WHY WE DO IT DSAA in dramatic beach rescue
X-ray. Amazingly, he only sustained a broken femur and a cut to the top of his head, but he was scared and needed to be reassured. His leg had to be put back into shape and traction fitted. Fortunately I was able to go to theatre with Matt and
stayed with him until he was asleep. The surgeon gave me a bleeper and contacted me three hours later when the operation was over so that I could sit with him in the recovery area. Obviously the stress of the incident has affected him.
He found it hard to get into our car to come home and was very low for a long time. However, he is now almost at the point of walking unaided. Twelve long weeks have passed and after much
frustration we are well on the way to recovery now. Matt is even thinking of buying a new car, although it is going to be some weeks before he can drive. I guess we have coped the best we could. As a family
we are so grateful that we have so many people so well trained to help us. Accidents happen and thankfully Matt is still here to tell his story. Our Christmas could have been so very different, but thankfully – with your help – we are all ok.
On Saturday 25 February, I visited the Dorset coast with a group of geology students. We were exploring the beach east of Osmington Mills near to a wrecked ship when unfortunately a member of the group fell, sustaining an ankle injury which rendered her incapable of walking. Assistance was sought from the emergency services. The Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance was summoned to implement the rescue, although it seemed doubtful whether a helicopter landing would be feasible. Although the tide was out, the beach in the vicinity of the casualty was very hazardous as it was comprised of very large pebbles and boulders of various sizes, which made the surface very irregular and uneven. There were also patches of gelatinous seaweed, making the beach very slippery. After circling around
to assess the terrain, the helicopter made its descent to land a few metres away from the patient. It hovered at a very low altitude and one of the
paramedics climbed out to describe the terrain to the pilot, following which the helicopter gently touched down. The paramedics quickly came to the assistance of the casualty, who was placed on a stretcher. Shortly afterward, the helicopter took off to take them to hospital. But for the prompt and swift action of the air ambulance, the patient would have taken several hours to get to hospital and it would have involved transporting her for a considerable distance over difficult, undulating ground. I was deeply impressed
by the very polished, professional and disciplined conduct of the crew. Indeed, they are all to be highly commended for the calm, courageous and brave manner with which they conducted this problematic operation. R. Preston, Bicester.
The patient mentioned in this story is Jane Vicat from Oxfordshire. Read her real- life story in the next edition of Beeline…
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