Air medics rescued by air ambulance (From Gazette & Herald)

Air medics rescued by air ambulance during fundraising ride

7:57am Saturday 6th October 2012 in News

AN air ambulance came to the rescue of two cyclists – only to discover they were air medics themselves doing a fundraising ride.

The Great North Air Ambulance was called to take to hospital two people who had been involved in an accident close to Rosedale Abbey, near Pickering.

The man and woman were taking part in a charity cycle ride for Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance when their bikes collided on Thursday. They suffered serious head and abdominal injuries.

The pair were treated at the scene by paramedics from a road ambulance and a doctor and paramedic from the air ambulance, before being flown to The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough.

The six men and one woman were nearing the end of their coast-to-coast ride from Whitehaven to Scarborough.

The team consisted of paramedics Jerry Woods, Richard Company, Rachel Borne and Clive Stevens; along with Paul Jefferies, a former Thames Valley Air Ambulance Paramedic now Hampshire area manager for the South Central Ambulance Service NHS Trust, Mike Copping, emergency care assistant, Sean Wright, a company director, and Matt Clarke, a product designer.

The group is aiming to raise more than £2,000 for the Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance.

Before setting off, the team said they were hoping to raise awareness about the work of the air ambulance.

A Great North Air Ambulance spokesman said: “The Great North Air Ambulance was called to a male and female patient who had been involved in collision between the two bikes. They were treated at the scene by the land crew paramedics and the air ambulance doctor and paramedic before being flown to hospital in a stable condition.”