Episode 14

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0:00:03 > 0:00:05When the people of rural Yorkshire

0:00:05 > 0:00:07dial 999,

0:00:07 > 0:00:09help can be a long time coming.

0:00:09 > 0:00:13The Yorkshire Dales are as beautiful as they are big,

0:00:13 > 0:00:17but if you're seriously injured in a landscape as gigantic as this,

0:00:17 > 0:00:19your life is on the line.

0:00:20 > 0:00:23But in the remotest parts of Britain's biggest county,

0:00:23 > 0:00:26they look to the skies for help.

0:00:26 > 0:00:29Look on your left, can you get in that grass field?

0:00:29 > 0:00:30Yes, mate, go for that.

0:00:30 > 0:00:32From high drama in the peaks...

0:00:32 > 0:00:34to high waters in the Dales,

0:00:34 > 0:00:38the Helimed team's at the heart of almost every rescue,

0:00:38 > 0:00:42bringing 21st-century medicine

0:00:42 > 0:00:45to some of Britain's most isolated communities,

0:00:45 > 0:00:47and saving lives against the odds.

0:00:56 > 0:00:58Today, on Helicopter Heroes,

0:00:58 > 0:01:01this road roller weighs three tons,

0:01:01 > 0:01:03and the driver is trapped underneath.

0:01:03 > 0:01:04It's resting on top of him,

0:01:04 > 0:01:08they're trying to secure it with this big crane.

0:01:08 > 0:01:10A pregnant mum has a bump.

0:01:10 > 0:01:11How's your tummy?

0:01:11 > 0:01:13All right, is it? Good.

0:01:13 > 0:01:16There's a major rescue operation, after a man

0:01:16 > 0:01:18plunges into a moorland waterfall.

0:01:18 > 0:01:20The Fire Service are going to set up some lines

0:01:20 > 0:01:22to put him up onto this side of the river.

0:01:22 > 0:01:25Hello, sir. Open your eyes.

0:01:25 > 0:01:29And the team battles to save this biker's life.

0:01:29 > 0:01:31Get chest decompressed, this left side.

0:01:38 > 0:01:40Who wouldn't like a view like this

0:01:40 > 0:01:41from their living room window?

0:01:41 > 0:01:43It's the wide-open spaces and scenery

0:01:43 > 0:01:46that draw people to live in Yorkshire's Dales,

0:01:46 > 0:01:49but making a home up here has its downsides.

0:01:52 > 0:01:54The deep valleys of the Pennines

0:01:54 > 0:01:57have always presented builders with a challenge.

0:01:57 > 0:02:01Towns like Hebden Bridge cling to steep hillsides,

0:02:01 > 0:02:03and developers must spend a lot of money

0:02:03 > 0:02:07levelling the ground before they can lay foundations.

0:02:09 > 0:02:11We're looking at a detail of

0:02:11 > 0:02:13an industrial roller that's gone down a hill

0:02:13 > 0:02:16and run over one of the workmen.

0:02:16 > 0:02:18He's not crushed by it, but he's trapped underneath.

0:02:18 > 0:02:21The Ambulance Service has got quite a lot of assets on this,

0:02:21 > 0:02:24including one of our doctors. We're just going to go out there

0:02:24 > 0:02:27and back them up, in case it is more serious than we first believed.

0:02:27 > 0:02:31And then transfer him to a major trauma centre if needed.

0:02:31 > 0:02:35Trapped underneath this road roller is driver Dan Willis.

0:02:35 > 0:02:37He's pinned by his legs,

0:02:37 > 0:02:41and if the earth moves, he could be crushed at any time.

0:02:41 > 0:02:43Roger, on approach...

0:02:43 > 0:02:46THEY TALK INDISTINCTLY

0:02:48 > 0:02:51- Do you want me to stay with the aircraft?- Yeah. At this point.

0:02:51 > 0:02:54- Good to the left.- I'll go and scope out what it looks like elsewhere.

0:02:54 > 0:02:56All right, bud.

0:02:58 > 0:03:02- How's he managed this, then?- He got too close to the edge and slid off.

0:03:02 > 0:03:04- Has he jumped out of it?- No, no.

0:03:04 > 0:03:08He's almost reversed back, and just that bit too far,

0:03:08 > 0:03:11and it slipped over the edge.

0:03:11 > 0:03:16Flying doctor Jez Pinnell dashed to the scene from his home nearby.

0:03:16 > 0:03:18We can't really assess him because

0:03:18 > 0:03:19he's still underneath the roller.

0:03:19 > 0:03:21Obviously, it's a three-ton roller,

0:03:21 > 0:03:23and it could do a serious amount of damage.

0:03:23 > 0:03:25He's only complaining of pain in his lower leg at the moment.

0:03:25 > 0:03:29The Ambulance Service's specialist rescue squad - the HART team,

0:03:29 > 0:03:31in their distinctive green uniforms -

0:03:31 > 0:03:33is leading the battle to free Dan.

0:03:33 > 0:03:36Looks like where he's come off, he's been thrown out,

0:03:36 > 0:03:41and he's ended up in a ditch, which has, erm, probably saved his bacon.

0:03:41 > 0:03:44Quick-thinking colleagues called in a mobile crane

0:03:44 > 0:03:47to stop the roller moving further.

0:03:47 > 0:03:50Its jib is now supporting some of its weight

0:03:50 > 0:03:53and reducing the pressure on Dan.

0:03:53 > 0:03:57The lad runs up to see if we were about, cos he were panicking,

0:03:57 > 0:04:01so we shot round with the crane wagon and got the crane out, and...

0:04:02 > 0:04:05..just took the weight off him while the services landed.

0:04:05 > 0:04:08Problem being is, we put more load on,

0:04:08 > 0:04:09then you get less happening with that.

0:04:09 > 0:04:11Whereas what we could do is air-bag it,

0:04:11 > 0:04:13lift it, turn it at the same time.

0:04:14 > 0:04:16Going to sort of gently lift it off him

0:04:16 > 0:04:18in an effort not to make his situation any worse.

0:04:18 > 0:04:22Once that's done, we'll sort of extricate him.

0:04:22 > 0:04:24The HART team have given him some ketamine,

0:04:24 > 0:04:27which will make him forget his experience, to a degree,

0:04:27 > 0:04:30we would hope. And we'll be able to get him out

0:04:30 > 0:04:31without too much trouble.

0:04:31 > 0:04:34As firefighters dig under the roller to free Dan,

0:04:34 > 0:04:37the Helimed team can only wait.

0:04:37 > 0:04:39It's been raining, and the soft ground

0:04:39 > 0:04:42may have been a major factor in his survival.

0:04:42 > 0:04:44He's still underneath, but it's pretty soft mud

0:04:44 > 0:04:46and he's kind of lying in the foetal position

0:04:46 > 0:04:49with this thing half on top, but not pressing down too much.

0:04:49 > 0:04:53The team's optimistic that its patient's injuries are minor,

0:04:53 > 0:04:57but that could change. One wrong move now could be fatal.

0:04:57 > 0:04:59It's time to free Dan.

0:04:59 > 0:05:02I reckon I'm stood in the best place - up here!

0:05:03 > 0:05:05They've got the expertise for this, let them do it.

0:05:07 > 0:05:11At last, Dan is slowly slid free.

0:05:11 > 0:05:14The signs are good, but Dan's miraculous escape

0:05:14 > 0:05:18won't be confirmed until Dr Jez has completed his examination.

0:05:18 > 0:05:21One of our doctors is just going to make an assessment on him,

0:05:21 > 0:05:24to see whether he needs transferring by air. If not,

0:05:24 > 0:05:26we'll just take him directly into Huddersfield.

0:05:26 > 0:05:28I'll get one of these...

0:05:28 > 0:05:31- I'll come with you, mate. - It's all right, mate.

0:05:31 > 0:05:33It's supposed to be round the other side.

0:05:33 > 0:05:36- Doesn't look too bad, does it?- No.

0:05:36 > 0:05:39- 140/85, slightly tachy.- Take him by road to Huddersfield, mate.

0:05:39 > 0:05:41- Happy?- Yeah.- OK, matey.

0:05:42 > 0:05:45- See you later, bud. He's all yours. - He's mine.- He's yours.

0:05:45 > 0:05:48Yeah. Roger. He's been assessed by the doctor on scene

0:05:48 > 0:05:50and he's going to be transferred by road, over.

0:05:50 > 0:05:56It's been a remarkable escape, and Dr Jez is delighted.

0:05:56 > 0:06:00Wasn't life-threatening, doesn't appear to be limb-threatening, so...

0:06:00 > 0:06:01it looks like he's been a lucky boy.

0:06:01 > 0:06:05He's escaped very lightly, considering what could have happened.

0:06:06 > 0:06:10As Helimed 99 returns to base, Dan is driven to hospital,

0:06:10 > 0:06:14where doctors find his leg is broken in six places.

0:06:14 > 0:06:16He also has minor hand injuries.

0:06:16 > 0:06:21He undergoes surgery the following day, but he's soon allowed home

0:06:21 > 0:06:24to continue his recovery - the luckiest man in the Pennines!

0:06:31 > 0:06:33There aren't many places you can still relax

0:06:33 > 0:06:36and drive for pleasure.

0:06:36 > 0:06:39Life in the fast lane today is as much about

0:06:39 > 0:06:41controlling your car's electronics

0:06:41 > 0:06:46as moving the steering wheel. With sat nav, cruise control

0:06:46 > 0:06:48and even automatic braking, some models

0:06:48 > 0:06:51actually contain three computers.

0:06:51 > 0:06:55And when something goes wrong on a motorway full of heavy lorries,

0:06:55 > 0:06:58an accident can be only seconds away.

0:06:58 > 0:07:00..99, pass your message.

0:07:01 > 0:07:04'It's junction 47 of the A1,

0:07:04 > 0:07:06'just to the east of Knaresborough.

0:07:06 > 0:07:08'It's a car into a ditch, two patients trapped.'

0:07:10 > 0:07:15Helimed 99 is only minutes from the crash.

0:07:15 > 0:07:16You can see the car in the field,

0:07:16 > 0:07:18behind that red truck and the white van.

0:07:18 > 0:07:20You can see the car's in the hedge.

0:07:20 > 0:07:23Yeah. I'll have to go along probably, and then come back.

0:07:23 > 0:07:27Trapped in the family people carrier

0:07:27 > 0:07:29is 28-year-old Jane Humphrey.

0:07:29 > 0:07:31She was driving husband Paul, daughter Izzy,

0:07:31 > 0:07:34and Baxter the dog home from visiting relatives

0:07:34 > 0:07:38when she switched off the cruise control and the engine died.

0:07:38 > 0:07:43Trying to reach the hard shoulder, the car clipped a lorry and rolled.

0:07:43 > 0:07:45I was the first one on the scene.

0:07:45 > 0:07:48- I passed this on to the police officer.- So, which...?

0:07:48 > 0:07:52- The little girl, Izzy, she's six. Paul, with the blood on him.- Yeah.

0:07:52 > 0:07:56- And Jane Humphrey, who's 28. - Right, OK.

0:07:56 > 0:07:57- And do you know them?- I don't, no.

0:07:57 > 0:08:03What's worrying her rescuers is that Jane is 14-weeks pregnant.

0:08:03 > 0:08:08Six-year-old Izzy is being cared for by ground paramedics.

0:08:08 > 0:08:09She has a bump on the head.

0:08:09 > 0:08:12She and her dad appear to have had a miraculous escape.

0:08:12 > 0:08:17Trapped in the back, Baxter the dog is the worst casualty.

0:08:17 > 0:08:19He's being carried from the wreckage,

0:08:19 > 0:08:21apparently lifeless.

0:08:21 > 0:08:24Hiya, mate, I'm an A&E nurse from James Cook.

0:08:24 > 0:08:25Oh, right. Hiya, my love.

0:08:25 > 0:08:30But mum-to-be Jane is the cause for most concern.

0:08:30 > 0:08:32Everybody else up there is fine, there's cuts and bruises,

0:08:32 > 0:08:35but nothing going on exciting.

0:08:35 > 0:08:37- She can't remember... - We're more than likely

0:08:37 > 0:08:39going to be taking... Is it your partner?

0:08:39 > 0:08:42Paramedic Lean Baronowski can see the family car

0:08:42 > 0:08:45rolled after the impact, and he is concerned

0:08:45 > 0:08:47Izzy may have undiagnosed injuries.

0:08:47 > 0:08:50- You bump your head somewhere, Izzy? - Yeah.- Whereabouts?

0:08:50 > 0:08:54- Let's have a feel. Going to make sure it's not bleeding.- OK.

0:08:54 > 0:08:56Where did you bump it?

0:08:57 > 0:09:04- Sorry? No pain here?- No.- No pain here? Just right on your head there?

0:09:04 > 0:09:07Just keep really still, all right?

0:09:07 > 0:09:11Someone will get you to hospital to be assessed, OK?

0:09:11 > 0:09:13- Are you pregnant?- Yeah.

0:09:13 > 0:09:16- OK, how far?- 14 weeks.

0:09:16 > 0:09:18Seat belts are life savers,

0:09:18 > 0:09:21but they put huge strain on the abdomen and chest.

0:09:21 > 0:09:23No pains at all round your tummy?

0:09:23 > 0:09:26Paramedic Darrell is concerned that the forces

0:09:26 > 0:09:30Jane experienced in the accident may have damaged her unborn baby.

0:09:30 > 0:09:33We're going to get the board underneath her,

0:09:33 > 0:09:35and then we'll get her out sort of in that direction.

0:09:35 > 0:09:37I think that'll work fine.

0:09:37 > 0:09:41It's crucial Jane is removed from the car with great care,

0:09:41 > 0:09:43for the sake of mother and child.

0:09:43 > 0:09:46Jane, can you straighten this left leg?

0:09:46 > 0:09:50Cos what we're going to do is feed a board underneath you. Yeah?

0:09:50 > 0:09:52And then we'll get you onto it.

0:09:52 > 0:09:54Hope for the family pet is fading.

0:09:54 > 0:09:57An emergency vet has been called for Baxter the dog,

0:09:57 > 0:10:00but it'll be some time before she arrives.

0:10:00 > 0:10:03Your crew's here, they're just getting the scoop in.

0:10:03 > 0:10:06The Helimed team must focus on the human casualties.

0:10:06 > 0:10:10Jane urgently needs a scan at Leeds General Infirmary.

0:10:10 > 0:10:15- OK, on your call, pal. - On three, then. One, two, three...

0:10:15 > 0:10:17You all right there? Nice and slow.

0:10:20 > 0:10:22We've got some room to move, all right?

0:10:22 > 0:10:25Jane's neck has been fitted with a brace, in case she's suffered

0:10:25 > 0:10:29a spinal injury. It's just a precaution.

0:10:29 > 0:10:31We're going to take this lady through to LGI,

0:10:31 > 0:10:32and her young daughter.

0:10:32 > 0:10:35I know Harrogate's closer, but if they can all go to Leeds,

0:10:35 > 0:10:37that'd be...

0:10:37 > 0:10:38appreciated.

0:10:38 > 0:10:40Nice and still, good girl.

0:10:42 > 0:10:43All right, guys,

0:10:43 > 0:10:45if we lift all the way up to his chest...we'll get her about

0:10:45 > 0:10:48half the way in, and then we can put her down on the stretcher, OK?

0:10:48 > 0:10:52Start peeling away, pass her forwards.

0:10:52 > 0:10:53Brilliant, brilliant...

0:10:53 > 0:10:55Perfect, spot-on, thank you very much.

0:10:57 > 0:10:59So you can't remember what happened?

0:10:59 > 0:11:05- I think I put cruise control on, but it all just stopped.- Right, OK.

0:11:05 > 0:11:06We're going to be lifting in a minute,

0:11:06 > 0:11:08so I won't be able to talk to you.

0:11:08 > 0:11:10We'll be about ten minutes in the air,

0:11:10 > 0:11:13then we'll be landing on the top of LGI, OK?

0:11:13 > 0:11:16- How's that leg, is that a bit comfier now?- Yeah.

0:11:16 > 0:11:19Do you think it was just because of the position you were in?

0:11:19 > 0:11:22Pilot Andy will have her there in eight minutes,

0:11:22 > 0:11:25but pregnant patients are difficult to treat.

0:11:25 > 0:11:28Many drugs have dangerous side effects for an unborn child.

0:11:28 > 0:11:32Backing away from the scene, cos I don't want that car...

0:11:32 > 0:11:34OK, you're looking all right.

0:11:36 > 0:11:38Fine to your right. OK, let's go.

0:11:40 > 0:11:4299 lifted on the scene.

0:11:45 > 0:11:50- 'No worries, have you got an ETA?' - Yeah, eight minutes.

0:11:50 > 0:11:53What's wrong with the casualty?

0:11:53 > 0:11:56She's got a head injury, that's the only thing she's complaining of,

0:11:56 > 0:11:58but the fact she's pregnant,

0:11:58 > 0:12:00we need to get that looked at, obviously,

0:12:00 > 0:12:03and she's got quite a swelling on the top of her head, so...

0:12:03 > 0:12:05And she doesn't remember the incident.

0:12:05 > 0:12:07We've got to assume that anything that we do,

0:12:07 > 0:12:10anything that's happened to the mother...

0:12:10 > 0:12:12directly affects the unborn child.

0:12:19 > 0:12:2299 coming into land, LGI...

0:12:22 > 0:12:24'Thank you very much.'

0:12:30 > 0:12:32Jane's on her way for a series of tests.

0:12:32 > 0:12:35Obstetricians have been called to examine her.

0:12:35 > 0:12:39Many babies have survived seat-belt injuries to their mothers,

0:12:39 > 0:12:42but no accident like this is routine. The next few hours

0:12:42 > 0:12:45will be critical.

0:12:51 > 0:12:54It's several days before Jane can return to the family home.

0:12:54 > 0:12:56She's battered and bruised,

0:12:56 > 0:13:00but the good news is that her baby has been given the all-clear.

0:13:00 > 0:13:02It's a relief for the whole family.

0:13:02 > 0:13:04I like that one.

0:13:04 > 0:13:07'When I came round, I was worried about baby,

0:13:07 > 0:13:10'I was worried about Izzy, and obviously about Paul,

0:13:10 > 0:13:12'but Paul was there, so I could see that he was fine.

0:13:13 > 0:13:17'Baby was fine, and Isabelle was absolutely fine,

0:13:17 > 0:13:20'so we were all very lucky.

0:13:20 > 0:13:23'We lost all power on the car.'

0:13:23 > 0:13:24The main thing we thought to do,

0:13:24 > 0:13:26with it being in the middle lane,

0:13:26 > 0:13:28was to get over onto the hard shoulder.

0:13:28 > 0:13:30So when we looked, it was clear,

0:13:30 > 0:13:34went across, but didn't get across in time,

0:13:34 > 0:13:36and a lorry hit us.

0:13:36 > 0:13:37The last thing I remember is the lorry

0:13:37 > 0:13:39being in the rear-view mirror.

0:13:41 > 0:13:44When it rolled, I started to wake up,

0:13:44 > 0:13:47and I were like,

0:13:47 > 0:13:48"What's happened?"

0:13:48 > 0:13:50I were really scared.

0:13:50 > 0:13:54And I were worried about Baxter. I were like...

0:13:55 > 0:14:01..saying, "Is my dog all right?" and "Is my mummy all right?"

0:14:01 > 0:14:05The people cut my clothes off then, and I were like,

0:14:05 > 0:14:10"I'm fine, why did you have to cut my best bloomin'...

0:14:10 > 0:14:14- "my best..."- Dress.- "..dress...off?"

0:14:14 > 0:14:17And it had all flowers on it,

0:14:17 > 0:14:21and it were blue, and I were like, "Aw!"

0:14:21 > 0:14:23And there's more good news.

0:14:23 > 0:14:26Despite fears he'd been mortally injured in the back of the car,

0:14:26 > 0:14:31Baxter the dog was revived by the emergency vet,

0:14:31 > 0:14:32and now he's back to his old self.

0:14:32 > 0:14:35'He didn't move.

0:14:35 > 0:14:40'Eventually, when the emergency vet came to lift him - I think

0:14:40 > 0:14:43'they were putting adrenaline in him or something -

0:14:43 > 0:14:45'he just sparked to life.'

0:14:45 > 0:14:48And Baxter is apparently none the worse

0:14:48 > 0:14:49for his near-death experience -

0:14:49 > 0:14:52apart from an understandable reluctance

0:14:52 > 0:14:54to ride in the family car.

0:15:00 > 0:15:04From the Dales to the Moors, the sheer force of water

0:15:04 > 0:15:07created Yorkshire's most beautiful landscapes.

0:15:07 > 0:15:12Today, its rivers drain 10,000 square miles of the UK,

0:15:12 > 0:15:16and when they're in full flow, their banks are dangerous places.

0:15:16 > 0:15:20Today, Helimed 98 is joining a major rescue operation

0:15:20 > 0:15:22on the North York Moors, where it's reported

0:15:22 > 0:15:26a photographer has fallen down a waterfall.

0:15:26 > 0:15:29What equipment do we need to bring down, or who needs to come down?

0:15:32 > 0:15:33For this particular job,

0:15:33 > 0:15:35there's a lot that could be wrong with the patient.

0:15:35 > 0:15:37There's potentially a fall from a great height,

0:15:37 > 0:15:40off the waterfall into the water itself.

0:15:40 > 0:15:43So we're going to have to be quite careful with this patient,

0:15:43 > 0:15:45even if he seems relatively well now,

0:15:45 > 0:15:47if he has been submerged for a length of time,

0:15:47 > 0:15:50he could have a drowning problem or near-drowning problem.

0:15:50 > 0:15:54Looking for the waterfall, half a mile to go.

0:15:54 > 0:15:57Half a mile, OK, there's the river...

0:15:57 > 0:16:00The accident's happened near the village of Goathland -

0:16:00 > 0:16:04location for the '90s TV drama Heartbeat.

0:16:04 > 0:16:07- Can't see anything down there, can you?- Door is secure.- Roger.

0:16:08 > 0:16:11So the waterfall in the trees there is quite fast moving,

0:16:11 > 0:16:14so I think he would get knocked downstream from there.

0:16:16 > 0:16:20Concern is growing for the safety of the missing man,

0:16:20 > 0:16:23but pilot John Slater's immediate concerns

0:16:23 > 0:16:25are to find somewhere to land.

0:16:25 > 0:16:26OK, slight slope.

0:16:28 > 0:16:31- OK. Skids in the grass.- You're on.

0:16:36 > 0:16:38Right, they've found him.

0:16:38 > 0:16:41- Have they found him? - RADIO CHATTER

0:16:41 > 0:16:44David Ball, from Nottinghamshire, was out with his father

0:16:44 > 0:16:48taking pictures of a waterfall called Nelly Ayre Foss

0:16:48 > 0:16:50when he slipped and fell.

0:16:50 > 0:16:54He's cold, in pain, and trapped at the bottom of a ravine.

0:16:54 > 0:16:56We'd been for a walk from Goathland

0:16:56 > 0:16:57to the bridge at the bottom here.

0:16:57 > 0:16:59My son decided he wanted to carry on

0:16:59 > 0:17:01for a little bit further to see if

0:17:01 > 0:17:03he could spot a waterfall he'd heard about,

0:17:03 > 0:17:04to take some photographs.

0:17:04 > 0:17:06I said I was a little bit tired, I'd walked enough,

0:17:06 > 0:17:09so I was going to go up to the car, come back down and meet him.

0:17:09 > 0:17:11Unfortunately, I lost contact with him,

0:17:11 > 0:17:13due to lack of signal and stuff. A couple of hours later,

0:17:13 > 0:17:16wandering around the fields, I did manage to get a signal,

0:17:16 > 0:17:19upon which time, he notified me that he'd fallen down a cliff

0:17:19 > 0:17:22and obviously had notified the emergency services.

0:17:24 > 0:17:26They've got to him down by the river,

0:17:26 > 0:17:29so have a wander down, or I'll have a wander down,

0:17:29 > 0:17:33- and then see if there's somewhere a bit closer to get to.- Yeah...

0:17:33 > 0:17:34But from the sounds of it...

0:17:34 > 0:17:37He's standing up, he's all right, he's covered in mud,

0:17:37 > 0:17:39but he's not that badly injured, by the sound of it.

0:17:43 > 0:17:45He's in a real pain of a spot,

0:17:45 > 0:17:48so the fire guys are going to put him up to this side.

0:17:48 > 0:17:51- Whereabouts have you got the ambulance to?- Up there.

0:17:51 > 0:17:53- Is it way up there?- Yeah.

0:17:53 > 0:17:56We'll get the pilot to shift the aircraft into this field,

0:17:56 > 0:17:58- and then we'll fly him up to the ambulance.- OK.

0:18:00 > 0:18:05Local firefighters know incidents like this can be very serious.

0:18:05 > 0:18:08After heavy rainfall, moorland streams can become

0:18:08 > 0:18:10lethal torrents in minutes.

0:18:10 > 0:18:13A few years ago, a car was swept away

0:18:13 > 0:18:15and its driver drowned near here.

0:18:15 > 0:18:18Have you guys got a space blanket, or something to keep him warm?

0:18:22 > 0:18:25The patient doesn't appear to be injured,

0:18:25 > 0:18:28he's just trapped where he is and we're struggling to get him out,

0:18:28 > 0:18:31so the fire service are going to set up some lines.

0:18:31 > 0:18:33The sides of the ravine are steep -

0:18:33 > 0:18:37getting David out of here isn't going to be easy.

0:18:37 > 0:18:39Assessing the bank side and the terrain,

0:18:39 > 0:18:40it's safer to take him across the river

0:18:40 > 0:18:45and down the river over to the air ambulance on the left-hand side,

0:18:45 > 0:18:48which was the safest option for the casualty and the crews.

0:18:52 > 0:18:54'There's lots of problems with access to incident sites.

0:18:54 > 0:18:57'This is a beautiful site, this young man's a keen photographer,

0:18:57 > 0:19:00'he's been taking pictures and he's slipped in.'

0:19:00 > 0:19:02If it wasn't for the aircraft,

0:19:02 > 0:19:05it'd be a long walk for Mountain Rescue or Fire and Rescue

0:19:05 > 0:19:07to take this guy out to a land vehicle.

0:19:07 > 0:19:08So in circumstances like this,

0:19:08 > 0:19:11it might only be a 30-second flight for us,

0:19:11 > 0:19:14but it might save them an hour or so's walk over rough ground.

0:19:16 > 0:19:18The Helimed 98 is soon lifting off

0:19:18 > 0:19:21with a very wet, very cold patient.

0:19:21 > 0:19:24David's been lucky - his injuries are minor.

0:19:27 > 0:19:30Pilot John's giving him a lift to a waiting land ambulance,

0:19:30 > 0:19:32so he can be examined.

0:19:35 > 0:19:37All right, lads?

0:19:41 > 0:19:43- That's it.- There we go.

0:19:43 > 0:19:46'Yeah, it has been a happy ending, yeah.

0:19:46 > 0:19:50'It seems that he hasn't got any particular injuries,

0:19:50 > 0:19:53'any broken limbs, cuts, scratches, anything like that.'

0:19:53 > 0:19:56So he's going to go off to Scarborough by land.

0:19:56 > 0:19:59For his dad, it's a moment of relief.

0:19:59 > 0:20:01David's not the first visitor

0:20:01 > 0:20:03to the North York Moors to find himself

0:20:03 > 0:20:07in a life-threatening situation through no fault of his own.

0:20:07 > 0:20:08Set my tripod up,

0:20:08 > 0:20:10got a couple of pictures -

0:20:10 > 0:20:12hopefully some good ones - well,

0:20:12 > 0:20:13they'd better be, after all that!

0:20:13 > 0:20:18Yeah, and then, er, I was going back and just literally lost my footing.

0:20:18 > 0:20:20A rock came down and knocked me into the water,

0:20:20 > 0:20:22and basically, I was stuck in the water.

0:20:22 > 0:20:26Probably about an hour-and-a-half. I had to call for some help.

0:20:26 > 0:20:29As soon as I called the services, they were down here,

0:20:29 > 0:20:34and they've been a great help. So, yeah, appreciate all their help.

0:20:34 > 0:20:37Whoever's gone into the water, to the ambulance, everything,

0:20:37 > 0:20:38absolutely briliant, yeah.

0:20:39 > 0:20:43David later goes home to Nottingham with little more than

0:20:43 > 0:20:46a few wet clothes to remind him of his accident.

0:20:50 > 0:20:52There's one piece of technology

0:20:52 > 0:20:55that has probably saved more lives than any other,

0:20:55 > 0:20:59and 94% of us carry one around most of the time.

0:20:59 > 0:21:02There are 82 million mobile phones in the UK,

0:21:02 > 0:21:05and on all of them, emergency calls are free.

0:21:08 > 0:21:11Are there chemicals or other hazards involved?

0:21:11 > 0:21:13And is anyone trapped?

0:21:13 > 0:21:19More than 2,000 people call 999 every day in Yorkshire.

0:21:19 > 0:21:21Emergency operators are highly trained

0:21:21 > 0:21:25to get the right information as quickly as possible.

0:21:25 > 0:21:28Just reassure her help is being arranged.

0:21:28 > 0:21:30Don't let her have anything to eat or drink,

0:21:30 > 0:21:32it might make her sick or cause problems for the doctor.

0:21:32 > 0:21:35But some confusion is inevitable,

0:21:35 > 0:21:37especially when emergencies are unusual.

0:21:41 > 0:21:45Today, firefighters have been called to reports of an explosion,

0:21:45 > 0:21:47and Helimed 99 is joining them.

0:21:50 > 0:21:54'99... It looks like he's been using a paint compressor

0:21:54 > 0:21:58'which has exploded. CPR is in progress, over.'

0:21:59 > 0:22:01The fact that he's gone into cardiac arrest

0:22:01 > 0:22:04so quickly after the explosion

0:22:04 > 0:22:09indicates that he's probably got some kind of catastrophic injuries.

0:22:09 > 0:22:13When you're dealing with blasts, there's lots of potential problems.

0:22:13 > 0:22:15Paramedics Sam Burgess and Matt Syrat

0:22:15 > 0:22:18are used to being given a map reference

0:22:18 > 0:22:20and little more to go on,

0:22:20 > 0:22:24but the location of this incident is no factory.

0:22:24 > 0:22:25What are we looking for?

0:22:25 > 0:22:28Is it the middle of nowhere, an industrial estate, or...?

0:22:28 > 0:22:33- Er, I think it's a farm. Workhouse Farm.- A farm?- Yeah.

0:22:33 > 0:22:38Industrial accidents kill a worker every other day in the UK,

0:22:38 > 0:22:40and 27,000 are injured.

0:22:40 > 0:22:44Helimed 99 is zeroing in on a farm building,

0:22:44 > 0:22:47and judging by the smoke, there's been a fire.

0:22:47 > 0:22:5099, overhead scene, about to touch down.

0:22:50 > 0:22:52Clear of animals and wires. You're looking good

0:22:52 > 0:22:55on the right-hand side, mate, plenty of space.

0:22:55 > 0:22:59There's been no blast, but the team's patient is critically ill.

0:22:59 > 0:23:01- Hey-up, gents.- Hiya, guys.

0:23:01 > 0:23:03This is Stuart, he's...

0:23:03 > 0:23:06A few minutes ago, farm worker Stuart Hindwell

0:23:06 > 0:23:08was in cardiac arrest.

0:23:08 > 0:23:10Firefighters have revived him by shocking his heart

0:23:10 > 0:23:13back into rhythm, but he's still fighting for life.

0:23:14 > 0:23:17We think he's been overcome by some fumes,

0:23:17 > 0:23:20he was sandblasting the trailer.

0:23:20 > 0:23:21Can't see any trauma at all.

0:23:22 > 0:23:25Stuart was using a sandblasting machine

0:23:25 > 0:23:28when the compressor supplying him with air caught fire.

0:23:28 > 0:23:31He was slowly poisoned by smoke and fumes.

0:23:31 > 0:23:34If workmates hadn't found him,

0:23:34 > 0:23:37he'd have been beyond the help of the Helimed team.

0:23:37 > 0:23:40Was he in arrest when you guys got here?

0:23:40 > 0:23:42Erm, I found a pulse, pretty much.

0:23:44 > 0:23:48All right, Stuart, the paramedics are here.

0:23:48 > 0:23:51They're just working to make sure you're all right.

0:23:51 > 0:23:54He's been doing some sandblasting, the compressor's caught fire,

0:23:54 > 0:23:56and he's been overcome by fumes.

0:23:56 > 0:23:59Found by his mates, unresponsive.

0:24:01 > 0:24:04When these guys got here, he had a pulse,

0:24:04 > 0:24:05he was breathing spontaneously.

0:24:05 > 0:24:09All right, mate, sharp scratch, try and keep nice and still for us.

0:24:09 > 0:24:13- Just wait for him to... - Relax this arm, Stuart, relax it.

0:24:13 > 0:24:14Nice and relaxed.

0:24:14 > 0:24:19Sam and Matt are feeding him pure oxygen to counteract the poisons.

0:24:19 > 0:24:23OK... Ready, steady, lift.

0:24:23 > 0:24:27Incidents like this often lead to brain damage.

0:24:27 > 0:24:30Stuart needs expert hospital care urgently.

0:24:30 > 0:24:34ETA, with you approximately 15 minutes...

0:24:34 > 0:24:38OK, thanks very much. Cheers, bye.

0:24:38 > 0:24:43Stuart's being flown to the Trauma Unit at Hull Royal Infirmary.

0:24:43 > 0:24:45Thanks to the local chemical industry,

0:24:45 > 0:24:49consultants there are familiar with the effects of almost any substance.

0:24:49 > 0:24:53But the toxins Stuart has inhaled are deadly.

0:24:53 > 0:24:55He's very fortunate to be alive.

0:24:55 > 0:24:57Ready, steady, slide.

0:24:58 > 0:25:00STUART GROANS

0:25:00 > 0:25:03'The chemicals have accumulated in his body,

0:25:03 > 0:25:04'it's had more and more of an effect,

0:25:04 > 0:25:07'and eventually, he's gone into cardiac arrest'

0:25:07 > 0:25:10or passed out, which is when he's been found by his colleagues.

0:25:12 > 0:25:15Doctors identify carbon monoxide as the main poison

0:25:15 > 0:25:18affecting Stuart. It gives victims rosy cheeks

0:25:18 > 0:25:21and a feeling of wellbeing,

0:25:21 > 0:25:25and yet, it's a combination that kills dozens of people each year,

0:25:25 > 0:25:28many with faulty stoves and gas appliances.

0:25:28 > 0:25:30It's one of these that you can't smell,

0:25:30 > 0:25:32you can't taste or see.

0:25:32 > 0:25:35That's why it's the silent killer,

0:25:35 > 0:25:37because it gets people without them knowing.

0:25:37 > 0:25:41Unfortunately, I think that gentleman might have been inhaling,

0:25:41 > 0:25:46breathing, swallowing that carbon monoxide for a good hour

0:25:46 > 0:25:51before it's suddenly taken effect and made him go unconscious.

0:25:52 > 0:25:55Stuart is detained for several days

0:25:55 > 0:25:56and given oxygen therapy,

0:25:56 > 0:25:58before he's well enough to return home.

0:26:04 > 0:26:07Yorkshire is the UK's third most popular destination

0:26:07 > 0:26:10for foreign tourists,

0:26:10 > 0:26:13but there are some places where the day-tripper is king.

0:26:13 > 0:26:16And in summer here on the coast,

0:26:16 > 0:26:19few visitors have travelled more than 60 miles to get here,

0:26:19 > 0:26:22often bringing their caravans with them.

0:26:22 > 0:26:25This is Helimed 98...

0:26:25 > 0:26:30Helimed 98 is heading to a village near the market town of Beverley

0:26:30 > 0:26:32on the edge of the Yorkshire Wolds.

0:26:32 > 0:26:37This is biking country and one rider's had a serious accident.

0:26:37 > 0:26:41- The trees on the right, Chris. - Got those, the small ones.

0:26:41 > 0:26:45Just check we haven't got any posts behind us.

0:26:45 > 0:26:48Pilot Chris is touching down at a caravan site.

0:26:48 > 0:26:51A motorist turning in to find a pitch for the night

0:26:51 > 0:26:54has been in a collision with a bike.

0:26:54 > 0:26:56Hello, mate, how are you doing?

0:26:56 > 0:26:59What do they call you? Were you on your own?

0:26:59 > 0:27:04Paramedic Leon can immediately see the rider's life is in danger.

0:27:04 > 0:27:07Come in at speed, overtaking a row of traffic,

0:27:07 > 0:27:09they've turned right into here and he's gone over.

0:27:09 > 0:27:12So, I got the motorist to put their own jack under him.

0:27:12 > 0:27:15- We've got a chest impact, have we? - I think so, yeah.

0:27:15 > 0:27:18You open your eyes for me?

0:27:18 > 0:27:20Open your eyes. Hello there.

0:27:20 > 0:27:23John Hanna's pinned under the caravan

0:27:23 > 0:27:28and the damage to the door suggests he's sustained a major impact.

0:27:28 > 0:27:31His moving air in his chest, but it doesn't sound...

0:27:31 > 0:27:34- It doesn't brilliant. - It doesn't brilliant.

0:27:34 > 0:27:36Passersby have done their best.

0:27:36 > 0:27:39A car jack is easing the pressure on John's chest,

0:27:39 > 0:27:41but he's struggling to breathe.

0:27:41 > 0:27:45He may not have much longer if the fire brigade can't free him.

0:27:45 > 0:27:46How long are we waiting for him?

0:27:46 > 0:27:49Get up a little bit more, he's still pinned in underneath.

0:27:49 > 0:27:51That jack is doing a little bit,

0:27:51 > 0:27:53but underneath he's got the main chassis resting on him.

0:27:53 > 0:27:57- Two minutes, we'll start to lift. - No worries. Thank you.

0:27:57 > 0:28:00Firefighters will use airbags to lift the caravan,

0:28:00 > 0:28:03but they're having to take care.

0:28:03 > 0:28:05They could easily cause John further injury

0:28:05 > 0:28:09if the vehicle's not lifted evenly.

0:28:09 > 0:28:13- Can we just cut through this?- We need to cut this and slide him out.

0:28:13 > 0:28:16Thanks to passersby with first aid skills,

0:28:16 > 0:28:20and the first paramedic on scene, John still has a chance.

0:28:20 > 0:28:25The accident has been distressing for those who saw it, too.

0:28:25 > 0:28:28The caravan and the car started turning into the caravan site.

0:28:28 > 0:28:32And then the motorbike came straight into the side of them.

0:28:32 > 0:28:35And that was it.

0:28:35 > 0:28:39That was all we saw and heard.

0:28:39 > 0:28:41At last John is freed.

0:28:41 > 0:28:46- Get him top to toe.- John was wearing a good helmet,

0:28:46 > 0:28:49but Leon fears he has still suffered a head injury.

0:28:49 > 0:28:53Often the gravitational forces alone suffered in an accident

0:28:53 > 0:28:57are enough to damage the brain, even if there's no external injury.

0:28:57 > 0:29:00Open your eyes!

0:29:00 > 0:29:04Hello, sir. Open your eyes.

0:29:04 > 0:29:07Open your eyes.

0:29:07 > 0:29:09Now the team can examine his injuries.

0:29:09 > 0:29:12It's clear that his pelvis is broken.

0:29:12 > 0:29:15I think he's got a femur as well, mate.

0:29:15 > 0:29:18His pelvis. Probably his pelvis.

0:29:18 > 0:29:22Leon's going to inject a new drug called TXA

0:29:22 > 0:29:24directly into his bloodstream.

0:29:24 > 0:29:29It helps blood to clot and extensive use on war wounds in Afghanistan

0:29:29 > 0:29:32has proved it can be a life-saver.

0:29:32 > 0:29:35I'm going to put TXA on this side here.

0:29:35 > 0:29:39We'll get that on, mate.

0:29:39 > 0:29:43Then we'll decompresses his chest. I can't hear on that left-hand side.

0:29:43 > 0:29:46When John slid under the caravan,

0:29:46 > 0:29:49his chest was crushed. It means one of his lungs has collapsed.

0:29:49 > 0:29:53Pelvis is done, you're splinting that. Airway's controlled.

0:29:53 > 0:29:55We'll chest decompress his left-hand side.

0:29:55 > 0:29:58We're on second bag of fluids. He's had a litre. O2 is still on.

0:29:58 > 0:30:02Second intercostal, above the third rib.

0:30:02 > 0:30:06- Mid-clavicular.- Leon will perform simple surgery here,

0:30:06 > 0:30:09where he lies, to ease his breathing.

0:30:09 > 0:30:15A large needle will allow fluid trapped inside John's lung

0:30:15 > 0:30:20to escape, making it easier for him to breathe.

0:30:20 > 0:30:24Tom.

0:30:24 > 0:30:26What's clear is John is in desperate need

0:30:26 > 0:30:29of immediate hospital treatment.

0:30:29 > 0:30:32We're going right inside, do you see the stretcher?

0:30:32 > 0:30:35It's Leon, Helimed 98?

0:30:35 > 0:30:38We're going to be coming in, about five to ten minutes

0:30:38 > 0:30:44with a 40-year-old male, involved in an RTC motorcyclist versus caravan.

0:30:44 > 0:30:47We think he's got a pneumothorax to the left side of his chest,

0:30:47 > 0:30:49that's been decompressed.

0:30:49 > 0:30:52Pelvic fracture and a right femur.

0:30:52 > 0:30:55We've got him immobilised, we've got an airway inflated,

0:30:55 > 0:30:57we think he's got some breathing difficulties.

0:30:57 > 0:31:00Possible fractured pelvis and leg. Cheers, guys.

0:31:00 > 0:31:02Thanks so much for your help. Appreciate it.

0:31:02 > 0:31:04Beverley, last call.

0:31:04 > 0:31:07We have aircraft in the circuit.

0:31:07 > 0:31:09No problem.

0:31:09 > 0:31:12We have lifted and are en route from Beverley.

0:31:12 > 0:31:15We'll land shortly.

0:31:15 > 0:31:18It's just five minutes flying time from the accident scene

0:31:18 > 0:31:24to Hull Royal Infirmary. John should be in A&E in just ten minutes.

0:31:24 > 0:31:26But there's a problem.

0:31:26 > 0:31:28There's still no crew on this detail.

0:31:28 > 0:31:31I'll give the team leader a shout.

0:31:33 > 0:31:35Stand-by.

0:31:35 > 0:31:38Demand for ambulances is rising and a vehicle

0:31:38 > 0:31:43hasn't yet become available to drive John from helipad to hospital.

0:31:43 > 0:31:46Hi, guys, there's not a road crew here,

0:31:46 > 0:31:51but we have got fire crews here, put him on the back of that.

0:31:51 > 0:31:54The team, with the help of firefighters,

0:31:54 > 0:31:57must improvise and there's no time to waste.

0:31:57 > 0:32:01It's quite a busy day and the pressure's on the ambulance service.

0:32:01 > 0:32:03Pretty huge when the weather's out like this.

0:32:03 > 0:32:06Unfortunately, at Hull we've got a secondary landing site,

0:32:06 > 0:32:08we have to get a lift round by a land crew.

0:32:08 > 0:32:11So, we're going to utilise a fire engine.

0:32:11 > 0:32:14And get him straight into A&E.

0:32:14 > 0:32:17The next few hours will be critical.

0:32:17 > 0:32:19John will be scanned and x-rayed

0:32:19 > 0:32:23as consultants take up the battle to save his life.

0:32:23 > 0:32:27And the outcome is far from certain.

0:32:30 > 0:32:33For more than a month, John lies unconscious

0:32:33 > 0:32:36in the intensive care unit of the Royal Infirmary.

0:32:36 > 0:32:38His family are warned he may not recover.

0:32:38 > 0:32:41For his wife, it's a difficult time.

0:32:41 > 0:32:44I thought I'd lost him, I really did.

0:32:44 > 0:32:48It was very emotionally up and down, all the time.

0:32:50 > 0:32:55If he recovered from one thing, he's get something else wrong with him,

0:32:55 > 0:32:57so he'd need another procedure.

0:32:57 > 0:33:01But against the odds, John pulls through

0:33:01 > 0:33:06and after extensive surgery, he's finally allowed home.

0:33:06 > 0:33:08Are you feeling? All right.

0:33:08 > 0:33:11I was hoping to maybe be walking by Christmas,

0:33:11 > 0:33:13but there's no chance of that now.

0:33:13 > 0:33:15Now they've started saying,

0:33:15 > 0:33:17I'll probably have to have an operation on my knee,

0:33:17 > 0:33:20because I have actually broke three of the ligaments

0:33:20 > 0:33:22and now I am missing the spleen.

0:33:22 > 0:33:25My pelvis is now all metal.

0:33:25 > 0:33:28I didn't find out about all of this until later on.

0:33:28 > 0:33:31I suppose he had age on his side, which is one thing.

0:33:31 > 0:33:33The amount of injuries he's had,

0:33:33 > 0:33:37he could have quite easily passed away that day, of the accident.

0:33:37 > 0:33:40I have been told by many doctors and nurses

0:33:40 > 0:33:42that he's very lucky to be here.

0:33:42 > 0:33:46The biking days have now finished because of this accident,

0:33:46 > 0:33:49because of all the internal wounds I have.

0:33:49 > 0:33:52I can't afford another crash.

0:33:56 > 0:34:01When the sun comes out, Yorkshire's farmers go to work.

0:34:01 > 0:34:05Summer is short in the Dales and as soon as the grass is ready,

0:34:05 > 0:34:07the haymaking starts.

0:34:07 > 0:34:10It's an important preparation for a long winter to come.

0:34:10 > 0:34:15Each bale, essential fodder to keep livestock alive.

0:34:15 > 0:34:17But this is a dangerous time.

0:34:17 > 0:34:19And today, Helimed 99,

0:34:19 > 0:34:23carrying paramedics Lee Davison and Paul Kilner

0:34:23 > 0:34:27has been scrambled to a farm near the market town of Wetherby.

0:34:27 > 0:34:31- Ey up, mate, how you doing?- I'm Neil. - Nice to see you.- This is Ian.

0:34:31 > 0:34:34Ian was off-loading a bale and he came underneath the bale,

0:34:34 > 0:34:37off the top of the tractor and it's fallen and hit him on the back.

0:34:37 > 0:34:41Farmer Ian Westwood has been crushed by a one-tonne bale

0:34:41 > 0:34:44that fell off a telescopic loader

0:34:44 > 0:34:47being driven by his 18-year-old son, William.

0:34:47 > 0:34:51We were just loading bales, and with it being a short space here,

0:34:51 > 0:34:56I'd stopped and I have come to shunt it in and, I don't know,

0:34:56 > 0:34:59the grab didn't have hold of the bale as tight...

0:34:59 > 0:35:00I don't know why, really.

0:35:00 > 0:35:05Ian, have you got any pain up here where I am feeling on your right leg?

0:35:05 > 0:35:07No. Any pain down here?

0:35:07 > 0:35:11Ian's badly hurt. He took the full weight of the falling bale.

0:35:11 > 0:35:14It has broken his leg and his pelvis

0:35:14 > 0:35:17and the team fears he has serious internal injuries.

0:35:17 > 0:35:20It's the lower limbs on both sides we're concerned with,

0:35:20 > 0:35:23left side, he's got a compound fracture on there.

0:35:23 > 0:35:26The bone has actually come through the skin and he's got no pulse

0:35:26 > 0:35:29in that left leg, we can't feel a pedal pulse.

0:35:29 > 0:35:32Farming's still a family business.

0:35:32 > 0:35:34Ian's sister, Rachel, was in the yard

0:35:34 > 0:35:36when the accident happened. She's holding his head,

0:35:36 > 0:35:38a vital precaution.

0:35:38 > 0:35:43It's suspected her brother may also have a spinal injury.

0:35:43 > 0:35:46He's complaining of tingling in his hands,

0:35:46 > 0:35:48so that's why they've put a collar on him.

0:35:48 > 0:35:49We've got this lady holding his head...

0:35:49 > 0:35:53Farming is officially the UK's most dangerous occupation.

0:35:53 > 0:35:56Only 2% of British workers earn their living

0:35:56 > 0:35:59from agriculture, but they make up one in four deaths at work.

0:35:59 > 0:36:03He's had some morphine, he's got some nasty lower leg fractures,

0:36:03 > 0:36:07which are going to be very painful when we try to straighten them.

0:36:07 > 0:36:11So, we're just giving him some entonox,

0:36:11 > 0:36:14which is gas and air, but it doesn't seem to be helping him as such,

0:36:14 > 0:36:17so we're drawing up some ketamine, which is a stronger analgesia.

0:36:17 > 0:36:20I am concerned about the circulation in the lower legs,

0:36:20 > 0:36:24so we need to get it straightened out as quickly as we can.

0:36:24 > 0:36:27We need you to keep sucking on that and...

0:36:27 > 0:36:29I know you're going to feel really dry-mouthed

0:36:29 > 0:36:31and I can't do anything about that.

0:36:31 > 0:36:34We need to try and get as much in as we possibly can.

0:36:34 > 0:36:39We're going to give you some better painkiller, OK?

0:36:39 > 0:36:42- Big deep breaths.- Let it relax.

0:36:42 > 0:36:45Straightening Ian's leg is painful, but vital.

0:36:45 > 0:36:49Right, I'm supporting that now, if you want to Velcro it up.

0:36:49 > 0:36:54A hospital doctor grooming her horse has come to help.

0:36:54 > 0:36:59- And his left leg, he's a compound fracture.- But he's got a pulse there.

0:36:59 > 0:37:03The flight to Leeds General Infirmary ten miles away

0:37:03 > 0:37:06will be a short one, but Lee and Paul are taking no chances.

0:37:06 > 0:37:11Their patient may be conscious, but he's critically injured.

0:37:11 > 0:37:14Ian knows he's leaving his farm at the busiest time of the year.

0:37:14 > 0:37:16What he doesn't know

0:37:16 > 0:37:20is that his rescuers fear his survival is in real doubt.

0:37:20 > 0:37:24For several weeks, Ian is kept in intensive care.

0:37:24 > 0:37:27Some of his injuries require plastic surgery

0:37:27 > 0:37:32and harvest is a distant memory by the time he is fully fit

0:37:32 > 0:37:35and ready to return to work.

0:37:37 > 0:37:41On Yorkshire's wild coast, the Helimed team

0:37:41 > 0:37:45is used to working with the UK's oldest emergency service.

0:37:45 > 0:37:51Her Majesty's Coastguard has been patrolling these cliffs since 1822,

0:37:51 > 0:37:54and many of the skills it relies on today,

0:37:54 > 0:37:57would have been recognised by its first recruits.

0:37:59 > 0:38:03These days they may race into action in 4 x 4s...

0:38:03 > 0:38:06What we'll do now is pop this round the back of your back...

0:38:06 > 0:38:10..but the detailed local knowledge these volunteers bring

0:38:10 > 0:38:13can make the difference between life and death.

0:38:18 > 0:38:22We're off to Withernsea on the coast.

0:38:22 > 0:38:27A 16-year-old girl has fallen off the promenade onto the beach,

0:38:27 > 0:38:28apparently it's quite a bad fall.

0:38:28 > 0:38:31Her blood pressure is falling and she's got pain in her head

0:38:31 > 0:38:33and it's suspected she may have broken her pelvis.

0:38:33 > 0:38:36Kimberley Shaw was on her own when it happened.

0:38:36 > 0:38:38And her mum was one of the first to find her.

0:38:38 > 0:38:41She landed on the other side of that bar,

0:38:41 > 0:38:44slipped on the sand and then she went down

0:38:44 > 0:38:46and rolled all the way down. That's all I know.

0:38:46 > 0:38:52Somebody heard a thud and then saw her at the bottom.

0:38:52 > 0:38:55The Coastguard said if the helicopter

0:38:55 > 0:38:57approaches the landing site,

0:38:57 > 0:39:01from the seaward side, then it's just between two lamp posts,

0:39:01 > 0:39:03it's no problem.

0:39:03 > 0:39:06The ambulance could go to those red roof buildings.

0:39:06 > 0:39:09Yeah, I think it's the same coming off the sea.

0:39:12 > 0:39:16Andy's landing has been made easier by the part-time coastguards,

0:39:16 > 0:39:19who raced here to help out.

0:39:19 > 0:39:23I've got the lamp posts. There's nothing on the approach.

0:39:23 > 0:39:28They're stopping on the footpath.

0:39:30 > 0:39:33We were called to this 15-year-old girl

0:39:33 > 0:39:36who'd apparently fallen down the promenade onto the beach

0:39:36 > 0:39:39and we were called out to assist the ambulance,

0:39:39 > 0:39:45so they've stabilised here and we've transported up here and landed.

0:39:45 > 0:39:5016-year-old Kim has taken a tumble off the top here.

0:39:50 > 0:39:55- Right down the slope. - This is Kim.- Hello, Kim.

0:39:55 > 0:40:01- How are you doing?- All right. - How did you fall?- Slipped.

0:40:01 > 0:40:05I don't know. You need to be more careful, don't you?

0:40:05 > 0:40:08The full circumstances, we've not ascertained yet,

0:40:08 > 0:40:12we're more concerned with getting her back and out and fit and well.

0:40:12 > 0:40:15Kimberley's in a lot of pain.

0:40:15 > 0:40:18This printout will tell Graham everything her body's been doing

0:40:18 > 0:40:20since the paramedics arrived.

0:40:20 > 0:40:25It's vital information to be able to diagnose any internal injuries.

0:40:25 > 0:40:28Is my mum coming in the helicopter with me? I'm not going on my own.

0:40:28 > 0:40:33All right, just relax, all right.

0:40:33 > 0:40:35All right, just relax.

0:40:35 > 0:40:42Kim, we can take your mum with us, OK?

0:40:42 > 0:40:45- So, just relax.- Ready, steady, lift.

0:40:45 > 0:40:50For Kimberley's mum, this is an anxious time.

0:40:50 > 0:40:54- You've been waiting a while, haven't you?- Yeah.

0:40:54 > 0:40:57Not only is she having to watch her daughter in pain,

0:40:57 > 0:41:00she's also having to prepare for her own

0:41:00 > 0:41:03first ever flight in a helicopter.

0:41:03 > 0:41:07Shelley, you might have to contort yourself around a little bit.

0:41:07 > 0:41:09They're not the biggest of helicopters.

0:41:09 > 0:41:12- Ever been an helicopter before?- No.

0:41:12 > 0:41:15OK, it's very loud, but the headsets mean you can speak to us.

0:41:15 > 0:41:18All we ask, when we're taking off and landing, just keep quiet,

0:41:18 > 0:41:21so the pilot can speak to air traffic and that kind of thing.

0:41:21 > 0:41:25We're at Withernsea with this young girl, you've been told about,

0:41:25 > 0:41:27we're about to lift from scene,

0:41:27 > 0:41:32so we should be in the department in 15 or 20 minutes' time.

0:41:32 > 0:41:36All her obs are stable, so I don't think there's much to worry about,

0:41:36 > 0:41:39but we're taking her to Hull because of the mechanism

0:41:39 > 0:41:42and to X-ray her pelvis and make sure nothing serious is going on.

0:41:45 > 0:41:48There's only one way out of this spot.

0:41:48 > 0:41:50Clear to the right.

0:41:50 > 0:41:54Andy needs to reverse back out the way he came in.

0:41:54 > 0:41:57Over the prom, over the beach

0:41:57 > 0:42:00and staying well away from those two lamp posts.

0:42:02 > 0:42:07- Weather's not great, is it? - No. The bridge is...

0:42:07 > 0:42:12This coast of Holderness is actually one of Yorkshire's most remote areas

0:42:12 > 0:42:17when it comes to health care. Some recent statistics suggested

0:42:17 > 0:42:23only 45% of 999 calls received a response within eight minutes here.

0:42:23 > 0:42:27- The national target is 75%. - You can just about see it on there.

0:42:29 > 0:42:33But Kimberley couldn't be taken to hospital any faster.

0:42:33 > 0:42:37She'll be at the trauma unit in Hull in just 10 minutes.

0:42:37 > 0:42:39And we're down.

0:42:51 > 0:42:53In the hospital, doctors discover

0:42:53 > 0:42:56that Kimberley has avoided any serious injuries.

0:42:59 > 0:43:02And despite her tumble down a sea wall,

0:43:02 > 0:43:06she's able to return to school later the same week.