Two Magpas Air Ambulance medics, who saved a father-of-two’s life after he was involved in a high-speed motorcycle crash, have been shortlisted in ITV’s Pride of Britain Awards.
Doctor Andy Lindsay and critical care paramedic Dan Read landed at the scene of a crash in August last year to find Adam Shailer from Cambridgeshire fighting for his life at the side of the road.
The 35-year-old was travelling to work when he collided with a car. He fell off at high speed and was then run over by the same vehicle. He suffered 18 broken ribs, a broken sternum, air in chest cavity and bruising and bleeding around his lungs.
He also suffered a lacerated liver and kidney, squashed bowel in two places, his pelvis was broken into 29 pieces - in what’s called an ‘open book’ pelvic fracture, his ureter was nearly disconnected and one of his knees was completely broken.
Andy remembers Adam asking him if he was “going to make it”. Andy replied: “you are categorically not going to die”. However, his condition quickly deteriorated, he fell unconscious and his heart rate was only 20 beats per minute.
Andy and Dan provided hospital-level care at the roadside and gave Adam life-saving drugs. They performed surgical procedures before getting him into a land ambulance and taking him to Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
He made it; Adam made a full recovery thanks to the quick-thinking work of Andy and Dan along with the Magpas medical team. The 35-year-old even made it out of hospital in time to spend Christmas at home with his family.
Recognising Andy and Dan’s life-saving actions on that day and the impact they’ve made on Adam and his loved ones, they have been shortlisted in the Emergency Services category of the ITV This Morning Pride of Britain Awards.
Adam said: “These two individuals not only saved my life and bought specialist care to me when I needed it most, but they helped me to put the pieces together afterwards as well.
“They took time out of their busy lives to follow up on my case and meet me once I was out of hospital. My pelvis was in 29 pieces but my mind was in thousands and they helped me a lot after the accident, as well as during.
“I’m amazed that these two guys are finalists and they are worthy winners in my eyes - but it’s not all about me and they are part of a much larger team who all save lives day in, day out.
“This award is for the whole Magpas Air Ambulance team. They’re all just humans at the end of the day, humans who do incredible things.”
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