Air ambulance rescues toddler


THE family of a Weavering toddler crushed beneath a wardrobe have paid tribute to Kent Air Ambulance for a “miracle rescue” that helped to save their son’s life. Pilots and paramedics flew to the rescue


when they heard how little Louis Parvin (2) was trapped beneath a wardrobe that he had somehowman- aged to pull over on top of himself at a house in the Fant area of Maidstone. Louis’ gran Lesley Vine, from Col-


lier Street,was cleaning a rental prop- erty she lets out in Roseholme and only turned her back for a moment. “The next thing she knew, he had somehow pulled the wardrobe over and his head was stuck underneath,” said Louis’ dad Peter, as he relived the nightmare scene. The air ambulance arrived within minutes, having landed at nearby Fant Farm, and, after giving Louis emergency treatment at the scene, whisked him off to King’s College Hospital, London – a journey of under 20 minutes by helicopter. Louis had suffered a severe fractured skull


and his brain was swollen with a small bleed, and he spent four days in intensive care before being transferred to a high de- pendency unit. Dad Peter and mum Kaylie, who live in Crownfields,Weavering, kept a bedside vigil at the London hospital, praying for their son’s recovery – but could never have be- lieved the outcome. After seven days in King’s, Louis was transferred to Pembury –


Lib Dems set up town office


THE Lib Dem group has opened an office in Maidstone town centre. The office is one of several at


23 Union Street being used by entrepreneur Jonnie Jensen to offer ‘hot desking’ to small businesses and start-ups. Maidstone and theWeald Lib


Dem members have their own private office but other rooms in the large Victorian building will become co-working spaces to help companies who do not need – or cannot afford – larger premises.


“Hopefully this will act as a


focus for economic regenera- tion in the town centre,” said parliamentary campaigner Jasper Gerard. Office manager is Maidstone


Cllr and JP Sue Grigg. It is also the base for Kent’s Lib Dem or- ganiser Sam Roach. Mr Gerard and local Lib Dem councillors will be available on Saturday mornings as well as at other times during the week. Mr Gerard paid particular trib- ute to Cllr Derek Mortimer for his help in making it possible to have the office.


Sitting pretty FREMLINWalk has been given a platinum grade in the annual Loo of the Year Awards 2013, following an unannounced visit by a LOYA inspector. The centre has also been shortlisted for one of the major national awards for LOYA 2013.


New footpath open for all


THE Valley Conservation Society’s Colin Holman is pictured opening the improved footpath at Lower Crisbrook Ponds in Tovil. Volunteers from theVCS–whichbought the pondswithalottery grant


– have used 16 tonnes of road stone, supplied by the footpaths’ officer, to createafirm, mud-free,path for visitors, ideal forwheelchairsandbug- gies.


and discharged a day later. “Itwas nothing short of amiracle,” said Mr Parvin, the grandson of Maidstone borough councillors Peter and Daphne Parvin. “We took him back to London to thank the


given a clean bill of health. The biggest problem is making sure he doesn’t get too energetic and bang his head in the next couple of months until his skull has fully healed. Peter said: “It’s a bit of a


DOCTOR Malcolm Tunnicliff, from Kent Air Ambulance, said: “When we arrived at Louis’ side it was clear he had sustained a very se- vere head injury.


“In these injuries it is imperative to get to a neurosurgeon and fast. Our pilot, captain Kevin Goddard was then able to fly Louis, his mother and the air ambulance team to the major trauma centre at King’s College Hospi- tal in London where hewas furthermanaged.


“He was given a general anaesthetic to


allowus toprotect hisairwayandtakecontrol of his breathing in an effort to maintain the correct pressure in his brain.”


KAA is hoping to invite Louis and his family Peter and Kaylie Parvin with son Louis


consultants and staff and they could barely believe it when he walked in and handed them a box of chocolates. “We knew that there was no long-term neurological damage, but none of them could believe how much he had progressed. So much could have gone wrong. We have been really blessed.” The lively little lad will still need some speech therapy before he is back to being his old chatterbox self, but has otherwise been


to itsMarden headquarters soon forareunion with the crewwho saved his life.


nightmare, as he’s into everything and want- ing to run about, jump and climb! He’s a typ- ical little lad and trying to restrain him isn’t going to be easy.” Peter Parvin, who is a business manager


for Barclays Bank, said: “You hear so much about the air ambulance but it’s only when something like this affects you personally you realise that they are a charity and need as much help as they can get. “They savedmy son’s life without doubt.”


Sporting success INVICTA Grammar School head boy, James Evans, has been selected for the U19 Eng- land squash squad and is in training for the world champi- onships next summer. The school’s U16 netball


team beat St Simon Stock School 34-4 in their first Maid- stone Schools league game.


Quitters’ club SMOKERS wanting to kick the habit are invited to a free NHS quit club. The club runs from 6-7pm on


Wednesdays, from November 6 to December 18, at Maidstone YMCA Centre, Melrose Close, Maidstone. Call 0800 849 4444 or text QUIT to 87023.


Have a heart MORE than £1,150 was raised when Invicta Grammar School- students were invited to wear a heart for the British Heart Foundation.


UKIP launches its bid for local seats


THEUKIndependence Party (UKIP) is attempting to make itsmark onMaidstone, announcing it has selected seven candidates to fight seats up for grabs in nextMay’s borough election. The party has set up a branch in the Faversham


and Mid-Kent constituency, where Conservative minister Hugh Robertson is the sitting MP, and elected candidates for all seven of the wards which fall within its boundary. They are Bearsted, Boxley, Harrietsham and Lenham, Park Wood, Shepway North, Shepway South and Headcorn. UKIP rose rapidly through the ranks from


nowhere to become the second largest party sitting on Kent County Council in this year’s elections, where they are now the opposing party to the rul- ing Conservatives. The Tories up for re-election next May in the


seven Maidstone wards are Mike Cuming, Derek Butler, John Barned, David Burton, MichaelYates, Adrian Brindle and Jenefer Gibson. A further 11 seats, which fall within the Maid-


stone and Weald constituency, held by Helen Grant MP, will also be up for re-election. UKIP says it hopes to have a candidate for every seat by the time nominations close.


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