this car, he's got chest pains. The woman in the other car is in an awful mess.
0:07:16 > 0:07:19Thankfully, he's wrong.
0:07:19 > 0:07:22Katherine Robinson is alive, but very badly injured.
0:07:22 > 0:07:26- CAR HORN BLARES OUT Hello, love.- Hi.- Can you keep really still for me?
0:07:26 > 0:07:28Take a deep breath for me.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31- I can't.- You can't?
0:07:32 > 0:07:35She's trapped in a cage of crushed metal.
0:07:35 > 0:07:38Please, can you disconnect that battery for me?
0:07:38 > 0:07:41Just to turn it off.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45The other car involved is a Subaru Impreza,
0:07:45 > 0:07:48a car with a top speed of 150 miles per hour.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53Its driver is 82 years old!
0:07:54 > 0:07:58He, too, is trapped in the bent metal of his car.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01Two vehicles were in a traffic collision. Two persons trapped.
0:08:01 > 0:08:05Prioritised the casualties. The red one was the main priority.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09The first crew in attendance took that one. And we took the one with the elderly man.
0:08:09 > 0:08:13With both patients needing to be cut free from wrecked cars,
0:08:13 > 0:08:18a decision is made to call in another helicopter.
0:08:18 > 0:08:20Well trapped is what we've been told.
0:08:20 > 0:08:24So it'll take a while to get them out of the vehicle.
0:08:24 > 0:08:25It may well be
0:08:25 > 0:08:30depending on their injuries that they need an anaesthetic
0:08:30 > 0:08:33once they're out of the car to stabilise them.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36- You've had a little bang. - We'll get you out, don't worry.
0:08:36 > 0:08:41Colin knows his patient has potentially life-threatening injuries.
0:08:41 > 0:08:45Put your arm in there. It'll keep it more comfortable for you.
0:08:48 > 0:08:52- I've got pins and needles. - Where's the pins and needles?
0:08:56 > 0:08:59She's had three of morphine so far.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02The motorist who came across the crash first
0:09:02 > 0:09:05has been helping support Katherine's neck.
0:09:05 > 0:09:11I just wanted to make sure she was kept as well as possible until the paramedics came.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13She had trouble with her breathing
0:09:13 > 0:09:16and it looks like she's got trouble with her legs.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20This collar is temporary until we get her in a better position.
0:09:20 > 0:09:24She was concerned about her husband, and he was just behind me
0:09:24 > 0:09:27so I was just reassuring both of them
0:09:27 > 0:09:34that they were both talking and were both in the best possible health.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36Oh, that is nasty.
0:09:37 > 0:09:39When Helimed 98 arrives,
0:09:39 > 0:09:43Dr Jez Pinnell has to quickly assess which of the two patients
0:09:43 > 0:09:45is most critically injured.
0:09:45 > 0:09:47Can't remember what's happened.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49Normally fit and well.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52Generalised chest pain.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55INDISTINCT
0:09:56 > 0:09:59Pelvis seems fine, legs seem fine.
0:10:02 > 0:10:07This lady has had 20mg of morphine. Heart rate 95.
0:10:07 > 0:10:11INDISTINCT
0:10:11 > 0:10:17This lady has got a chest injury, possibly some abdominal injury.
0:10:17 > 0:10:22Definitely got a left femoral fracture and may have a right femoral fracture.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25It's quite serious, having two big broken bones like that.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Bilateral femoral fractures can be life-threatening. It means a lot of blood.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32At the moment she's relatively stable and talking.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35It looks to be almost a head-on collision.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39Both cars have a lot of damage to their front end.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42A lot of intrusion into the passenger compartment.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46So her knees are both forced up and the dashboard is wrapped around them.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51The fire brigade have cut away some of the car and put a ram in to force the dashboard forward.
0:10:51 > 0:10:55But we need to get a bit more space if we can to get her out.
0:10:55 > 0:10:57Keep taking deep breaths, Katherine.
0:10:57 > 0:11:00As much room as you can on that dash, please, Dave!
0:11:00 > 0:11:05The fire brigade's pneumatic rams are stretching the Honda apart
0:11:05 > 0:11:08in an attempt to free Katherine's broken legs.
0:11:09 > 0:11:11It's a slow process
0:11:11 > 0:11:15and as each minute goes by, Katherine could be losing more blood.
0:11:19 > 0:11:24The crew working on the Subaru are making quicker progress
0:11:24 > 0:11:26in getting their patient out.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32- One in each helicopter?- Yes, both helicopters will be transporting.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36While Helimed 99 takes the first patient to hospital,
0:11:36 > 0:11:40police accident investigators are making enquiries
0:11:40 > 0:11:42as to how the high-speed crash happened.
0:11:42 > 0:11:49Their initial evidence points to the Subaru being on the wrong side of the road when it hit the Honda.
0:11:49 > 0:11:55Which still has a critically-injured patient still trapped in the wreckage.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Thanks to modern health and safety laws,
0:12:04 > 0:12:08employers and unions are constantly trying to make life safer
0:12:08 > 0:12:10for their workers.
0:12:10 > 0:12:12But despite all the precautions,
0:12:12 > 0:12:14sometimes something goes wrong.
0:12:16 > 0:12:20Helimed 98 Yorkshire airborne for Beverley.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23ETA 17.22. Over.
0:12:23 > 0:12:29The crew of Helimed 98 are often called in to help with one of the most vital jobs a paramedic can do.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Reduce a patient's pain.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34We're on our way to Beverley, just north of Hull,
0:12:34 > 0:12:40where we have reports of a man who's got his hand trapped in some machinery.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43We've been requested to back up the land crew who are already on scene,
0:12:43 > 0:12:48and also the basics doctor. We have our own medic with us today.
0:12:48 > 0:12:54He's got hopefully some appropriate drugs to make the patient feel a lot more comfortable.
0:12:54 > 0:12:58Flying doctor Steve Rowe and his bag of painkilling drugs
0:12:58 > 0:13:00are crossing the Humber Estuary
0:13:00 > 0:13:04to touch down in a town with an unusual claim to fame.
0:13:05 > 0:13:08Helimed 98 preparing to land. Thank you.
0:13:08 > 0:13:11Beverley is the capital of the UK's caravan industry.
0:13:11 > 0:13:15Sounds like his hand was forced into some machinery
0:13:15 > 0:13:20so it sounds like we'll need the assistance of the fire service and cutting equipment
0:13:20 > 0:13:23or technical knowledge to disassemble the machine.
0:13:23 > 0:13:27At a plant turning out mobile homes, there's been a serious accident.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30- Have you got morphine with you? - Yes, we do.
0:13:30 > 0:13:32I've got all sorts with me!
0:13:33 > 0:13:38Paul Marshall has been trapped for more than an hour in a machine he was using.
0:13:38 > 0:13:41- Hi, I'm Steve, a doctor with the air ambulance.- Hello.
0:13:41 > 0:13:45I've got a bag full of drugs so we'll sort you out, OK?
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Is there anything we can do to make you more comfortable while you wait?
0:13:49 > 0:13:51- Nothing digging in your back?- No.
0:13:53 > 0:13:57Paul's right hand has been crushed and in trying to free it,
0:13:57 > 0:14:00his left hand has been trapped, too.
0:14:00 > 0:14:03He's trapped literally by his fingers and hands.
0:14:03 > 0:14:07Which is good because he's not deep inside the bowels of some machine.
0:14:07 > 0:14:11I'm drawing up some ketamine which is a strong painkiller
0:14:11 > 0:14:14that will help us get him out of the pickle he's in.
0:14:14 > 0:14:15Without strong pain relief,
0:14:15 > 0:14:21Paul will not be able to withstand the agony the fire-fighters will cause
0:14:21 > 0:14:22when they dismantle the machine.
0:14:22 > 0:14:27You'll feel a bit disorientated, but it's a really good painkiller.
0:14:27 > 0:14:31Then we'll get you out of here, run you up to the Royal and get you sorted. OK.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34I'm about to give him the medicine.
0:14:34 > 0:14:39Two local doctors have been caring for Paul, but they don't have access to the drugs Steve has.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41He's a hospital anaesthetist.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45Two of midazolam and 50 of ketamine.
0:14:45 > 0:14:48Leave that a minute to work.
0:14:48 > 0:14:52Ketamine was developed as a horse tranquilliser.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55It's very powerful. But Paul needs more.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57PAUL GROANS
0:14:57 > 0:15:01Still as sore as it was? I've got plenty more where that came from.
0:15:01 > 0:15:07Not only does ketamine dull pain, it also gives patients temporary amnesia.
0:15:07 > 0:15:10Paul won't remember much about his ordeal.
0:15:10 > 0:15:14It can be used as anaesthetic, but we're just giving a painkilling dose.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19He was a bit sore initially. We gave him some more. He's nice and comfy now.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22Paul, we're going to have a go at removing the rollers, OK?
0:15:22 > 0:15:24Sing out if it's sore.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26OK, then, chaps. Let's have a little go.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30If he says it's sore, we'll stop. Then we can give him some more.
0:15:30 > 0:15:33It's time for the fire-fighters to start cutting.
0:15:33 > 0:15:38The force of the machine spun Paul around after he became trapped
0:15:38 > 0:15:40and he's in a very uncomfortable position.
0:15:44 > 0:15:46At last, Paul's free.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49But several of his fingers have been severed.
0:15:49 > 0:15:51He'll need reconstructive surgery.
0:15:51 > 0:15:55Managed to release his fingers from the roller, take the roller out,
0:15:55 > 0:15:59get him backed and we'll run him up to Hull Royal Infirmary
0:15:59 > 0:16:00and let the surgeons see his fingers.
0:16:00 > 0:16:06Paul is an experienced factory worker. He relies on his hands to make a living.
0:16:06 > 0:16:11Now he must wait to find out how much dexterity he'll retain.
0:16:11 > 0:16:15He's been trapped for an hour. He's lost several digits on both hands.
0:16:15 > 0:16:18Has bilateral forearm fractures.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21At Hull Royal Infirmary,
0:16:21 > 0:16:23surgeons are already scrubbing up
0:16:23 > 0:16:26in preparation for their incoming patient.
0:16:26 > 0:16:28It'll be a long and complex operation.
0:16:28 > 0:16:30GCS was 15 before he had the ketamine.
0:16:30 > 0:16:34He's more relaxed now. But he's maintaining his airway.
0:16:34 > 0:16:38He's looking a bit confused. I'm sure he'll be 15 when he gets to you.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40Okey-dokey?
0:16:41 > 0:16:46Paul ended up having several operations on his broken bones and mangled hands.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49Two months later, with his girlfriend's help,
0:16:49 > 0:16:51he's back for a check-up.
0:16:52 > 0:16:56I've got both my arms plated up.
0:16:56 > 0:17:00I've smashed my knuckles in my right hand.
0:17:03 > 0:17:06I've broken two fingers in my right hand.
0:17:06 > 0:17:09The middle one had to be reattached.
0:17:09 > 0:17:14My ring finger rotated 180 degrees round.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18And I've lost the last fingers on my left hand.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21I have flashbacks every now and again
0:17:21 > 0:17:26of my hands being wrapped around this wheel and hearing my bones breaking.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29It wakes me up every time.
0:17:29 > 0:17:35Paul is a fan of Helicopter Heroes. But he never thought he would need their help himself.
0:17:35 > 0:17:37But when they did come, he was very relieved!
0:17:37 > 0:17:42I remember two of the paramedics from watching the show previously.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45Is there anything we can do to make you more comfortable?
0:17:45 > 0:17:51Sammy's voice rang a bell with me. That made me feel more reassured.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55A couple more faces I could remember.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58But there's one thing that Paul can't cope with yet.
0:17:58 > 0:18:02I haven't looked at the injury yet. I have to do it sooner or later.
0:18:02 > 0:18:08It is a bit scary, knowing that you've had part of your body taken away from you.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10It's just coming to terms with it.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Morning. Come in, please. Have a seat.
0:18:13 > 0:18:15The time's come for Paul's check-up.
0:18:15 > 0:18:19And that means having to have the bandages off
0:18:19 > 0:18:21and face up to his injuries.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Try and make a fist for me. Make your fingers do that.
0:18:24 > 0:18:26Yes, it's at least...
0:18:26 > 0:18:29His hand's getting much better, but he still can't look at it.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33An accidental glance proves too much.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38- I can get it about as far as there. - Right.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42I think that you have to recover mentally,
0:18:42 > 0:18:45to accept that it's happened.
0:18:45 > 0:18:48So I would say it's a bad accident,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51but still there's something there to build on
0:18:51 > 0:18:54to give you more function for your future life.
0:18:54 > 0:18:58So mentally, you have to be stronger to deal with it.
0:18:58 > 0:19:02The sooner you start looking at your hand, doing a bit of exercising,
0:19:02 > 0:19:05that will help, OK?
0:19:05 > 0:19:09Paul is making good progress. His remaining fingers are in working order.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12And his other hand should make a full recovery.
0:19:12 > 0:19:15Once we tell you how worse it could have been,
0:19:15 > 0:19:18then you realise at least we've got something to go on.
0:19:18 > 0:19:23I'm not surprised at all that you don't feel like looking at it.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27It's normal. It takes time to recover from it.
0:19:27 > 0:19:30- You'll get there. - OK, then. Thanks a lot.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33Thank you.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36'I want to be back at work as soon as possible.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38'Back doing normal things as soon as possible.
0:19:38 > 0:19:40'They say time is a healer.
0:19:40 > 0:19:44'I want my independence back.'
0:19:56 > 0:19:58Let's return to the woods in North Yorkshire
0:19:58 > 0:20:03where paramedics Darren and Kate are working hard to rescue an injured woodsman.
0:20:04 > 0:20:08Tree surgeon Kevin Ward has been awaiting rescue
0:20:08 > 0:20:10for an hour and a half.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13I was just doing my job.
0:20:13 > 0:20:17It was just pressure on the tree.
0:20:17 > 0:20:22As I was cutting it, it just snapped and flew at me.
0:20:22 > 0:20:29He was working for the Woodland Trust charity, clearing trees around a Victorian folly near Ripon
0:20:29 > 0:20:31when he was hit by a falling branch.
0:20:31 > 0:20:33Some wood's hit you.
0:20:33 > 0:20:38Yes, I felt this streak and it was the pressure of the branch
0:20:38 > 0:20:40on that end.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43You'll be able to go out drinking on this one for years!
0:20:43 > 0:20:44Ah, you don't know my mates!
0:20:44 > 0:20:47I'll buy my own beer as normal!
0:20:47 > 0:20:49You'll be getting mileage out of it.
0:20:49 > 0:20:53Paramedic Darren Axe has called in an RAF helicopter
0:20:53 > 0:20:58to winch Kevin out of the ravine in which the accident happened.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01Before we move him anywhere, we'll let them come
0:21:01 > 0:21:04- to where he wants to be and then we'll move to them.- OK.
0:21:04 > 0:21:09The tree cover may make the rescue difficult, if not impossible.
0:21:09 > 0:21:13'Daz, the crew should be with you in a few minutes.'
0:21:13 > 0:21:16Yeah. Roger.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20Darren's using a flashing beacon to help the RAF crew see them.
0:21:20 > 0:21:24I'm trying to make us a bit more conspicuous than these orange suits(!)
0:21:25 > 0:21:31When we came in, we couldn't see Paula waving an orange banner.
0:21:31 > 0:21:34Hopefully, they'll see this a bit better.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- We'll just give you the rest of the morphine.- OK.
0:21:37 > 0:21:42We're about on scene, so you'll hear a lot of noise, shortly.
0:21:44 > 0:21:49Two hours after Kevin's accident, more help finally arrives.
0:21:49 > 0:21:54The down-draught from the Sea King's rotors is creating an Arctic gale
0:21:54 > 0:21:56in the clearing
0:21:56 > 0:21:59as it's pilot works out how to rescue Kevin.
0:22:01 > 0:22:05This Sea King chopper weighs in at six tonnes,
0:22:05 > 0:22:08but its crew are trained to hover inch perfectly.
0:22:08 > 0:22:13They'll need to lower their winchman 150 feet through a narrow gap
0:22:13 > 0:22:15in the tree canopy.
0:22:15 > 0:22:20This is a dangerous operation. He knows that if he becomes entangled,
0:22:20 > 0:22:23his crew mates may have no alternative
0:22:23 > 0:22:27but to sever the winch cable in order to save the aircraft.
0:22:27 > 0:22:30But at last he's down.
0:22:30 > 0:22:32- How are you doing?- How are you?
0:22:32 > 0:22:36This guy has been logging, using a chainsaw,
0:22:36 > 0:22:40it's sprung, snapped his lower leg. We need to get him out of here.
0:22:45 > 0:22:50Once we get the stretcher down, we'll move him into the stretcher up here
0:22:50 > 0:22:54and whoever's coming with us can make their way to the top of the hill,
0:22:54 > 0:22:56near to the helicopter...
0:22:56 > 0:23:00SEA KING DROWNS SPEECH
0:23:02 > 0:23:04Because Kevin's been given morphine,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07a paramedic must accompany him to hospital.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10But it's too dangerous to winch them too.
0:23:10 > 0:23:13- How long will it take you to walk to the top?- Not too long.
0:23:13 > 0:23:17- Because it's exposing you to undue risk.- As you wish.
0:23:17 > 0:23:21- Are you happy with these guys here if you leg it to the helicopter?- No.
0:23:21 > 0:23:24Does it have to be one of us, or can the other paramedic go?
0:23:24 > 0:23:28The other one can go if she's... I'm not qualified to give morphine.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31Take her. So if she makes her way up to the top...
0:23:31 > 0:23:35If she legs it up, we'll pick her up at the top. And we'll do the winch here.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38Daz to Chris. Paula's on her way up to you.
0:23:38 > 0:23:44Once they've taken this lad out on the stretcher, they'll come up, put down where you are
0:23:44 > 0:23:46and Paula's going to get in.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49They're just getting the stretcher ready for you.
0:23:49 > 0:23:53We'll move you up into that clear ground.
0:23:56 > 0:23:57Two, three, lift.
0:24:00 > 0:24:02Sorry, mate. It's not easy.
0:24:04 > 0:24:06Go steady on your footing.
0:24:07 > 0:24:11At last, the RAF are ready to winch Kevin out of the woods.
0:24:11 > 0:24:15But the clearing is tiny and he'll be feet from the trees.
0:24:15 > 0:24:19It will be a hair-raising ride for him and his rescuers.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30Kevin, are you nice and secure in there?
0:24:30 > 0:24:36Coming up: Kevin's not out of the woods yet. The RAF hit a problem.
0:24:44 > 0:24:46On a rural road in North Yorkshire,
0:24:46 > 0:24:51both Helimed choppers have been sent to rescue the victims of a bizarre road accident.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56The police are investigating the cause of a head-on crash
0:24:56 > 0:24:59between this Subaru Impreza and a red Honda.
0:24:59 > 0:25:02Both cars are now just mangled wrecks.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05The passenger side took the full force of the impact.
0:25:05 > 0:25:10Flying doctor Jez Pinnell is concerned about Katherine Robinson who's trapped.
0:25:10 > 0:25:14We don't want to hang round any longer. We need to get to hospital.
0:25:14 > 0:25:19She's been trapped for an hour plus, so she'll be getting cold
0:25:19 > 0:25:21and she needs to be in hospital.
0:25:21 > 0:25:27Helimed 99 has already taken the 82-year-old Subaru driver to hospital in York.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32His injuries aren't serious. But Dr Jez's patient is in trouble.
0:25:32 > 0:25:37Katherine, before we move you, we're debating whether to give you more pain relief.
0:25:37 > 0:25:42As we move you out of the car, your left leg is going to be quite sore.
0:25:42 > 0:25:47We can give you a quite strong painkiller, called ketamine.
0:25:47 > 0:25:51It'll help your pain, but may make you feel quite strange.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54Katherine, can you open your eyes for me?
0:25:54 > 0:25:56Katherine?
0:25:56 > 0:25:58Oo-oo!
0:25:58 > 0:26:01OK. She's quite drowsy now.
0:26:01 > 0:26:03She's quite drowsy.
0:26:03 > 0:26:08With her pain under control, the fire-fighters set about freeing Katherine from her car.
0:26:09 > 0:26:14As soon as you're ready for us to create more space, let us know.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17Its safety cage saved her life.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21Now the fire crew are using pneumatic rams to stretch it apart.
0:26:21 > 0:26:24Modern vehicles now are really well constructed.
0:26:24 > 0:26:27Up to a point, it protects you, but after that,
0:26:27 > 0:26:29it can work against you. That's a difficulty.
0:26:29 > 0:26:33It's a case of the really tight space we're working in.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37Getting the right sized rams. We're putting a small ram in, creating space,
0:26:37 > 0:26:39getting a bigger ram in, get more space.
0:26:39 > 0:26:44Then we can get her out with as little movement as possible
0:26:44 > 0:26:46so we don't aggravate her injuries.
0:26:46 > 0:26:49Lifting with the board. Keep going, keep going!
0:26:49 > 0:26:51Keep going. That's it.
0:26:54 > 0:26:58After being trapped for over an hour, Katherine's out.
0:26:58 > 0:27:02Dr Jez has time to take a photo of the wrecked car.
0:27:02 > 0:27:05There is a good reason.
0:27:05 > 0:27:12A picture tells a thousand words. If you can tell the doctors in A&E what exactly has happened,
0:27:12 > 0:27:16they get a much better idea of the severity of possible injuries.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21She's a bit sleepy at the moment because of the drugs we've given her.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23We're concerned she's broken both legs
0:27:23 > 0:27:29although they're straight at the moment and maybe she's damaged her hip joint to the left.
0:27:29 > 0:27:34The best place for her really is a major trauma centre.
0:27:34 > 0:27:38The closest one to here is Leeds, less than ten minutes' flying time.
0:27:39 > 0:27:44Katherine's broken legs could mean that she is losing massive amounts of blood internally.
0:27:44 > 0:27:50The helicopter's onboard monitoring system will alert the crew to any problems.
0:27:50 > 0:27:52When a patient is severely injured,
0:27:52 > 0:27:57if they were to lose a lot of blood, the heart rate will increase
0:27:57 > 0:27:59in rate to compensate for this.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Their blood pressure may well drop.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05If we see those changes appear on the monitor,
0:28:05 > 0:28:10that would alert us to the patient losing blood
0:28:10 > 0:28:13and we'd have to try and correct that to maintain stability.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18It's been nearly two hours since the crash happened.
0:28:18 > 0:28:22The flight from roadside scene to hospital has taken ten minutes
0:28:22 > 0:28:25and the trauma team set to work straightaway,
0:28:25 > 0:28:28assessing Katherine's extensive injuries.
0:28:31 > 0:28:36In the few days that followed, Katherine spent 30 hours in the operating theatre.
0:28:36 > 0:28:40She spent the next seven weeks in hospital. But finally,
0:28:40 > 0:28:42she's allowed home.
0:28:42 > 0:28:45I had two broken femurs.
0:28:45 > 0:28:49The knees were both smashed.
0:28:49 > 0:28:51The tibia.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53An open fracture to my left arm,
0:28:53 > 0:28:56a fracture to my right thumb,
0:28:56 > 0:29:00four broken ribs, a broken sternum,
0:29:00 > 0:29:02perforated ear drum.
0:29:02 > 0:29:05- And a vertebra.- A vertebra.
0:29:05 > 0:29:08- And your left foot. - Oh, and my left foot.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10Even now, every time we get in the car,
0:29:10 > 0:29:12I've got to make sure my phone's in my pocket.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16Katherine's husband Philip got out of the car virtually unhurt.
0:29:16 > 0:29:19For him, the pain is from the memory of what could have been.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22My first reaction, I thought she was actually dead.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25I thought she'd been killed in the accident.
0:29:26 > 0:29:32So when I heard her actually speak, and say she couldn't breathe, it was the best words ever!
0:29:32 > 0:29:37Katherine still has a long way to go. It's slow progress.
0:29:37 > 0:29:42But she is very grateful to everyone who has helped her get back on her feet.
0:29:42 > 0:29:46'Without the air ambulance, I think it would be a different story.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50The trauma team at the LGI were absolutely amazing.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53They put me back together, basically.
0:29:53 > 0:29:55She's a tough one!
0:30:04 > 0:30:09When snow comes to our towns and cities, it always makes life difficult.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12But up here in the hills, it can endanger your life.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15Suddenly, the landscape goes from this...
0:30:15 > 0:30:17to this.
0:30:21 > 0:30:26It's November, and the worst early snow for decades is blanketing North Yorkshire.
0:30:26 > 0:30:301,000 feet above the drifts, Helimed 99 is on a mission
0:30:30 > 0:30:35to rescue the crew of a ground ambulance stranded in the middle of a 999 call-out.
0:30:36 > 0:30:41We've just got a request from a crew who have become stuck in snow.
0:30:41 > 0:30:45The vehicle has now been hit by an HGV while parked up
0:30:45 > 0:30:50so the vehicle's not driveable, they've got a patient on board.
0:30:50 > 0:30:53So we're going to render assistance
0:30:53 > 0:30:55and get the patient off to hospital.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58Landing in the snow is dangerous.
0:30:58 > 0:31:00The chopper's down-wash blinds the pilot.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Chris Attrill must focus on an object and land quickly
0:31:04 > 0:31:07if he's not to become disorientated.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11It's been a difficult morning for the Helimed team's colleagues.
0:31:12 > 0:31:14Bit bad out here!
0:31:14 > 0:31:19We've had a bus come down sideways, a wagon's gouged the side of us, and it's "Oooh!"
0:31:20 > 0:31:22Driving on these roads is treacherous.
0:31:22 > 0:31:27The crew have obviously made it to here but were unable to get further.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30It's been hit by a lorry coming down
0:31:30 > 0:31:33on the opposite side of the vehicle.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37The lady on board has got multiple sclerosis.
0:31:37 > 0:31:42A very degenerative condition.
0:31:42 > 0:31:45It's taken the use of her limbs and things.
0:31:45 > 0:31:48So she's not mobilising very well at all.
0:31:50 > 0:31:52They've had a lucky escape.
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Coming sideways down the hill, he managed to stop
0:31:55 > 0:31:57and caught his back end on our back end!
0:31:57 > 0:32:00So quite an eventful morning!
0:32:00 > 0:32:02One, two, three, lift.
0:32:02 > 0:32:08Thanks to the chopper, the ambulance's patient is just ten minutes from the hospital treatment
0:32:08 > 0:32:10she desperately needs.
0:32:11 > 0:32:17It's not just those of us who work in the countryside who get a keen sense of the passing seasons.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20NHS workers are acutely aware of a cold winter.
0:32:20 > 0:32:25It can double their workload. And there's one injury that outnumbers them all.
0:32:28 > 0:32:30'Message, please.'
0:32:30 > 0:32:36'Roger. I'm going to give you a job. It's just south-east of Pocklington.'
0:32:36 > 0:32:40An elderly man is badly hurt after falling on ice.
0:32:40 > 0:32:45It tends to be the older people that suffer from this, in the main.
0:32:45 > 0:32:49They go down. Their hips are not as strong as they were and they end up breaking them.
0:32:49 > 0:32:51Breaking the bone at the top of the leg.
0:32:51 > 0:32:55The village of Burnby looks like a Christmas card,
0:32:55 > 0:32:58but the locals are already fed up with the first snow of winter.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04Helimed 99 isn't often sent to cases like this.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07But all the local ambulances are busy.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10A lone paramedic has been dealing with the casualty.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13- Complaining of pain in his left hip. - Right.
0:33:13 > 0:33:1975-year-old Albert Smith is a former paratrooper who's fit for his age.
0:33:19 > 0:33:23Now he's suffered one of the most common injuries among older people.
0:33:23 > 0:33:27Right, Albert. How are we doing? Feeling better?
0:33:27 > 0:33:29No, you don't?
0:33:29 > 0:33:32I've had a smack on the hip.
0:33:32 > 0:33:35- You landed on your hip? - I think I've broken it.
0:33:35 > 0:33:38- On your side?- Yes.- And you've knelt up to that position?
0:33:38 > 0:33:44Yes. There's no weight at all on that leg. It's all on the right leg.
0:33:44 > 0:33:46- And I can't get up. - I should think not!
0:33:46 > 0:33:50Albert was walking to the post box when he went over on the ice.
0:33:50 > 0:33:52Now he's in agony.
0:33:52 > 0:33:55Albert, this pain you have in your hip.
0:33:55 > 0:33:57- It's just dead, mate.- Just dead.
0:33:57 > 0:34:01So it's not really painful, just numb?
0:34:01 > 0:34:06The village streets are covered in frozen, hard-packed snow.
0:34:06 > 0:34:07No wonder Albert fell.
0:34:07 > 0:34:12Absolutely dreadful. We've been like this since the snow started.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15They've not gritted. Not done anything.
0:34:15 > 0:34:21But I suppose their priority is the main roads. But these accidents happen, don't they?
0:34:21 > 0:34:24- All right, my love?- Roll over, then.
0:34:24 > 0:34:25We'll start rolling you.
0:34:25 > 0:34:28- Can you hold on to my hand? - I've got you.
0:34:28 > 0:34:30- Got you.- We're going over.- Got you.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33That's it. Well done.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36Paramedic Darren has seen many cases like this before
0:34:36 > 0:34:38and he knows they can be very serious.
0:34:38 > 0:34:44But now a road ambulance has been found, Albert will be more comfortable going by road.
0:34:45 > 0:34:50He's fairly stable. We'll get him into the warmth of the ambulance.
0:34:50 > 0:34:52We'll see where we are then.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55Albert is on his way to hospital in York
0:34:55 > 0:34:59where a special ward has been opened just for patients with hip injuries.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02He faces a long road to recovery.
0:35:04 > 0:35:07Sadly, he has to spend Christmas in bed.
0:35:07 > 0:35:12Normally, I'm quite agile, but that ice was taking young people as well as me.
0:35:15 > 0:35:19I went up there and I came down like that.
0:35:19 > 0:35:21And I didn't bounce!
0:35:21 > 0:35:23- Ready?- Yeah.
0:35:23 > 0:35:25Ready, steady, go!
0:35:25 > 0:35:28Winter's great if you're under ten.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31But snow brings out the kid in all of us.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34When it comes to sledging, any slope will do.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38Mums and dads have an excuse.
0:35:38 > 0:35:4320 and 30-somethings are among the most enthusiastic winter sports fans.
0:35:43 > 0:35:49People like Lee Pittendry, who's determined to capture his daredevil descent on his camera phone.
0:35:49 > 0:35:52These two mad people. We're going to go break a leg!
0:35:52 > 0:35:55We're going down a big steep hill down to the bottom.
0:35:55 > 0:35:59It seems that Lee is able to predict the future.
0:35:59 > 0:36:02Oh, God, I can't believe we're doing this again!
0:36:05 > 0:36:07Aghh!
0:36:07 > 0:36:11The next thing he'll need his phone for is the 999 call.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14Chest injury. To the west of Otley itself.
0:36:18 > 0:36:22Lee's accident happened just five miles from Helimed headquarters.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25Paramedics Kate Coughlan and Darren Axe
0:36:25 > 0:36:28are soon circling the hillside where Lee is lying.
0:36:28 > 0:36:31COMMUNICATIONS INDISTINCT
0:36:31 > 0:36:35If he's got chest injuries, you'd think he'd hit a tree or something.
0:36:35 > 0:36:38What's at the bottom there, Chris?
0:36:38 > 0:36:41- That's what I'm looking at. - A sledge. Watch the chimney.
0:36:41 > 0:36:45- Is that somebody laid down there? - That's it, I think.
0:36:45 > 0:36:51Darren knows the chopper's rotor blades could create more casualties as more sledges head downhill.
0:36:51 > 0:36:54Stay there. Stay up there.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57- Thank you.- Go back up the hill!
0:36:57 > 0:37:00- What's happened?- Came down there, a little lump there.
0:37:00 > 0:37:02Landed really wrong.
0:37:02 > 0:37:06- You've landed on your right side. - I landed on my bum, but at an angle.
0:37:06 > 0:37:08At an angle. So the pain's in your bum, then?
0:37:08 > 0:37:11No, it's just my ribs.
0:37:11 > 0:37:14- Let me establish. You've come down that hill.- Yep.
0:37:14 > 0:37:17You hit that bump and you were sitting on the sledge.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20- So the pain shot up from your backside into your ribs.- Mmm.
0:37:20 > 0:37:24- You've got pain in your ribs.- Yes. - Not in your backside or chest?
0:37:24 > 0:37:25Just your ribs. OK.
0:37:25 > 0:37:29Darren knows sledges can cause spinal injuries
0:37:29 > 0:37:31but the more he hears about Lee,
0:37:31 > 0:37:33the less serious this case sounds.
0:37:33 > 0:37:36It doesn't hurt when you take a deep breath?
0:37:36 > 0:37:38Pain here? Yes?
0:37:38 > 0:37:40No pain on the other side, no?
0:37:40 > 0:37:42- No.- No pain.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45It started out as a bit of fun.
0:37:45 > 0:37:47But now Lee's in agony.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50His partner never imagined their downhill race
0:37:50 > 0:37:52would end like this.
0:37:52 > 0:37:55As we landed, he started shouting cos it hurt.
0:37:55 > 0:37:57Before we'd even managed to stop.
0:37:57 > 0:38:03I turned round and he was on the floor. Couldn't speak or tell me what was wrong.
0:38:03 > 0:38:08He couldn't say anything, really. Not a happy bunny!
0:38:08 > 0:38:11Air ambulances are reserved for serious injuries.
0:38:11 > 0:38:14But bad weather changes the rules.
0:38:15 > 0:38:20The grown-up casualties from the local snow slopes aren't helping.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23He's meant to be at work this afternoon. I doubt he'll go!
0:38:23 > 0:38:27The accident has happened a long way from the nearest road.
0:38:27 > 0:38:30Darren and Kate will airlift Lee to Leeds Bradford airport
0:38:30 > 0:38:32where a road ambulance will pick him up.
0:38:32 > 0:38:36- I was hesitantly going down it. - You weren't aiming for that bump?
0:38:36 > 0:38:38No!
0:38:38 > 0:38:43We watched the kids go down and I was hesitant, but Sarah jumped on.
0:38:43 > 0:38:45She said, "We'll be fine." Off we went.
0:38:45 > 0:38:48The Yorkshire ambulance service is so busy today,
0:38:48 > 0:38:53the Helimed team have had to call in a road crew based 20 miles away
0:38:53 > 0:38:54to pick up Lee.
0:38:54 > 0:38:57The ambulance service is maxxed out.
0:38:57 > 0:39:02The nearest crew have come from Sherburn-in-Elmet, whereas it's normally a Leeds crew.
0:39:02 > 0:39:05But it's so busy, this is the nearest one they could send.
0:39:06 > 0:39:10Lee is going to Leeds General Infirmary to be checked over.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12As Darren suspected,
0:39:12 > 0:39:16he's broken a rib but is otherwise unhurt apart from a bruise or two.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20They'll soon fade, but he has a permanent reminder of his accident
0:39:20 > 0:39:22thanks to his phone.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28He wasn't getting a lot of sympathy from his girlfriend, who thought it was funny
0:39:28 > 0:39:30that he'd sustained an injury.
0:39:34 > 0:39:36Not a good thing, really, is it?
0:39:36 > 0:39:38They're laughing at you and you're in pain.
0:39:39 > 0:39:42The casualties of an early winter.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45Thankfully, all our patients are now on the mend.
0:39:45 > 0:39:49Now let's catch up on the tense rescue operation launched to save a man
0:39:49 > 0:39:51trapped in the woods in North Yorkshire.
0:39:54 > 0:39:57The crew of an RAF helicopter are using all their skills
0:39:57 > 0:40:00to prepare for a tricky rescue in remote woods.
0:40:00 > 0:40:06Tree surgeon Kevin Ward is being carried to the only clearing big enough to winch him to safety
0:40:06 > 0:40:09and on to hospital treatment for a broken leg.
0:40:10 > 0:40:12Well done, Kevin.
0:40:12 > 0:40:14That's the worst bit, sweetheart.
0:40:17 > 0:40:20It's going to be cold and draughty.
0:40:20 > 0:40:22You'll have to keep your head straight.
0:40:22 > 0:40:24Is that as tight as it goes?
0:40:24 > 0:40:27You want to see, don't you, Kev?
0:40:27 > 0:40:29Kevin is strapped into a steel basket stretcher
0:40:29 > 0:40:34designed to protect him in case it swings into overhanging branches.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37But this will still be a dangerous operation.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40How's that, Kevin? Feel nice and secure in there?
0:40:40 > 0:40:42Yes?
0:40:43 > 0:40:44Right, Kev.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47You're with the pros now. We'll leave you be.
0:40:47 > 0:40:50- All the best.- Nice to meet you. Take care.
0:40:50 > 0:40:54Paramedic Darren Axe is one of the beefiest members of the Helimed team.
0:40:54 > 0:40:59Which is just as well. His strength will be critical to Kevin's rescue.
0:40:59 > 0:41:02This rope should stop patient and winchman
0:41:02 > 0:41:06spinning uncontrollably in the chopper's powerful downwash.
0:41:06 > 0:41:09Darren's an ex-miner with muscles to match.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11But he's got his work cut out!
0:41:11 > 0:41:14I'm trying to stop the stretcher from spinning.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17If it does, it's obviously dangerous for the winchman.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22Thanks to the RAF's skill and Darren's strength,
0:41:22 > 0:41:27Kevin finally reaches the safety of the Sea King's cabin.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31Within ten minutes, he's on the final approach to Harrogate Hospital.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35It turns out his leg is so badly broken, it needs surgery.
0:41:35 > 0:41:39It'll be months before he's fit to chop down trees again.
0:41:39 > 0:41:41But he knows he's lucky.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44The Air Ambulance has always been my favourite charity.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47On the assumption I might need it.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50But I never really expected to need it.
0:41:50 > 0:41:54Then when the RAF turned up as well, that was something amazing.
0:41:54 > 0:41:59The man out of the helicopter came down first.
0:41:59 > 0:42:04Then they sent the cradle down, got me snugged up into that.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Then me and the man went back up.
0:42:07 > 0:42:09It was a bit scary, to tell the truth!
0:42:09 > 0:42:13Especially going through the branches.
0:42:13 > 0:42:15It was amazing, really.
0:42:15 > 0:42:17I'm pleased to say Kevin is now back at work
0:42:17 > 0:42:22after what was his first injury in 40 years of working in the woods.
0:42:37 > 0:42:39Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd