0:00:03 > 0:00:07When the people of rural Yorkshire dial 999,
0:00:07 > 0:00:10help can be a long time coming.
0:00:10 > 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 part 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, Matt, can we get in that grass field on your left?
0:00:29 > 0:00:30Yes, mate, go for that.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33From high drama in the Peaks to high waters in the Dales.
0:00:34 > 0:00:39The Helimed team is at the heart of almost every rescue.
0:00:39 > 0:00:43Bringing 21st century medicine to some of Britain's
0:00:43 > 0:00:47most isolated communities and saving lives against the odds.
0:00:56 > 0:01:01Today on Helicopter Heroes, a police horse throws its rider
0:01:01 > 0:01:03and now she could be paralysed.
0:01:03 > 0:01:05She can't feel anything from her waist down.
0:01:05 > 0:01:08I'm going to take her to the trauma centre where all the
0:01:08 > 0:01:09neuro stuff is.
0:01:09 > 0:01:13The team flies to the rescue of a moorland farmer in trouble.
0:01:14 > 0:01:17- I'm so sorry.- No, don't be sorry.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21A half-term trip ends in a serious fall for an eight-year-old.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25I was just really upset. I thought it was all my fault.
0:01:25 > 0:01:27And a marathon runner is overtaken by a
0:01:27 > 0:01:30freak accident on the river bank.
0:01:30 > 0:01:31Right, keep your legs going, Andy.
0:01:38 > 0:01:40When I wore a blue uniform for a living, there was
0:01:40 > 0:01:44one group of coppers you always wanted by your side in a crowd.
0:01:44 > 0:01:46There's nothing to beat a police horse
0:01:46 > 0:01:48when it comes to preventing trouble,
0:01:48 > 0:01:51but the officers who ride them have a dangerous job.
0:01:55 > 0:01:58With the average police horse weighing in at nearly a tonne,
0:01:58 > 0:02:02mounted cops need a firm hand on the reins.
0:02:02 > 0:02:05Mind your backs, please, there's a van coming behind you.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08They're highly trained, just like their horses.
0:02:08 > 0:02:12And if a good-natured crowd like this one turns nasty,
0:02:12 > 0:02:17- they can handle it.- Up here, we've got a massive advantage.
0:02:17 > 0:02:20I can see the doors while people back here can't see the doors.
0:02:20 > 0:02:22I can see the traffic coming down.
0:02:22 > 0:02:26And when I look around, I can see what's coming the other way.
0:02:26 > 0:02:29But enjoying a view like that has its risks.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32If you come off, you're going to fall eight feet or more
0:02:32 > 0:02:36and that's exactly what's happened today at the West Yorkshire
0:02:36 > 0:02:38police training school near Wakefield.
0:02:42 > 0:02:45PC Sarah Costello was exercising her horse
0:02:45 > 0:02:48when she came off and hit fencing.
0:02:48 > 0:02:50- Hello, love, I'm John.- Sorry.
0:02:50 > 0:02:53OK, I'm one of the paramedics on the helicopter,
0:02:53 > 0:02:55so we'll take you down to hospital, OK?
0:02:55 > 0:03:01- Sorry.- Have you got any pain, love? - Just lower back and my left hip.
0:03:01 > 0:03:04Her symptoms are worrying, she can't feel anything below her waist.
0:03:04 > 0:03:09- Can you feel me touching your arm here?- I can, yeah.- Yeah?
0:03:09 > 0:03:14- What about round here, can you feel that?- Very faint.- Faint?
0:03:14 > 0:03:17Sarah's colleagues are understandably concerned.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21Sarah's been in the riding school just on a training day
0:03:21 > 0:03:23getting prepared for the football this weekend.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27Horse was spooked and Sarah's come off, she's fallen off,
0:03:27 > 0:03:30she's hit the side of the riding school but obviously,
0:03:30 > 0:03:32clearly quite badly.
0:03:32 > 0:03:34Right, we'll get you up and onto the stretcher
0:03:34 > 0:03:37and then we'll lead you just down to the ambulance.
0:03:39 > 0:03:41- OK?- Ready, steady, lift.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43She can't feel anything from the waist down
0:03:43 > 0:03:48so we're going to take her to the trauma centre where all the neuro
0:03:48 > 0:03:52stuff is, all the spinal stuff, to get sorted out down there.
0:03:52 > 0:03:56Paramedic John Baxter knows spinal injuries are a major
0:03:56 > 0:03:57risk for horse riders.
0:03:57 > 0:04:01Sarah was wearing all the right gear, but nothing can
0:04:01 > 0:04:04protect your back from the sort of impact she suffered.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06- So you landed on your side?- Yeah.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09- Right, love, you keep your head still, all right?- Yeah.
0:04:09 > 0:04:10- I'll keep hold of you anyway.- OK.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13I'm sorry you've had to come out.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15No, it's...don't worry, lovey, don't you worry at all.
0:04:17 > 0:04:19- Is your arm OK, is it?- It's my elbow that hurts.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24- I hit the fence with my elbow. - This side?- I can't remember.
0:04:25 > 0:04:29Ground paramedics decided to call in the Helimed team.
0:04:29 > 0:04:33Road ambulances can't match the smooth ride of a helicopter
0:04:33 > 0:04:36and in back injuries, that can be crucial.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39Keep her flat. Keep going.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42Sarah's husband has arrived just in time to see her off.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45- See you down there.- All right. Be careful, drive safely.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54She's being flown to Leeds General Infirmary for x-rays and scans.
0:04:54 > 0:04:59The injuries were as we expected from what the RRV driver had said.
0:04:59 > 0:05:03She has got no sensation from the waist down really.
0:05:03 > 0:05:05And she was complaining of some pain in her lower back.
0:05:05 > 0:05:09Which would suggest there's probably been some injury to the lower
0:05:09 > 0:05:10part of her spine.
0:05:10 > 0:05:13She can't feel or move her legs at the minute
0:05:13 > 0:05:15but sometimes people get sort of contusions
0:05:15 > 0:05:19and bruising to the spine from falls and then, as that settles down,
0:05:19 > 0:05:23you get feeling back. So, fingers crossed that's what's happened.
0:05:34 > 0:05:38We're going to come out of here onto a stretcher on the roof
0:05:38 > 0:05:39and then down the lift into A & E.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43- There's going to be a lot of people there...- All right.- ..asking a lot of questions.- OK.- All right?
0:05:43 > 0:05:46- All right. Thank you.- Just bear with them. All right?- No problem.
0:05:46 > 0:05:50Strapped to a rigid spinal stretcher to protect her
0:05:50 > 0:05:55from further injury, Sarah's subdued and anxious for news.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58Want to take her out of this sleeping bag first?
0:06:02 > 0:06:03Ready, steady, move.
0:06:11 > 0:06:15Says she's got no sensation from...really, her waist.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18Anywhere down here, she can't feel anything.
0:06:18 > 0:06:19Both sides, yeah.
0:06:21 > 0:06:22She's actually damaged the spine.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27It can actually damage the spinal cord, so that would account
0:06:27 > 0:06:31for any numbness or loss of sensation from the waist down.
0:06:31 > 0:06:34Having said that, she's also quite tender
0:06:34 > 0:06:37round her T-spine, which is a bit lower down.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40So the team are going to get her off for a scan, assess her
0:06:40 > 0:06:43and then they'll know exactly what's going on,
0:06:43 > 0:06:44soon as they get the results.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48But it could be hours, or even days,
0:06:48 > 0:06:52before the extent of the damage to her back can be confirmed.
0:06:52 > 0:06:56Spinal injuries are notoriously difficult to diagnose.
0:06:56 > 0:07:00We'll be finding out the results of those tests later.
0:07:06 > 0:07:09Sheep farmers have shaped the Yorkshire Dales over centuries
0:07:09 > 0:07:11and many graze their flocks
0:07:11 > 0:07:14in fields first cleared by medieval monks
0:07:14 > 0:07:18who pioneered hill farming in these valleys.
0:07:18 > 0:07:20Few farms can afford labour -
0:07:20 > 0:07:24most are run by one man, or woman, and a dog,
0:07:24 > 0:07:26which means that when someone's injured,
0:07:26 > 0:07:29it's usually up to the casualty to raise the alarm.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31And in winter on the Fells,
0:07:31 > 0:07:36exposure can be as big a threat to life as the injury itself.
0:07:36 > 0:07:39RADIO COMMUNICATION
0:07:44 > 0:07:47We've got a rapid responder on scene,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49and apparently, it's the middle of nowhere.
0:07:49 > 0:07:50It's quite cold up there,
0:07:50 > 0:07:52so we might be of use on this.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55The Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team
0:07:55 > 0:07:58is on its way to assist the Helimed crew.
0:07:58 > 0:08:01More manpower on the hillside will be welcome.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05We'll get on that valley, pull that valley feature up...
0:08:05 > 0:08:08Goes up to Hebden Bridge.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11We know where it is now, with the road below us.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14The accident's happened high in the Pennines,
0:08:14 > 0:08:17more than 1,000 feet up.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21The low cloud and rain that's making the patient's rescue difficult
0:08:21 > 0:08:24is also hampering Helimed 99 and its crew.
0:08:24 > 0:08:26- Follow that round.- Yeah.
0:08:26 > 0:08:28When you get round there, that'll be Hebden Bridge.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32- Yeah.- Yeah? That's probably going to be the safest way to go, I think.
0:08:34 > 0:08:38Finding your way around in bad weather up here is difficult,
0:08:38 > 0:08:40and potentially dangerous.
0:08:40 > 0:08:42Oh, that's Hebden Bridge there, isn't it?
0:08:42 > 0:08:45That's called...Stoodley Pike Monument, that.
0:08:45 > 0:08:47I've got it on the map in the back.
0:08:48 > 0:08:51- Where's the target from? - Straight on.
0:08:53 > 0:08:56I think that's them underneath that tarpaulin in the field.
0:08:56 > 0:08:57I'd reckon so.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02Olwen Helliwell was tending her flock
0:09:02 > 0:09:05high above her home in the market town of Todmorden,
0:09:05 > 0:09:09when she slipped and broke her ankle badly.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14A local paramedic in a response car managed to reach Olwen,
0:09:14 > 0:09:17but neither medic nor patient is dressed for the weather,
0:09:17 > 0:09:19which is now worsening.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21Both are soaked through.
0:09:21 > 0:09:25PARAMEDIC: Yeah, her ankle is exposed and it does look like it's broken.
0:09:25 > 0:09:29The wind is gusting at over 50mph.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33It means pilot Garry Brasher daren't shut down the helicopter's engines.
0:09:33 > 0:09:37High winds can damage rotor blades as they slow down
0:09:37 > 0:09:39and cause injury to anyone underneath them.
0:09:39 > 0:09:42We'll get it wrapped and strapped and get her on board as soon as.
0:09:42 > 0:09:45- I've given Entonox and it's helped a little bit.- All right. OK.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49The local mountain rescue team is a welcome sight.
0:09:49 > 0:09:52The hillside is steep and slippery.
0:09:52 > 0:09:55Getting Olwen to the chopper is going to be a difficult task.
0:09:55 > 0:09:56- Hiya, love.- Hiya.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58- What's your name?- Olwen.
0:09:58 > 0:10:03- Who, sorry?- Olwen - I'm taking some of this stuff...
0:10:03 > 0:10:06How bad is your pain? Is it bad?
0:10:06 > 0:10:08Well, not at the moment, cos I'm sucking this thing.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Not at the moment. OK.
0:10:10 > 0:10:14We're going to put a little bit of strapping on your leg and splint it,
0:10:14 > 0:10:17then we'll get you on a stretcher and get you off the hill, all right?
0:10:17 > 0:10:18OK, yes.
0:10:18 > 0:10:20Olwen's leg is badly broken.
0:10:20 > 0:10:25It's a spiral fracture - among the most difficult to treat,
0:10:25 > 0:10:27and the most painful.
0:10:27 > 0:10:30She's desperately in need of more pain relief.
0:10:30 > 0:10:31- If I take hold of her leg...- Yeah.
0:10:31 > 0:10:35I can't see an open bit. I'll take the leg, we'll turn it over,
0:10:35 > 0:10:37and then we'll splint it, cos I can't really splint it there.
0:10:37 > 0:10:40Straighten your leg for me.
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Can you straighten your leg, me darling? That's it.
0:10:46 > 0:10:51Straw has been piled up around Olwen in an attempt to keep her warm,
0:10:51 > 0:10:52but it's not working.
0:10:52 > 0:10:55- You all right? - Yeah. I'm just slightly...
0:10:55 > 0:10:58- I'm so sorry, everyone. - Don't be sorry.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Don't be sorry, it's what we're here for.
0:11:00 > 0:11:01I'll just pop that over your head...
0:11:01 > 0:11:03Like I say, I were only feeding them!
0:11:03 > 0:11:06The local paramedic's job is done.
0:11:06 > 0:11:10She, too, is showing signs of hypothermia.
0:11:11 > 0:11:13Pilot from Para One, you receiving?
0:11:13 > 0:11:17Yeah, I'm making my way back to the aircraft now.
0:11:17 > 0:11:19I'll be coming in from the left-hand side.
0:11:19 > 0:11:21We'll bring her up in a few more minutes.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24We're going to do a hotload, if that's all right.
0:11:24 > 0:11:26Happy days.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32Paramedic Dave knows loading a patient with rotors running -
0:11:32 > 0:11:34a hotload, as they call it -
0:11:34 > 0:11:36is fraught with danger.
0:11:36 > 0:11:40It's essential the mountain rescue team is properly briefed.
0:11:40 > 0:11:43Are you all happy with aircraft procedure?
0:11:43 > 0:11:47I'll watch you guys and make sure we go into the aircraft,
0:11:47 > 0:11:49- to where Dave is now.- Yeah.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53I'll wait for the thumbs-up off him, we'll go in, we'll hotload her.
0:11:53 > 0:11:54Once we've pushed her in,
0:11:54 > 0:11:58I will bring you guys back out with this.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Don't come out before that,
0:12:00 > 0:12:03or else you'll end up with whiplash, cos I'll grab you.
0:12:03 > 0:12:07- All right? Are you all happy with that?- Excellent.- Sure?
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Olwen came up the hill to feed her sheep.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Now she faces weeks on crutches, if she's lucky,
0:12:13 > 0:12:17and then finding someone else to look after her flock.
0:12:18 > 0:12:20Coming in now, Garry.
0:12:21 > 0:12:22Load it up.
0:12:24 > 0:12:29Pilot Garry must trust his crew to make sure this is done safely.
0:12:30 > 0:12:31- Here we go.- Let's go.
0:12:34 > 0:12:35Police radio, Helimed 99, over.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40Garry's pleased to be off the ground again.
0:12:40 > 0:12:43He's heading for shelter in the valley below.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45We'll call you when landing.
0:12:45 > 0:12:50Olwen's already warming up in the fleece-lined sleeping bag
0:12:50 > 0:12:53the team nickname "The Pizza Bag".
0:12:53 > 0:12:55And it's time for more painkiller.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57I'm going to give her some morphine, en route.
0:12:57 > 0:13:01Now, initial dosage, 20mg.
0:13:01 > 0:13:04But I'm just going to give her one dose, mate.
0:13:04 > 0:13:07They're flying her to hospital in Huddersfield.
0:13:07 > 0:13:09It's there that doctors begin the long task
0:13:09 > 0:13:12of resetting her shattered ankle.
0:13:12 > 0:13:16But their patient is determined that her accident won't stop her
0:13:16 > 0:13:18doing the job she loves.
0:13:18 > 0:13:21Hill farming is in her blood.
0:13:25 > 0:13:27The building trade's statistically
0:13:27 > 0:13:31one of the UK's most dangerous industries
0:13:31 > 0:13:32and despite the precautions,
0:13:32 > 0:13:37working several storeys up will never be completely safe.
0:13:37 > 0:13:42Today, Helimed 99's racing to the rescue of another casualty.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47We're off to a South Yorkshire place called Mexborough
0:13:47 > 0:13:50for a man who's fallen off a ladder from quite a great height.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55We've got reports he's got a head injury and he's unresponsive,
0:13:55 > 0:13:57a GCS3 on the Glasgow Coma Scale.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01A GCS of three is close to death.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05We want to be going to a place where they've got neurosurgery,
0:14:05 > 0:14:09so for that area, it's looking like Sheffield Northern General.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12This case is critical, but landing will be tricky.
0:14:12 > 0:14:16Helimed 99 - just for your information,
0:14:16 > 0:14:17Dr Pountney's also en route.
0:14:17 > 0:14:21He says if you feel patient needs to go, then transport him.
0:14:24 > 0:14:26Yeah - roger. Thanks, mate.
0:14:26 > 0:14:29I wonder if that school is operational.
0:14:29 > 0:14:31What's the time? Ten past three.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34- Could be.- Could well be, couldn't it?- Yeah.
0:14:34 > 0:14:36I'm happy to continue and put it there.
0:14:36 > 0:14:39Can't normally land at school, but there's nowhere else suitable.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41- I know. - Unless you want to go over there.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44- Yeah, stick it in there, we'll try and get through the garden.- OK.
0:14:44 > 0:14:47Paramedics Andy and Tony must think on their feet.
0:14:47 > 0:14:50Reaching their patient in the maze of residential streets
0:14:50 > 0:14:52won't be easy.
0:14:52 > 0:14:53Can we come over? Ta!
0:14:53 > 0:14:55Please.
0:14:55 > 0:14:57Then they must think about getting him back to the chopper.
0:14:57 > 0:14:59Can we leave that there? Is that all right for now?
0:14:59 > 0:15:02Might end up coming through here, if that's all right. Thanks.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06Roofer Steve Mason was repairing tiles when the ladder slipped.
0:15:06 > 0:15:09Now, he's fighting for his life.
0:15:09 > 0:15:12Steve's workmate Les dialled 999.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15- PARAMEDIC:- This is Steve. Come from up here, somewhere.
0:15:15 > 0:15:19When I got here first, initially he were face-down, across the wall
0:15:19 > 0:15:20with his head here.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24- Right.- GCS3, rest rate were only six.
0:15:24 > 0:15:26Cyanosed, clenching.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30I had to put nasal airway in, just to maintain his airway at the time.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31We managed to turn him over.
0:15:31 > 0:15:34He's become a bit more agitated, more combative,
0:15:34 > 0:15:35in the last five minutes.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38Their patient is displaying the classic symptoms
0:15:38 > 0:15:39of a serious head injury.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42You say his right pupil's gone as well, yeah?
0:15:42 > 0:15:43Yeah, it's very sluggish.
0:15:43 > 0:15:48His left pupil is sluggish, his right pupil's dilated.
0:15:48 > 0:15:52Swelling in the brain often puts pressure on the optic nerves
0:15:52 > 0:15:56and Steve's pupils are not reacting properly.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00Yeah, roger, Pete. At present, this patient's GCS of about eight.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03If you can leave Andy Pountney running, I think what the plan is
0:16:03 > 0:16:06we'll start to move the patient to the aircraft
0:16:06 > 0:16:09and then we'll make a decision once we're ready to leave,
0:16:09 > 0:16:10whether we need to wait for Andy or not.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15A flying doctor is driving to the scene on blue lights.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19He'll be able to anaesthetise Steve for his flight to hospital.
0:16:19 > 0:16:21This reduces the pressure on the brain
0:16:21 > 0:16:24and allows the team to take over his breathing for him.
0:16:27 > 0:16:31Steve's a big lad - this is hard work for the ambulance service.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33You want to go over this, or...?
0:16:36 > 0:16:38Yeah, just slide him on.
0:16:38 > 0:16:40- Steady... - That's catching on there.
0:16:42 > 0:16:43That's fine.
0:16:45 > 0:16:47Just setting up a kit for Dr Pountney
0:16:47 > 0:16:49to do a rapid sequence induction -
0:16:49 > 0:16:52basically, it'll put this person to sleep,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54so it protects his airway a bit better.
0:16:54 > 0:16:56He's quite agitated as well,
0:16:56 > 0:16:57so it'll be better for us controlling.
0:16:57 > 0:17:01It reduces agitation once he's been put to sleep.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Hi, Andy, how are we doing?
0:17:05 > 0:17:09Flying doctor Andy Pountney has arrived to anaesthetise Steve,
0:17:09 > 0:17:13but his condition appears to be improving.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16His right pupil's blown.
0:17:16 > 0:17:19Open your eyes for me, if you can.
0:17:19 > 0:17:21Steve! Can you open your eyes?
0:17:22 > 0:17:26- Brilliant. Do you know where you are? - Squeeze my fingers.
0:17:26 > 0:17:28OK, patient's doing that, so that's six.
0:17:28 > 0:17:30He's a three, which is nine.
0:17:30 > 0:17:34And voice, inappropriate words which is three - so a GCS 12.
0:17:34 > 0:17:38Even though his condition seems to be improving,
0:17:38 > 0:17:40that could be temporary.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43He's still in desperate need of hospital treatment.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45I'll fly with you, if that's all right.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48Seems to be a difficult airway, so I think we'll just fly to Sheffield.
0:17:48 > 0:17:50Given that his GCS is coming up, his airway's protected,
0:17:50 > 0:17:53his pupil's not fixed and dilated, his resps have come up.
0:17:53 > 0:17:55- He's definitely improved. - Yeah, yeah. Absolutely.
0:17:57 > 0:17:59Thanks very much, lads.
0:18:04 > 0:18:08They're going to fly him direct to the trauma unit in Sheffield.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11The odds are stacked against Steve's survival,
0:18:11 > 0:18:14and the next few hours will be critical.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20We'll be catching up on Steve's case later.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28The rolling hills of the Yorkshire Wolds used to be a forgotten corner
0:18:28 > 0:18:32of England's biggest county - not any more.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Thanks to artist David Hockney, who's spent almost a decade
0:18:36 > 0:18:40capturing their beauty on canvas, there's no shortage of visitors now.
0:18:43 > 0:18:48But today, two family outings have ended in a serious accident.
0:18:48 > 0:18:51The gentleman in the Focus skidded on some diesel,
0:18:51 > 0:18:53coming up towards Scarborough,
0:18:53 > 0:18:57and hit the 4X4 in the opposite direction, lost control.
0:18:57 > 0:18:59The lady was hanging out the side of the car,
0:18:59 > 0:19:01she's hurt her shoulder, neck.
0:19:01 > 0:19:04The gentleman thinks he's busted his arm
0:19:04 > 0:19:07and the other gentleman's agitated and had a sore neck.
0:19:10 > 0:19:12The early indications and evidence at the scene
0:19:12 > 0:19:15suggests that there is some contamination on the road surface,
0:19:15 > 0:19:17probably diesel or oil,
0:19:17 > 0:19:20that has caused one of the cars, the Focus here, to lose control
0:19:20 > 0:19:22and then impact with the four-wheel drive.
0:19:23 > 0:19:27Helimed 98 must cross some of the highest hills in the Wolds
0:19:27 > 0:19:29to reach the casualties.
0:19:29 > 0:19:32The only thing you've got to worry about, really,
0:19:32 > 0:19:36is the high ground at 700 or thereabouts feet,
0:19:36 > 0:19:39that you can see.
0:19:39 > 0:19:41Yeah, we're just...had a message from the air desk,
0:19:41 > 0:19:43they got the message from police on the scene,
0:19:43 > 0:19:47Just making us aware that there's a lot of fuel on the road
0:19:47 > 0:19:49where the incident occurred.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53It's good of the police just to give us the heads-up that that's there.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Fuel spills are the cause of hundreds of accidents,
0:19:56 > 0:19:59and several deaths, each year on the UK's roads
0:19:59 > 0:20:02and this one could have been prevented.
0:20:02 > 0:20:05It was reported probably about an hour prior to the collision
0:20:05 > 0:20:08and the council were en route with something to treat the road.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11In conditions where it has been wet
0:20:11 > 0:20:15and it mixes with the petrol or diesel or oil on the road,
0:20:15 > 0:20:18it becomes like a greasy mess and even underfoot,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20it's quite slippery here on the road surface.
0:20:21 > 0:20:25OK - 80 foot, about 80 foot. Happy with that?
0:20:25 > 0:20:29The accident happened outside the market town of Driffield.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33It's a major crossroads on the route from Yorkshire's big cities
0:20:33 > 0:20:34to the coast.
0:20:39 > 0:20:43- You all right?- We've got three casualties with two ambulances.
0:20:43 > 0:20:45We're dealing with that guy.
0:20:45 > 0:20:47This lady's got back pain when she breathes.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51She's conscious, SAPS normal when the fire arrived.
0:20:51 > 0:20:54This guy's got a fractural dislocation of his left elbow.
0:20:54 > 0:20:57It's a mystery as to how the diesel spill happened,
0:20:57 > 0:21:01but the crash is on the first bend after a service station.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06Complaining of pain in the chest on inhalation.
0:21:06 > 0:21:10Sharp, describes it as sharp, stabbing pain.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13Have you got a history of irregular heartbeats, sir?
0:21:13 > 0:21:17The occupants of both cars are injured, some seriously.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20Ground paramedics have been assessing which patient
0:21:20 > 0:21:24is most in need of a high-speed flight to hospital.
0:21:24 > 0:21:29- I think he's worse.- Yeah. - They're all going in what sequence?
0:21:29 > 0:21:32Well, they've not found anything life-threatening,
0:21:32 > 0:21:36but he's complained of pain down his left side, back pain,
0:21:36 > 0:21:40and he just looks more frail, to start off with.
0:21:42 > 0:21:45This first car looked a lot more badly damaged,
0:21:45 > 0:21:48but I think, now we've had a chance to assess all three patients,
0:21:48 > 0:21:52this chap probably looks like the most poorly of the three.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55So I think we're going to focus our attentions on this gentleman,
0:21:55 > 0:21:57we're probably going to take him.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59The lady over there is in quite a bit of pain,
0:21:59 > 0:22:03but we've not really found any life-threatening problems.
0:22:03 > 0:22:05This chap's a little bit more suspect, so...
0:22:05 > 0:22:08We're going to concentrate our efforts, I think.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11Two of the casualties will go by road.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16The driver of the 4X4 will fly once he's been released,
0:22:16 > 0:22:18but first, Tony will give him morphine.
0:22:18 > 0:22:22- All right, Tone?- Yeah...
0:22:22 > 0:22:25Diesel fuel isn't actually very flammable,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29so the risk of fire isn't as great as it would have been
0:22:29 > 0:22:31if this spillage was petrol.
0:22:31 > 0:22:33But it's still making it tricky
0:22:33 > 0:22:37for firefighters releasing the trapped victims of the crash
0:22:37 > 0:22:38to keep their feet.
0:22:38 > 0:22:39Rest there, then, rest.
0:22:39 > 0:22:41Jimmy, can you take your hands off and we can readjust?
0:22:41 > 0:22:43- I'll get where you are.- All right?
0:22:43 > 0:22:46The team's patient is showing some worrying symptoms.
0:22:46 > 0:22:50Basically taken an impact down his right side,
0:22:50 > 0:22:53so is complaining of right shoulder pain, right chest pain...
0:22:53 > 0:22:55The team keep a close eye on the patient
0:22:55 > 0:22:58throughout the ten-minute flight to Hull Royal Infirmary,
0:22:58 > 0:23:0020 miles away.
0:23:00 > 0:23:03Thanks to the traffic chaos caused by the accident,
0:23:03 > 0:23:06it's some time before the other victims of the crash
0:23:06 > 0:23:08join him in A&E.
0:23:08 > 0:23:11Thankfully, all go on to make a good recovery.
0:23:17 > 0:23:19It's the half-term holiday,
0:23:19 > 0:23:23and Yorkshire's most extreme outdoor climbing centre is very busy.
0:23:23 > 0:23:27The Victorians thought Brimham Rocks in Nidderdale
0:23:27 > 0:23:29were created by druids.
0:23:29 > 0:23:33But this entirely natural adventure playground
0:23:33 > 0:23:36still has a magical attraction to children
0:23:36 > 0:23:38keen to explore its rocky outcrops.
0:23:38 > 0:23:43Some of the strange rock formations reach 30 metres in height -
0:23:43 > 0:23:45that's climbing terrain for the experts.
0:23:45 > 0:23:50The smaller outcrops can be a simple clamber for the younger adventurers,
0:23:50 > 0:23:54but a slip from the top can end tragically.
0:23:54 > 0:23:57He went to step and he just fell through the gap
0:23:57 > 0:23:59and landed on his back.
0:24:01 > 0:24:07We're fairly close to the wind farm, near the hill.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10The crew of Helimed 99 has made the journey to the rocks
0:24:10 > 0:24:12many times before.
0:24:12 > 0:24:14They know the dangers.
0:24:14 > 0:24:17We just had reports of an eight-year-old child
0:24:17 > 0:24:19that's fallen off the rocks at Brimham Rocks.
0:24:19 > 0:24:23It's basically a set of rocks which is quite common amongst climbers,
0:24:23 > 0:24:27particularly schoolchildren, go there on trips quite often.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30He's fallen about 15 feet onto soft mud,
0:24:30 > 0:24:31as far as we're aware.
0:24:31 > 0:24:34Obviously it's a substantial sort of height to fall from,
0:24:34 > 0:24:37so we're not 100% sure what injuries he's got.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39But we were requested, A - for the potential injuries
0:24:39 > 0:24:42and B - could be an access problem for ambulance crews as well.
0:24:42 > 0:24:47Brimham's rock formations make this a difficult landing site
0:24:47 > 0:24:49for pilot Andy Lister.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52And today's weather isn't helping.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56- Park's down here, cafe's at the top there.- Yeah.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58The landing site I've gone to before
0:24:58 > 0:25:01is sort of tucked away in the middle, there.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04What about these people down here? They're not them, are they?
0:25:04 > 0:25:07They could be - I think I'm seeing the ambulance.
0:25:07 > 0:25:10Yeah, roger - I think we've just seen the ambulance, Dave,
0:25:10 > 0:25:12so I'll give you a call
0:25:12 > 0:25:15once we've found somewhere appropriate to land, over.
0:25:15 > 0:25:17That might not be...
0:25:17 > 0:25:19- RADIO:- 'Roger. Crew is with the patient.
0:25:19 > 0:25:23'No loss of consciousness, GCS 15.
0:25:23 > 0:25:24'Fractured ankle...'
0:25:24 > 0:25:27Eight-year-old Joel Darnborough's family is in Yorkshire
0:25:27 > 0:25:29for a half-term holiday.
0:25:29 > 0:25:31- Hi, Joel.- Hi.- He's fallen...
0:25:31 > 0:25:35from that rock behind you.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38All his obs are on there. Home address. No allergies, no meds.
0:25:38 > 0:25:42The crew has seen serious head injuries at Brimham Rocks,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46and Joel cannot be properly diagnosed until he gets to hospital.
0:25:46 > 0:25:48His dad is worried.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51- Where's most of your pain now? Your tummy or...?- Back.- In your back.
0:25:51 > 0:25:54- Is it your lower back?- Yeah.- Yeah.
0:25:54 > 0:25:57When you fell, can you remember everything that happened?
0:25:57 > 0:25:59- Sort of.- Sort of?
0:25:59 > 0:26:03- All I can remember is... - Was he stepping across?
0:26:03 > 0:26:06Can you remember whether you fell onto your feet or...?
0:26:06 > 0:26:11Joel's sister Amelia was helping him to safely step between two rocks.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14It wasn't her fault but she is blaming herself.
0:26:14 > 0:26:17I was just really upset.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20And I thought it was all my fault.
0:26:20 > 0:26:24I think he's probably landed onto his back
0:26:24 > 0:26:27but he's complaining of lumber pain and some abdominal pain
0:26:27 > 0:26:31and pain to one of his ankles. There's no obvious ankle fracture.
0:26:31 > 0:26:33Thousands visit Brimham every year.
0:26:33 > 0:26:35Most are able to walk away safely,
0:26:35 > 0:26:37but some, like Joel, get carried out
0:26:37 > 0:26:40by the local mountain rescue volunteers.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43The controller gave me a call because we live quite locally
0:26:43 > 0:26:46to find out what was happening because, obviously,
0:26:46 > 0:26:49when you've just heard that someone's fallen
0:26:49 > 0:26:52you don't know what we're needed for or whether the helicopter's there,
0:26:52 > 0:26:55so we were just coming to find out what was happening
0:26:55 > 0:26:59and then spoke to the other guys that are on their way from Grassington
0:26:59 > 0:27:01in the Land Rover, so there'll be a number of them turning up,
0:27:01 > 0:27:05but we've been stood down because he's safely in the ambulance, which is good.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08- How are you doing now, Joel? - I don't feel too bad.
0:27:08 > 0:27:11You don't feel too bad? Is that pain bearable?
0:27:11 > 0:27:15Uh... Well, I can bear it for another ten minutes.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Paramedic Tony decides Joel can go to nearby Harrogate Hospital
0:27:19 > 0:27:23by ambulance. His injuries aren't serious enough
0:27:23 > 0:27:25to be flown by helicopter.
0:27:25 > 0:27:28Although the patient's disappointed, everyone else is relieved.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Boys and girls do what they do, don't they?
0:27:31 > 0:27:35And they play around. Better here than playing on their Xbox.
0:27:35 > 0:27:37It's good for them most of the time.
0:27:38 > 0:27:42Initially, the crew said his tummy might be a bit painful,
0:27:42 > 0:27:45but it's not now. His pelvis seems OK. We can't see
0:27:45 > 0:27:50any obvious fractures, his observations have all been normal
0:27:50 > 0:27:52so we're happy for him to go to Harrogate
0:27:52 > 0:27:56but our normal route is blocked off by buildings so we'd have to get
0:27:56 > 0:27:59an ambulance to do a secondary transfer
0:27:59 > 0:28:02so it'll be quicker to have the ambulance crew take him.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Joel's holiday was only cut short temporarily.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08After a thorough check over in hospital,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10he was given the all clear
0:28:10 > 0:28:14and allowed to get back to his adventurous holiday in Yorkshire,
0:28:14 > 0:28:17with the danger of Brimham Rocks and the great outdoors
0:28:17 > 0:28:21being replaced by some safer half-term activities.
0:28:25 > 0:28:27And at Helimed headquarters today,
0:28:27 > 0:28:31there's a happy ending to another case.
0:28:31 > 0:28:34Hello, guys. How are you? What a pleasure to meet you.
0:28:34 > 0:28:39Steve Mason spent months in an induced coma
0:28:39 > 0:28:41after he fell 30 feet from a roof.
0:28:41 > 0:28:46This is a day neither his workmate Les nor paramedics Andy and Tony
0:28:46 > 0:28:48thought he'd live to see.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53- Thank you very much for everything you've done for me.- You were pretty poorly, I must admit.
0:28:53 > 0:28:58- I gathered that much.- I'm surprised to see you walking through that door.- Yeah?
0:28:58 > 0:29:00- You've done really well.- I'm on my way back, thank goodness.
0:29:00 > 0:29:04I was in hospital for two, three month.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07From what I was told, I was completely out.
0:29:07 > 0:29:11I wasn't awake for months,
0:29:11 > 0:29:15for a couple of months, so I can only tell you what I can remember.
0:29:15 > 0:29:19I'm not 100% sure, but I'm pretty sure I heard Steve hit the ground.
0:29:19 > 0:29:22'If it wasn't for these lads, he probably wouldn't be here today.
0:29:22 > 0:29:25'Nobody else could have done what they did,
0:29:25 > 0:29:26'so for Steve, and me as well,'
0:29:26 > 0:29:30it's nice to be able to say thanks. They've done a great job.
0:29:30 > 0:29:34You might find this hard to believe, but I can't remember a single thing
0:29:34 > 0:29:38of any nature, which has hassled me for so long,
0:29:38 > 0:29:41but now I'm here, I feel much better.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44I'd just like to say a marvellous thank you.
0:29:44 > 0:29:45Honestly, honestly.
0:29:45 > 0:29:48It's a pleasure, mate. That's what we're here for.
0:29:48 > 0:29:51It's unlikely Steve will ever be fit enough
0:29:51 > 0:29:54to return to his demanding job as a roofer,
0:29:54 > 0:29:57but he's convinced that he wouldn't be alive today
0:29:57 > 0:30:00if it wasn't for Tony and Andy.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03And saving lives like his takes stamina.
0:30:03 > 0:30:05From scaling Pennine fells
0:30:05 > 0:30:11to hauling patients out of trapped cars, paramedics must be fit.
0:30:11 > 0:30:15But exercising in the great outdoors also has its risks,
0:30:15 > 0:30:17as the team's about to find out today.
0:30:21 > 0:30:24Helimed 99's heading up the River Wharfe
0:30:24 > 0:30:26in search of a runner in trouble.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28'This chap has tried to get up.
0:30:28 > 0:30:30'Apparently, he's dislocated his shoulder.
0:30:30 > 0:30:33'Er, he's then fallen down an embankment, er,
0:30:33 > 0:30:38'and he's currently resting on a tree 20ft above the ground,
0:30:38 > 0:30:41'which is starting to collapse into the river.'
0:30:44 > 0:30:47The 999 call from the runner has been traced.
0:30:47 > 0:30:50The signal from his mobile phone has allowed the crew
0:30:50 > 0:30:52to home in on his position.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55Obviously, we're on the river bank here.
0:30:55 > 0:30:57So, make sure we've got us life jackets on.
0:30:57 > 0:31:00But we're just going to have to wait for some more resources to come.
0:31:00 > 0:31:05Floods have caused a landslip, and the steep terrain plunging down to
0:31:05 > 0:31:08the deep water that caught out the runner is now proving
0:31:08 > 0:31:10treacherous for Leon and Darrel.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13Stay up there for a minute, mate, and we'll have a look.
0:31:13 > 0:31:17Keen runner Andy Walsh, who was in training for a marathon,
0:31:17 > 0:31:21is stuck near the bottom. His shoulder is dislocated.
0:31:21 > 0:31:24So you've then tried to climb up here? You've slipped back down.
0:31:24 > 0:31:27- Slipped down.- Believe you've got some pain in your arm.- I have.
0:31:27 > 0:31:30- In your shoulder.- My shoulder, yeah. I think it's dislocated.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33Did you feel a definite pop or did you hear anything?
0:31:33 > 0:31:34I had my, erm, headphones on...
0:31:34 > 0:31:37Andy has been lucky. He's super-fit.
0:31:37 > 0:31:40But if he had gone into the water with a dislocated shoulder,
0:31:40 > 0:31:42he may never have got out.
0:31:42 > 0:31:47A couple of trees have blown over so, actually, just down behind me here,
0:31:47 > 0:31:49the path's blocked off from the fallen trees.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Erm, so he's tried to take a short cut but he's come up
0:31:52 > 0:31:57the embankment and slipped and gone over and injured his shoulder.
0:31:57 > 0:31:59Darrel! I'm going to have a quick look at his shoulder,
0:31:59 > 0:32:02but we need to find out how far heart team are away.
0:32:02 > 0:32:03Yeah, I'll give 'em a shout.
0:32:03 > 0:32:07Or mountain rescue cos there's no way we're going to get back
0:32:07 > 0:32:08out on this path.
0:32:11 > 0:32:14Firefighters and a specialist ambulance service rescue squad
0:32:14 > 0:32:16have been called to the scene.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19The river bank is more dangerous than it looks.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24It might be that we can actually, with assistance, walk him up to
0:32:24 > 0:32:28the land vehicle, or, depending on how serious the injury is,
0:32:28 > 0:32:31we might take him by helicopter to Harrogate,
0:32:31 > 0:32:32which is the closest hospital.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39These guys treat any incident on the River Wharfe seriously.
0:32:39 > 0:32:42Almost every year someone dies after
0:32:42 > 0:32:46falling into its unpredictable waters or down its steep banks.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51Let you know what we're doing, just securing that point,
0:32:51 > 0:32:56- we're going to lower someone down to make an assessment, OK?- Yeah.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59These firefighters are specially trained in using ropes to
0:32:59 > 0:33:02reach casualties like Andy.
0:33:02 > 0:33:04They're not taking any chances.
0:33:04 > 0:33:07- Right, how are you feeling? - He's all right on his legs.- Right.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09Er, even with the medication, so...
0:33:09 > 0:33:12So we'll put a harness on him, and we can attach him to a line.
0:33:12 > 0:33:15Yeah, yeah, I think that's probably going to be the best way.
0:33:15 > 0:33:17Very, very slippy under foot.
0:33:17 > 0:33:20There's a lot of loose trees, erm, that have obviously blown over
0:33:20 > 0:33:23in the high winds that we've had over the winter.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25So we've got to be very careful not to knock any of these
0:33:25 > 0:33:30because obviously if they roll down and hit the casualty or the crew,
0:33:30 > 0:33:34er, then we're going to have more injuries
0:33:34 > 0:33:36and more people to deal with.
0:33:36 > 0:33:41Dislocations are amongst the most painful injuries you can suffer.
0:33:41 > 0:33:45Andy's shoulder has leapt completely out of joint.
0:33:45 > 0:33:49The tendons and muscles that hold his arm in place are being
0:33:49 > 0:33:51stretched almost to breaking point.
0:33:51 > 0:33:56If his arm isn't reset soon he could end up with a permanent disability.
0:33:56 > 0:34:00We have got a water rescue team as well standing by just in case
0:34:00 > 0:34:01the worst case scenario happens
0:34:01 > 0:34:06and they do actually fall in the river but that's highly unlikely.
0:34:06 > 0:34:09And the long walk up the river bank to safety
0:34:09 > 0:34:12is going to be awkward and painful.
0:34:12 > 0:34:13All right, Andy. Nice and safe, pal.
0:34:15 > 0:34:19Andy, if you lean back into the firefighter rather than...
0:34:19 > 0:34:21Yeah, lean back into me, lean back into me.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27Lean back, you can do it, lean into me.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30Keep your legs pushed out, if you push your legs out.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33Andy's used to breaking through the pain barrier
0:34:33 > 0:34:34on his long distance runs,
0:34:34 > 0:34:40but the agony of his dislocation is a whole new level of discomfort.
0:34:42 > 0:34:43One more yard.
0:34:45 > 0:34:46Really slippy.
0:34:46 > 0:34:48Once we got the lines nice and tight
0:34:48 > 0:34:52and we could sit back on the line, we could walk up nice and steady.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55But, cos of his arm, he's wanting to grab hold of the rope and he's
0:34:55 > 0:34:58not wanting to sit back, so, quite a difficult extrication to be honest.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03He's just heading now to the waiting ambulance which is
0:35:03 > 0:35:05about 300-400 yards across a muddy field
0:35:05 > 0:35:09where he'll get more assessment and probably more pain relief.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13We're now rescuing Leon.
0:35:13 > 0:35:15We were going to leave him but, er, we felt we'd better not
0:35:15 > 0:35:18cos we've got... Might have another job to go to yet.
0:35:20 > 0:35:23The team's patient was in training.
0:35:24 > 0:35:28The track by the river was one of Andy's favourite routes.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31He's unlikely to be coming this way again soon.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33I'm doing the Yorkshire Marathon,
0:35:33 > 0:35:37but I'm doing some other events in between, some obstacle race events.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41Once it's back in place I'll be all right. Get some grippier shoes.
0:35:44 > 0:35:48Andy recovers in time to compete in the big local marathon
0:35:48 > 0:35:51and gives his sponsorship money to the charity that keeps
0:35:51 > 0:35:53the Helimed team in the air.
0:35:59 > 0:36:01The paramedics who crew this helicopter
0:36:01 > 0:36:04all started their careers driving ordinary ambulances,
0:36:04 > 0:36:07and some still do when they're not flying.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10But it's reckoned Air Ambulance crews see more serious trauma
0:36:10 > 0:36:13in two years than their colleagues
0:36:13 > 0:36:16experience in ten years working on the ground.
0:36:19 > 0:36:22We're off to a place called Garforth
0:36:22 > 0:36:24just on the east side of Leeds
0:36:24 > 0:36:27for a man who's been working on a building site.
0:36:27 > 0:36:30A piece of metal, it sounds like a flatbed off a truck,
0:36:30 > 0:36:33has landed on his lower legs and crushed them.
0:36:33 > 0:36:36Got a crew on the scene already, they've requested us
0:36:36 > 0:36:38basically for pain relief.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42This is the team's third building site incident in as many days.
0:36:42 > 0:36:46Paramedic Andy is an army veteran who served in Afghanistan.
0:36:46 > 0:36:50Some of the injuries he sees in the construction industry
0:36:50 > 0:36:53are almost as serious as those military medics must deal with.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57Down there, yeah, that's where I'm thinking.
0:36:57 > 0:37:01We're thinking this wasteland in the sort of V shape between the roads?
0:37:01 > 0:37:05- It's got brick rubble on it.- Just below and out to the right, Andy.
0:37:05 > 0:37:08- Yeah, to the right.- Yeah. - Yeah, there's like a concrete base.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11- That's right, yeah.- Are you going there, yeah?- Yeah, that's the one.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15Helimed 99's touching down on a new estate in the Leeds suburbs.
0:37:15 > 0:37:1828-year-old David King is in great pain.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22Hello, sir.
0:37:22 > 0:37:23Hi, David.
0:37:23 > 0:37:27- This here has basically dropped they reckon about two metres.- Right.
0:37:27 > 0:37:31Landed on both legs. It was on its end and it's dropped down like that
0:37:31 > 0:37:33and it's come straight down, hit him below the knees.
0:37:33 > 0:37:37Ground paramedics have already started treating his leg injuries.
0:37:37 > 0:37:41But Andy has brought much more powerful pain killers with him.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45His workmates did their best.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48Just got on't phone, phoned for t'ambulance, er, went down,
0:37:48 > 0:37:50tried to help out.
0:37:51 > 0:37:55First aider, but first aid's not going to help on something as, er,
0:37:55 > 0:37:56serious as that.
0:37:56 > 0:37:59David, pleased to meet you, David.
0:37:59 > 0:38:01My name's Sammy and I'm one of the other paramedics
0:38:01 > 0:38:03that's taking care of you today.
0:38:03 > 0:38:06I promise we're not going to do anything to hurt you deliberately.
0:38:06 > 0:38:09- I know.- We will tell you everything that we're going to do,
0:38:09 > 0:38:12and the first thing we're going to do is give you some pain relief, OK?
0:38:12 > 0:38:14Yeah.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17Andy's going to use a drug that will leave his patient almost pain-free
0:38:17 > 0:38:22and with few memories of the next half hour.
0:38:22 > 0:38:25It might feel a bit strange, Dave, but just go with it.
0:38:25 > 0:38:26Think happy thoughts.
0:38:29 > 0:38:31David's cold and frightened.
0:38:31 > 0:38:35He lives in County Durham and was working away from home.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Yeah, go for it.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41Just want the leg slightly raised and slide it in,
0:38:41 > 0:38:44- I'll get rid of that. - Yeah, shattered everywhere.
0:38:44 > 0:38:49- Some weight in that, in't there? - It's between one and two tonnes.
0:38:49 > 0:38:50One or two tonnes, OK.
0:38:51 > 0:38:55Construction is second only to farming in the list
0:38:55 > 0:38:57of dangerous occupations.
0:38:57 > 0:39:01Andy decides his patient's injuries are very serious
0:39:01 > 0:39:03but probably not life-threatening.
0:39:08 > 0:39:11All right, OK. All right, David?
0:39:11 > 0:39:15OK, all right. Keep your eyes open for us.
0:39:15 > 0:39:18- Can you still feel me touching your feet, David?- Yeah!
0:39:20 > 0:39:22I've got him there, mate.
0:39:22 > 0:39:26The team's going to fly David to Leeds General Infirmary,
0:39:26 > 0:39:29but first Andy has to brief its trauma team.
0:39:29 > 0:39:33A big metal, like, steel thing has fallen on his lower legs.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36He's got crepitus in both legs, he's in a lot of pain,
0:39:36 > 0:39:38he's had some ketamine.
0:39:38 > 0:39:40We're probably looking at being with you
0:39:40 > 0:39:42in about sort of 15 minutes or so.
0:39:42 > 0:39:44- You don't know where you are?- No.
0:39:44 > 0:39:46Don't worry, you're just getting in a helicopter, Dave.
0:39:46 > 0:39:49You're going to be all right, they're going to take you away
0:39:49 > 0:39:51and sort you out down at the LGI, mate.
0:39:51 > 0:39:53Now that David's under sedation,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56he'll be able to bear the journey to hospital.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00His legs are badly broken and he'll be off work for months.
0:40:06 > 0:40:07All right, OK, just relax.
0:40:12 > 0:40:15'From 99, we've lifted one minute ago.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19'ETA to LGI, three minutes, over.'
0:40:19 > 0:40:20'RI received.'
0:40:22 > 0:40:27His accident is the start of a traumatic week for his parents.
0:40:27 > 0:40:30The following day, his sister is involved in a car crash
0:40:30 > 0:40:33and is flown to hospital by another Air Ambulance.
0:40:33 > 0:40:37Thankfully, both are now on the road to recovery.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46In Leeds city centre,
0:40:46 > 0:40:50Yorkshire's most popular police officers are back on the beat.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54Pleasure. You have a nice day. See you later.
0:40:54 > 0:40:58But the mounted section is still missing one of its riders.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04It's three weeks since PC Sarah Costello was flown to
0:41:04 > 0:41:09hospital after being badly hurt when she was thrown from her horse.
0:41:09 > 0:41:11It was feared she was paralysed.
0:41:12 > 0:41:14Thankfully she's now back home
0:41:14 > 0:41:19and recovering from a phenomenon known as spinal shock.
0:41:19 > 0:41:22I couldn't wiggle my fingers, I couldn't wiggle my toes,
0:41:22 > 0:41:27and I couldn't actually feel anything, so I was frightened.
0:41:27 > 0:41:28Really frightened.
0:41:28 > 0:41:31You know, thinking that I might not be able to walk again,
0:41:31 > 0:41:35might not be able to run around with my little girl again.
0:41:35 > 0:41:37It was a frightening time. Frightening.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46Sarah's now undergoing physiotherapy for the after effects
0:41:46 > 0:41:50of the accident, which include some numbness and mobility problems.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53It was probably about six, seven hours before I managed to
0:41:53 > 0:41:59start getting some feeling back into my legs, which was a great relief.
0:41:59 > 0:42:03The doctors described it as spinal shock and that nerves
0:42:03 > 0:42:06and things like that will just take some time to wake up,
0:42:06 > 0:42:12basically, and start working again, so we're hopeful for a full recovery.
0:42:13 > 0:42:17And, yes, this police officer is determined that one day,
0:42:17 > 0:42:20she will return to the saddle.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23I'm very apprehensive about going back on a horse at the moment,
0:42:23 > 0:42:24I must admit.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29I am a little bit frightened to go back and sit on one
0:42:29 > 0:42:32because of what could have happened.
0:42:32 > 0:42:34But I don't think you can live your lives
0:42:34 > 0:42:36on what could have...could have been.