0:00:04 > 0:00:08If you are critically ill or seriously injured, seconds count,
0:00:08 > 0:00:13and in Britain's biggest county, you can be a long way from help.
0:00:13 > 0:00:15Where's the patient? I'm stuck under the car!
0:00:15 > 0:00:19The Yorkshire Air Ambulance flies at 150mph
0:00:19 > 0:00:22and thanks to its speed, hundreds of patients are alive today,
0:00:22 > 0:00:27saved by a highly skilled team of doctors and paramedics.
0:00:27 > 0:00:29Stand clear, everybody. Keep going, mate!
0:00:29 > 0:00:33It covers some of the UK's most rugged landscapes,
0:00:33 > 0:00:35turning roadsides into operating theatres...
0:00:35 > 0:00:38We're going to put him to sleep with an emergency anaesthetic, OK?
0:00:38 > 0:00:41..and town centres into helipads. All good on the left?
0:00:41 > 0:00:43I'm just behind you, Tim.
0:00:43 > 0:00:45And every day the helimed team's skill,
0:00:45 > 0:00:49speed and courage is saving lives.
0:00:58 > 0:01:00Today, on Helicopter Heroes...
0:01:00 > 0:01:04a serious accident leaves a couple critically injured
0:01:04 > 0:01:08and all he cares about is her. He's upset about his girlfriend.
0:01:08 > 0:01:10He hit the wall, stood up, walked across.
0:01:10 > 0:01:13A breakdown man is crushed...
0:01:13 > 0:01:16A patient with those sorts of injuries can bleed very quickly.
0:01:16 > 0:01:17SIREN SOUNDS
0:01:17 > 0:01:21The real-life Railway Children get into trouble.
0:01:21 > 0:01:23We were just climbing a tree and the branches snapped
0:01:23 > 0:01:25and she just fell out.
0:01:30 > 0:01:34When there's a road accident, ambulance crews often treat victims
0:01:34 > 0:01:37who are more concerned about their injured love ones
0:01:37 > 0:01:39than they are about themselves.
0:01:39 > 0:01:44That can lead to terrible dilemmas for patients and paramedics alike.
0:01:44 > 0:01:47In the small town of Wath-Upon-Dearne
0:01:47 > 0:01:49in the South Yorkshire coalfield,
0:01:49 > 0:01:53there's been a very serious accident.
0:01:53 > 0:01:55Motorcyclist Gordon Stanton was out
0:01:55 > 0:01:57for a ride with his fiancee Kirsty Grainger
0:01:57 > 0:02:00when their bike was in a collision with a car.
0:02:00 > 0:02:04'Helipad 99, update from scene.
0:02:04 > 0:02:08'There's two patients, one with a spinal injury.
0:02:08 > 0:02:11'You go, go, go, all the way.'
0:02:13 > 0:02:16The couple were on their way to a local shopping centre
0:02:16 > 0:02:20when the accident happened. Going to make an approach to the field first.
0:02:20 > 0:02:25The crew, which today includes A doctor James Milligan,
0:02:25 > 0:02:27is used to dealing with crashed cars and bikes.
0:02:27 > 0:02:32But they are taken aback by the tangled wreckage at this scene.
0:02:32 > 0:02:34That's the bike? Yeah.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36That's been well smashed, hasn't it? Uh-huh.
0:02:41 > 0:02:44The force of the impact with the car
0:02:44 > 0:02:47has hurled the couple 20 metres down the busy main road
0:02:47 > 0:02:50in the Wath-Upon-Dearne.
0:02:50 > 0:02:54Hiya. We've got Dr James Milligan here. Hello.
0:02:54 > 0:02:5820-year-old Kirsty was the pillion passenger with this fella. OK.
0:02:58 > 0:03:02Coming along, the car's turned, he's doing about 40 mph on the bend. Yeah.
0:03:02 > 0:03:04Kirsty's come off... Yeah.
0:03:04 > 0:03:07..he's more or less bounced into the wall, but he's got up
0:03:07 > 0:03:12and walked and landed there. OK. OK, no loss of consciousness. Yeah.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16But she's having no feeling or pins and needles from there down. OK.
0:03:16 > 0:03:2020-year-old Kirsty hasn't moved since.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23Hiya, I'm James, one of the doctors, is it Kirsty? Yeah.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Is it hurting you anywhere at the minute? She says it is.
0:03:29 > 0:03:34Lying beside Kirsty is her boyfriend, 21-year-old Gordon.
0:03:34 > 0:03:37Where is it hurting you at the minute, big man?
0:03:37 > 0:03:40The back. Your back. The back.
0:03:40 > 0:03:42He too is seriously injured,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44but he got up after the crash and walked across to Kirsty
0:03:44 > 0:03:48before collapsing next to her.
0:03:48 > 0:03:50You remember everything that's happened, don't you?
0:03:50 > 0:03:54I was just driving and I just saw him walk across and fall on the road,
0:03:54 > 0:03:57I just pulled up and came out, and he's crying,
0:03:57 > 0:03:59he was upset and he's upset about his girlfriend.
0:03:59 > 0:04:03Apparently, he hit the wall, stood up and walked across, he said...
0:04:03 > 0:04:05So, I don't know.
0:04:05 > 0:04:08Which way were you going, towards the college or back towards...?
0:04:08 > 0:04:11Towards college. Paramedic Dave's using his local knowledge
0:04:11 > 0:04:14to piece together the events that led to the crash.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16He lives just down the road.
0:04:16 > 0:04:20I couldn't slow down... You've gone into the car, have you?
0:04:20 > 0:04:23Yeah, but he was on my side of the road! All right, mate,
0:04:23 > 0:04:26don't get yourself upset about it. He pulled out on me!
0:04:26 > 0:04:28It's all right, lovey, it's OK.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31Gordon is very worried about his girlfriend lying next to him.
0:04:31 > 0:04:36He's right to be. She has some very worrying symptoms.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38Can you wiggle your toes for me?
0:04:38 > 0:04:42You can't feel your feet at all. OK.
0:04:43 > 0:04:46All right. Can you move your legs at all?
0:04:46 > 0:04:49No. OK.
0:04:49 > 0:04:52The loss of feeling below her waist
0:04:52 > 0:04:55suggests spinal damage in her lower back.
0:04:55 > 0:04:58And Dr James needs to find exactly where the damage is
0:04:58 > 0:05:01before they attempt to move her.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04Now, I'm just going to have a little feel of your tummy.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07And you tell me if there's feeling. I'll start quite high up.
0:05:07 > 0:05:09I feel that. You feel that?
0:05:09 > 0:05:12Feels normal, does it? Yeah. OK.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16So, about here feels a bit funny?
0:05:16 > 0:05:19Tingles. Just tingles, does it?
0:05:19 > 0:05:21They both need to get to hospital soon,
0:05:21 > 0:05:24but only one can go by helicopter.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28Dr James has a decision to make that could affect this young couple
0:05:28 > 0:05:31for the rest of their lives.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45You expect paramedics to have advanced medical skills,
0:05:45 > 0:05:47but these days it takes a whole lot more
0:05:47 > 0:05:50to be a member of the emergency services.
0:05:50 > 0:05:54Most ambulance trusts now have their own specialist rescue teams
0:05:54 > 0:05:57and if you're trapped and if you're in danger,
0:05:57 > 0:06:00having a trained medic beside you is priceless.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04Helimed 99 is circling the scene
0:06:04 > 0:06:09of a major incident in the Pennine town of Keighley.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11There are loads of people below us.
0:06:11 > 0:06:13Yeah, that's the incident, isn't it, Tim?
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Below, specialist firefighters
0:06:15 > 0:06:18and the ambulance service's own medical rescue team
0:06:18 > 0:06:23are fighting to free a man trapped beneath a breakdown truck.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27He's getting out of the vehicle, the handbrake hasn't been on
0:06:27 > 0:06:29and he's sort of been crushed between the wall
0:06:29 > 0:06:33and the vehicle as the vehicle has moved down the hill.
0:06:33 > 0:06:36Paramedics and firefighters have set aside a place
0:06:36 > 0:06:38for the helicopter to land.
0:06:38 > 0:06:41I'm thinking that road down the side there, Tim, that's shut off,
0:06:41 > 0:06:43that's where he's wanting us to land.
0:06:43 > 0:06:46Between the trees and the building. Pilot Tim Taylor
0:06:46 > 0:06:49has landed in some extremely tight spaces,
0:06:49 > 0:06:53but this time, even he is having to think again.
0:06:53 > 0:06:56That is where they wanted us to go in.
0:06:56 > 0:06:57They'll have to trim the trees. Yeah.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00I think we're going to have to have some spread on here, because...
0:07:00 > 0:07:04We can land in that waste ground, but if it's purely an access issue,
0:07:04 > 0:07:09then land vehicles will need to bring him around. Yeah. Helimed 99
0:07:09 > 0:07:11landing on the scene now, we can't land on the road,
0:07:11 > 0:07:16it's too tight, so we'll be landing on adjoining streets.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Today, emergency doctor Andy Poutney
0:07:24 > 0:07:28is flying with the helimed team and his skills will be put to the test.
0:07:28 > 0:07:31Let's have a little look and see what we think.
0:07:31 > 0:07:33Can I come in and get a little look at him?
0:07:33 > 0:07:37We might not be able to get him on the stretcher. OK, how was he lying?
0:07:37 > 0:07:39Where is he? He's on his right side.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Iftikhar Hussain was about to set off to rescue a stranded motorist
0:07:45 > 0:07:48when he got trapped by his own truck.
0:07:48 > 0:07:51He's jumped out, the handbrake wasn't on
0:07:51 > 0:07:54and it started rolling and he tried to get back in... Yeah.
0:07:54 > 0:07:56I don't know if he's managed to dive out of the way or anything,
0:07:56 > 0:07:59but he's caught his pelvis... Right.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02..so, the crews that are underneath at the moment,
0:08:02 > 0:08:05are thinking that he's got a pelvis injury. How will we get him out?
0:08:05 > 0:08:09We're not going to get him under...
0:08:09 > 0:08:13We're unable to get access to get him out at the moment,
0:08:13 > 0:08:15so we're just trying to stabilise him under there.
0:08:15 > 0:08:20Dr Andy normally gets to assess his patients in a comfortable hospital.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23Today couldn't be more different.
0:08:23 > 0:08:25Watch your back there, Ned, because...
0:08:25 > 0:08:28Could the lorry not get reversed?
0:08:28 > 0:08:31Swing the wheels round, reverse back and create a space at the front?
0:08:31 > 0:08:33We've already tried it and it drags it back.
0:08:33 > 0:08:36You can't get any sort of leverage on it. Right.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40We weren't happy about moving it, because it's so tightly wedged in.
0:08:40 > 0:08:43To bring it out, would judder it.
0:08:43 > 0:08:46There's a chance of trapping him or... Yeah.
0:08:46 > 0:08:48Obviously, there's been a problem with the vehicle,
0:08:48 > 0:08:52or else it wouldn't have rolled. We're not happy with the brakes, which is why we've chopped it.
0:08:52 > 0:08:54He could have sustained serious internal injuries.
0:08:54 > 0:08:58Obviously we need to be cautious
0:08:58 > 0:09:01because a patient with those sort of injuries can bleed very quickly
0:09:01 > 0:09:04and deteriorate as a result of that.
0:09:05 > 0:09:09Iftikhar can't just be pulled free, but the longer he's under the truck
0:09:09 > 0:09:14the more chance there is of his internal injuries getting worse.
0:09:14 > 0:09:18We're going to try and come around through this gap, feet first, here.
0:09:18 > 0:09:22He needs urgent hospital care and the longer he's under here,
0:09:22 > 0:09:25the more his life is in danger.
0:09:34 > 0:09:36If you read some of the papers,
0:09:36 > 0:09:39you'd think today's kids had forgotten how to play.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42But almost every day, the helimed team sees evidence
0:09:42 > 0:09:45that the next generation still knows how to climb trees
0:09:45 > 0:09:46and get into trouble,
0:09:46 > 0:09:50even if their adventures end up in A
0:09:56 > 0:09:58It's like travelling back in time.
0:09:58 > 0:10:01TRAIN HORN SOUNDS
0:10:01 > 0:10:04The unique sounds, forgotten smells
0:10:04 > 0:10:09and elegant engineering of the railways have been brought back to life
0:10:09 > 0:10:10in this community project near Huddersfield.
0:10:10 > 0:10:15It's all a reminder of the Age of Steam.
0:10:15 > 0:10:18It has become a playground for a new generation
0:10:18 > 0:10:21of Railway Children. Some ride on the trains,
0:10:21 > 0:10:24others play in the woods that line the tracks.
0:10:24 > 0:10:28We were just, like, up in the tree. I wasn't expecting it to snap.
0:10:28 > 0:10:31We were kind of like all stood on the same branch
0:10:31 > 0:10:33and then it kind of just fell.
0:10:33 > 0:10:36'Any more on the little one?'
0:10:36 > 0:10:39'Yeah, she's definitely broken her leg. Yeah.'
0:10:39 > 0:10:43She's fallen out of a tree, hit a branch on the way down and bust her leg.
0:10:43 > 0:10:46I don't know how far further she's fallen, so... Yeah.
0:10:46 > 0:10:49Paramedic John Baxter is no stranger to adventure,
0:10:49 > 0:10:52and encourages his own kids to go exploring.
0:10:52 > 0:10:54I fell out of a few trees myself when I was a young lad.
0:10:54 > 0:10:57It's how it goes, isn't it?
0:10:57 > 0:10:59He still keeps falling out of trees! I was going to say, yeah.
0:10:59 > 0:11:01It accounts for so much.
0:11:01 > 0:11:05You don't get a face like without a few bruises along the way!
0:11:05 > 0:11:10It's character building, anyway.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13She's fallen from this branch here.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Her lower right leg is fractured. Right.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18We were down here because this is what we call our treehouse,
0:11:18 > 0:11:21because it's just down from our house.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Well, we were just sort of playing
0:11:24 > 0:11:26and we were just climbing a tree one minute,
0:11:26 > 0:11:29when the branch sort of snapped, and she just fell out.
0:11:29 > 0:11:33She's fallen off the branch, the one that's snapped? Yeah. Oh, dear.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37Did you land... How did you come out when you landed, what happened?
0:11:37 > 0:11:41I think I landed, like, straight on my knee. Did you?
0:11:41 > 0:11:44On your leg. She tried to get herself up
0:11:44 > 0:11:46but she didn't manage, so I helped her up,
0:11:46 > 0:11:48and she started saying, "I've broken my leg.
0:11:48 > 0:11:50"I won't able to go on the school trip."
0:11:50 > 0:11:51She was a bit worried.
0:11:51 > 0:11:55Well, she sort of panicked and once she started to panic,
0:11:55 > 0:11:59she started saying, "Oh, no!" We're supposed to be going on an adventure next week
0:11:59 > 0:12:05with school and she was like, "No, I can't go," and just really upset.
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Have you been in this position since it happened?
0:12:08 > 0:12:12It's clear Jessica has broken her leg. It's the right leg, Graham.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14Right tib and fib. She'd landed on her knee
0:12:14 > 0:12:16and she'd bent her leg back.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Alex felt it and says it does feel a bit funny. A bit funny.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22A bit funny, yeah.
0:12:22 > 0:12:24If she was an adult, the paramedics would give her morphine,
0:12:24 > 0:12:28but at her age, there's another option.
0:12:28 > 0:12:30Squirt it in nice and slowly.
0:12:30 > 0:12:33A squirt of Calpol should help numb the pain
0:12:33 > 0:12:36so they can straighten her fractured leg.
0:12:36 > 0:12:41We'll give you another one as well. Does it taste nice? Yeah.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44The other thing we're going to give you,
0:12:44 > 0:12:46we're going to give you something to breathe in, OK,
0:12:46 > 0:12:49and every time you breathe it in, it takes the pain away
0:12:49 > 0:12:52so you have to take it for a bit, but it can make you a bit dizzy.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59Both of them climbed a bit too far and too high together
0:12:59 > 0:13:02and the branch couldn't take it and obviously gave way.
0:13:02 > 0:13:07You keep taking that. How does that feel? I want to pass out.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Don't worry. You won't do, probably.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12You won't do. They love it down here.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15They build dens, and explore, yeah, they love it,
0:13:15 > 0:13:19they love it, all of them. Can you go around that side, Paul,
0:13:19 > 0:13:21and I'll get her from this side.
0:13:21 > 0:13:24I've got her, I've got her now. Are you all right? Yeah.
0:13:24 > 0:13:27All right.
0:13:27 > 0:13:30That it's, sweetheart, well done. Well done, awesome.
0:13:30 > 0:13:34With Jessica's leg now secured in a splint, her day of adventure
0:13:34 > 0:13:37is about to step up a gear with a flight
0:13:37 > 0:13:41in Helimed 99 for both her and her mum.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45It's a short flight to Huddersfield hospital
0:13:45 > 0:13:48and while Jessica's leg will soon be treated, she's more concerned
0:13:48 > 0:13:52about what it will mean for her future adventures.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56She's meant to be going to Castleton with school on Wednesday,
0:13:56 > 0:13:58so we'll have to see how it goes,
0:13:58 > 0:14:01because I don't think she will be going to Castleton, bless her,
0:14:01 > 0:14:05but I'm sure there will be many more trips that she can enjoy.
0:14:06 > 0:14:10So, still smiling but with her adventures on hold,
0:14:10 > 0:14:12she's taken in for an X-ray.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16And the result IS the break which the paramedics suspected.
0:14:20 > 0:14:22I've had to have an operation and they said
0:14:22 > 0:14:25that I would have to... I've got a pin in
0:14:25 > 0:14:28and they said I'd have to have another one to take the pin out.
0:14:28 > 0:14:32I've been recovering well, I think, I've been drinking milk
0:14:32 > 0:14:36and going back to the hospital and getting my pot changed and things.
0:14:37 > 0:14:41Shall we wave? Yeah, wave to the train.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44But it's clear Jessica is a girl who won't be put off
0:14:44 > 0:14:47and is looking forward to carrying on exploring with her friends.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51Being stuck inside is a bit boring,
0:14:51 > 0:14:55just trapped in, but outside is like...
0:14:55 > 0:14:58it's really good and adventurous.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12Back to South Yorkshire now,
0:15:12 > 0:15:15where it's feared a crash could have serious consequences
0:15:15 > 0:15:19for Gordon and Kirsty, two bikers thrown 20 metres down the road
0:15:19 > 0:15:21after an impact with a car.
0:15:24 > 0:15:27The young couple's short trip out to buy some milkshakes
0:15:27 > 0:15:30has ended in this. It's very early stages
0:15:30 > 0:15:33in relation to the investigation.
0:15:33 > 0:15:36We've got our collision investigation team here
0:15:36 > 0:15:39and they will piece together what's happened. Kirsty was riding pillion
0:15:39 > 0:15:43and thrown 20 metres down the road,
0:15:43 > 0:15:46landing on her back. We'll get you sorted in two ticks.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49We need to do a few bits and get you on a special board
0:15:49 > 0:15:52and then we'll get you down to hospital and warm you up a wee bit.
0:15:52 > 0:15:56She hasn't moved since and has no feeling below her waist.
0:15:58 > 0:16:01Because she's not able to complain of pain, then, yeah...
0:16:01 > 0:16:03Paramedic Sammy thinks she may have broken her pelvis -
0:16:03 > 0:16:06pain Kirsty can't feel.
0:16:06 > 0:16:10I'm going to pull it tight across your hips, Kirsty, love. All right?
0:16:10 > 0:16:14They need to move Kirsty very carefully.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17One, two, three, roll.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19That's it, that's it.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22And when they begin to move her,
0:16:22 > 0:16:25boyfriend Gordon reacts badly...
0:16:26 > 0:16:29No! Well done. All right.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31Is that your leg? No!
0:16:31 > 0:16:34Is it cos they're moving her onto another board?
0:16:34 > 0:16:37Just relax. Take it easy.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41The crew would like to fly both patients
0:16:41 > 0:16:43but Helimed 99 can only carry one
0:16:43 > 0:16:49and Dr James decides Kirsty's injuries are the more serious.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52She's coming with us? Yeah.
0:16:52 > 0:16:55Gordon, too, has serious injuries,
0:16:55 > 0:16:57but he is refusing to take any pain relief.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01Are you sure you still wouldn't like some gas and air? No, I'm sure.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04It seems whilst Kirsty is around,
0:17:04 > 0:17:07he wants to keep a clear head. Well done.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11Have you ever been in helicopter before, Kirsty? No.
0:17:11 > 0:17:15Paramedic Sammy knows her patient could have spinal shock,
0:17:15 > 0:17:19bruising to the spinal cord from which she may recover.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21I'm going to be sat right at the side of you, all right?
0:17:21 > 0:17:25If not, she's probably permanently paralysed.
0:17:25 > 0:17:26Brilliant.
0:17:26 > 0:17:31Dr James still has to deal with boyfriend Gordon.
0:17:31 > 0:17:33He's going to go by land ambulance.
0:17:33 > 0:17:36Can I have a quick look at this arm? Straighten it out for us.
0:17:36 > 0:17:41Straighten it out for us. Is that your elbow?
0:17:41 > 0:17:44Sammy has to answer an awkward question.
0:17:44 > 0:17:47Why can't I feel anything?
0:17:47 > 0:17:50Well, you might have bumped your back, and that's why it's hurting
0:17:50 > 0:17:54and that's why we'll take you to the hospital and get you checked out.
0:17:56 > 0:18:00Just before they take off, another problem emerges.
0:18:00 > 0:18:03How are we doing? My chest really hurts. Your chest?
0:18:03 > 0:18:06Feels like it's being squeezed.
0:18:06 > 0:18:10At the back or at the front? All around. All around.
0:18:10 > 0:18:13Kirsty's blood pressure is dropping fast.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16It could be she is bleeding internally and that could be fatal.
0:18:18 > 0:18:19Big deep breath in for me...
0:18:19 > 0:18:21And out.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24You're getting lots of air into those lungs of yours,
0:18:24 > 0:18:27I know it feels a bit funny, but it's just...
0:18:27 > 0:18:30because you're strapped down nice and tight to this board, all right?
0:18:30 > 0:18:33You're still good to the left here.
0:18:34 > 0:18:37Both young patients leave the crash site at the same time -
0:18:37 > 0:18:42Gordon by land ambulance and Kirsty in Helimed 99.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45What we've tried to do is stabilise her back as best we can,
0:18:45 > 0:18:47we've given her some good strong painkiller
0:18:47 > 0:18:50and we're taking her to the Northern General in Sheffield,
0:18:50 > 0:18:53where hopefully the spinal surgeons can take over from there.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55The helicopter is nice and smooth and won't hit bumps
0:18:55 > 0:18:57and jolts you may get on the road.
0:18:57 > 0:19:01They will also get her into A as quickly as possible,
0:19:01 > 0:19:04in case there are any other injuries that we haven't yet noticed.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11Within minutes, Kirsty arrives at Sheffield's Northern General Hospital.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14The helimed crew's patient knows that the hospital spinal team
0:19:14 > 0:19:18is waiting for her and that she will find out soon
0:19:18 > 0:19:23whether the feeling in her legs is ever going to return.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33In the Pennine town of Keighley,
0:19:33 > 0:19:37the tense operation to free a man trapped beneath a recovery truck
0:19:37 > 0:19:40is reaching a crucial stage.
0:19:40 > 0:19:43Can you go forward?
0:19:43 > 0:19:4631-year-old Iftikhar Hussain has serious injuries
0:19:46 > 0:19:48and is losing consciousness.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51Currently, he's getting immobilised underneath the vehicle
0:19:51 > 0:19:56and he'll be brought out where we will do a proper assessment of him
0:19:56 > 0:20:00and we'll probably fly him to Leeds General. He's had quite an impact
0:20:00 > 0:20:03and it sounds like his pelvis is the area that has taken the brunt
0:20:03 > 0:20:06of the weight of the vehicle. He's on his right side.
0:20:06 > 0:20:09So, he's slid out on the gap I was laid on.
0:20:09 > 0:20:12So, I'll go back under, take the bottom half and pull it through.
0:20:12 > 0:20:14Iftikhar's workmates are in shock.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17He'll be coming out shortly.
0:20:17 > 0:20:19He's got a pelvic binder on as well.
0:20:19 > 0:20:23Eventually, and with the help of some specialist rescue gear,
0:20:23 > 0:20:25he's pulled free.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30Now is the first time his injuries can be properly assessed.
0:20:30 > 0:20:33Take a deep breath for me.
0:20:33 > 0:20:37That's great. A couple more deep breaths.
0:20:37 > 0:20:39Keep your head still for me.
0:20:39 > 0:20:44Is that hurting? Yeah. All right. How are your legs feeling?
0:20:44 > 0:20:48Can you bring your toes up towards us?
0:20:48 > 0:20:51I can't feel them. Deep breath. You can't feel your legs?
0:20:51 > 0:20:55He was in a lot of pain when I arrived, really distressed,
0:20:55 > 0:20:59just wanted to get out of there, but we had to wait. There was no way to get him out
0:20:59 > 0:21:01until everybody arrived, so he's in quite a lot of pain.
0:21:01 > 0:21:04Have we got anything obvious, other than what he said there?
0:21:04 > 0:21:06Is he moving all his limbs fine? No.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09He is a little bit disorientated. His eyes are closed
0:21:09 > 0:21:10until you talk to him.
0:21:10 > 0:21:14It's clear he's got a fractured pelvis, an injury
0:21:14 > 0:21:17that can quickly lead to problems with the internal organs.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Although the closest hospital to here is Bradford,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26because of his injuries, Iftikhar is being flown
0:21:26 > 0:21:29straight to the regional trauma centre in Leeds.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37He was working on an industrial estate. Basically the cab of an HGV
0:21:37 > 0:21:41has crushed him against a wall. It apparently accidentally
0:21:41 > 0:21:44moved just before the ambulance crew got there, which released him,
0:21:44 > 0:21:46but he's been trapped between a wall and the HGV,
0:21:46 > 0:21:50so access has been difficult. We've been underneath the HGV to get him out.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54There's a few areas of concern - he's almost certainly broken his collarbone on the left,
0:21:54 > 0:21:58he was very tender over his spleen and his pelvis was very tender,
0:21:58 > 0:22:00so he's got three significant, potentially significant,
0:22:00 > 0:22:04left-side injuries. So he's going to go for a CT scan now,
0:22:04 > 0:22:08which will have a look at those areas and give more information.
0:22:08 > 0:22:10Over the next few hours,
0:22:10 > 0:22:14surgeons battle to reconstruct Iftikhar's pelvis.
0:22:14 > 0:22:19Though his injuries are severe, he has youth and fitness on his side.
0:22:19 > 0:22:23Three months on, he's been transferred to a hospital nearer his home.
0:22:23 > 0:22:26But he knows he's lucky to have survived a freak accident
0:22:26 > 0:22:29that could easily have killed him.
0:22:32 > 0:22:34Now...back to the heartbreaking case
0:22:34 > 0:22:36of Kirsty and Gordon,
0:22:36 > 0:22:39the bikers seriously injured in a smash in South Yorkshire.
0:22:43 > 0:22:48With no feeling below her waist, 21-year-old Kirsty seems to be
0:22:48 > 0:22:52becoming increasingly aware that she could be very badly injured.
0:22:52 > 0:22:55Are my legs on something to keep them floating?
0:22:55 > 0:22:58They're just nice and comfy, laid on this stretcher.
0:22:58 > 0:23:00I know it's a bit hard at the top, isn't it?
0:23:00 > 0:23:03The hospital's spinal injuries team
0:23:03 > 0:23:06has been alerted to Kirsty's arrival.
0:23:06 > 0:23:07Doctors are waiting to assess her.
0:23:07 > 0:23:09The actual bike itself,
0:23:09 > 0:23:12it's an absolute mess.
0:23:12 > 0:23:17So, the potential is there for them both to have
0:23:17 > 0:23:19bad spinal injuries.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Kirsty's parents are on their way to Sheffield
0:23:23 > 0:23:24to be with their daughter.
0:23:24 > 0:23:27They are told they must wait for the scan results.
0:23:27 > 0:23:31Everyone is hoping that they will show that her paralysis
0:23:31 > 0:23:35is temporary, and that she will walk out of hospital.
0:23:35 > 0:23:38The X-rays tell a different story.
0:23:38 > 0:23:41If you look there, this is a big fracture
0:23:41 > 0:23:44and dislocation of the spine. So, the upper part of her spine
0:23:44 > 0:23:46has actually completely gone off
0:23:46 > 0:23:48from the lower part of her spine.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51So, if you look at a spine model, here.
0:23:51 > 0:23:54So, it was actually a fracture in this vertebrate here, and,
0:23:54 > 0:23:58if you look, there's the spinal-cord and the nerves coming out here.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00Now, of course, this disrupted the whole spine
0:24:00 > 0:24:02at that level of the injury.
0:24:02 > 0:24:05In Kirsty's case, it's still very early on
0:24:05 > 0:24:07to predict exactly what will happen.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09But at the moment,
0:24:09 > 0:24:13she's not showing any signs of any significant recovery.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22Some would buckle under the news that it's unlikely that they will
0:24:22 > 0:24:26ever walk again, but just two weeks after hearing those words,
0:24:26 > 0:24:29Kirsty chooses a very different approach.
0:24:31 > 0:24:32I think I'm paralysed
0:24:32 > 0:24:35from there downwards, at the minute.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37And it's finding out whether
0:24:37 > 0:24:39I will or won't walk again, so...
0:24:39 > 0:24:42But I've got no feeling in my legs at the minute.
0:24:42 > 0:24:45It could've been worse, I could have lost my arms.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48I'm quite lucky to have feeling in my arms,
0:24:48 > 0:24:50and stuff like that, so...
0:24:50 > 0:24:52I'm happy about that. At least I've got them.
0:24:52 > 0:24:57After the accident, Kirsty's boyfriend Gordon scrambled
0:24:57 > 0:25:00to his feet before collapsing next to her.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03We're just going to be moving her onto another board.
0:25:03 > 0:25:09He tried to help her then, but couldn't. Now he can.
0:25:09 > 0:25:12Taxi's not here. Oh, here it is.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15Gordon had a list of injuries of his own,
0:25:15 > 0:25:17but the day after the accident
0:25:17 > 0:25:21he discharged himself from hospital, so he could be with Kirsty.
0:25:21 > 0:25:25Don't pull that face, when I can't see where I'm going. It scares me.
0:25:25 > 0:25:28And today, he's planned a trip out to the shops.
0:25:29 > 0:25:33Look at the handbag in there. Push me up.
0:25:33 > 0:25:37This really is retail therapy.
0:25:37 > 0:25:41I like that top, as well. That top would look nice with my jeans.
0:25:42 > 0:25:44It's nice to get out from hospital.
0:25:44 > 0:25:47Nice to just go away for a bit, and take it off your mind.
0:25:47 > 0:25:50Just to get rid of thoughts of it.
0:25:51 > 0:25:52It's heartbreaking,
0:25:52 > 0:25:56knowing that everything has to change now.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58We've just got to learn to deal
0:25:58 > 0:25:59with everything in a new way, now.
0:25:59 > 0:26:01But it's hard.
0:26:03 > 0:26:05I've got used to it, now.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07It's just this brace that attracts a lot of attention.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11And being in my chair. I feel like they're looking, but...
0:26:11 > 0:26:13She obviously likes me to help her do some things,
0:26:13 > 0:26:15but she doesn't want me to care for her.
0:26:15 > 0:26:17She doesn't want me there to do that, she wants me to
0:26:17 > 0:26:21be her partner, and do things that we enjoy, and be happy together.
0:26:22 > 0:26:25She don't want us to become, like, friends,
0:26:25 > 0:26:27and fall apart sort of thing.
0:26:27 > 0:26:32And I don't want that either. So, I want whatever's best for us.
0:26:32 > 0:26:37Gordon and Kirsty have been together for six years, since they were 15.
0:26:37 > 0:26:404,499. Well expensive, that.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44They got engaged six months before the accident.
0:26:44 > 0:26:46I like that one.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48She wanted a very expensive engagement ring,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51which I couldn't afford, so I had to go for a cheaper option.
0:26:51 > 0:26:55She smiled for days, and she said "yeah".
0:26:55 > 0:26:57Which is the main thing.
0:26:57 > 0:26:59Kirsty's doctors have said that her will
0:26:59 > 0:27:02and positive attitude will help her
0:27:02 > 0:27:04overcome the many difficulties
0:27:04 > 0:27:06that she undoubtedly faces.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10And in her mind, her next objective is clear.
0:27:10 > 0:27:15Getting back to my old self will be good.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17It'll just be minus my legs,
0:27:17 > 0:27:19but I'll still be the same, I'll not change.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21She'll never give in.
0:27:21 > 0:27:23I'm looking forward to just
0:27:23 > 0:27:25going home.
0:27:25 > 0:27:30And I'm pleased to say Kirsty is doing well with her physiotherapy,
0:27:30 > 0:27:33and looking positively towards her future with Gordon.