Air Ambulance Anybody?

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RebeccaScott

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Hi all

I wanted to share my story with you after a pretty bad horse-riding accident I had.

Jess (my sister) and I had ridden about 20 miles and the accident happened in the last 1/2 mile from home. We were cantering up a path and I still to this day don't know how we managed it, but I ended up with a silver-birch tree smacking into my abdomen, knocking me off the back of Shiraz and onto the floor.

Now, the first thing that hit me was beng winded. I've been winded once or twice before and I find that scary in itself. After that had gone, I couldn't get up onto my feet and rolled around on the floor thinking that I needed a few minutes to gather myself. There was no blood, no broken bones, no damaged clothing. But 10 mins later I still couldn't get up. And then I wet myself (sorry folks) and my breathing became shallow.

Thats when Jess called the Lincs and Notts air ambulance.

I was well hidden in the woods and they flew over the top of me several times. I remember feeling panicked that I just wanted them to land and get to me. At this point Jess wasn't with me as she'd gone to try and help the road ambulance locate me and she had two horses prancing around shying at the above helicopter.

When I got to hospital I spent 3 night in intensive care, had a ventilator making me breathe, blood transfusions and two operations to stem the bleeding and remove the damaged half of my liver.

You can see some pics (strong stomach required) at

http://www.justgiving.com/keep-us-flying

I am now absolutely fine and have been so moved by the thought of all those people donating to the air ambulance to keep it flying above our heads, rescuing people like me, that I am running the 26 miles 385 yard London Marathon this April.

I hope to raise awareness (and hopefully some money) for the charity. So far I've raised £657; my target is £1500. If any fellow riders can help I would be so grateful, but not quite as grateful as the next person who is rescued by the helicopter :)
 
You go girl!! Good on you, ive done a small donation for you sorry its not more!
Think its great your doing something to help those that helped you.
BEST OF LUCK ON THE DAY :)
 
Well done, you are an icon! I wish more people thought like you, our Hunt donates to the AA plus our Farmers Club also, but they do a really good job and you never know when you are going to need them, as you found out. Are you still riding?
 
Have just made a small donation.

What a horrible thing to have happened to you, so pleased you made a good recovery.

Your story has touched me in a few ways,

My whole family ride and we never know when we may need this amaing service, hopefully never, but as your story shows tou can never tell.

My young son had a liver transplant when he was 6 mths old, he is now 6yrs old, so we can understand what you went through, I was also an ITU nurse for over 10 yrs and know how invaluable the air ambulance can be in saving lives.

Good on you for fund raising for them
 
Thanks alwaysbroke

Your donation is really helpful. How is your son? Hopefully he's doing well. Because of my accident I now know that the liver is so amazing, in that it grows back. So, my half a liver is, according to the specialsist, going to be a full size one again in the not too distant future. I'm sure you know all about this having gone through what you did with your son and from having worked in ITU.

Your son's transplant must have been such a HUGE thing to happen to you all. I can't really understand what it must have been like.

The NHS is such a wonderful thing. I know there is alot that people moan about with the NHS, but I myself will leave this world indebted to it. Whatever I have paid and will pay into that NHS pot will surely never cover the amount of specialist time and attention I had made available to me.

And as for the air ambulances that continue to operate, costing millions of pounds a year... I am so grateful that they are able to fly!!
 
He is really well atm thanks, he can have a few ups and downs but we cope with them when they happen.

Yes the liver is amazing, especially when it come to transplant, one liver can donate to 2 recipeints, because it has 2 blood supplies and can regenerate!
 
What a story, great to hear that you have made such a good recovery. I've made a small donation, good luck in the run!!
 
Yes, I'm still riding. Altho as I'm doing loads of training I don't have hardly any time ATM. Shiraz has been put to temporary retirement almost.

I actually did a xc after my accident. Partially cos I love the course I went to (Newton) and secondly it was a check on my confidence to see if it resembled some for of being intact.

I am more cautious now, but still happy to push things a bit providing I feel safe. Whereas before I must have pushed things without feeling as safe.

It was a super-freak accident which no-one could have done anything about. I heard something really funny a few weeks ago which made me smile. It was a guy giving a lecture on Health and Safety and he said 'sod's law happens, you can't legislate sod'. Maybe you had to be there to find it as funny as I did, but it's certainly true.
 
Well done for doing this. My son ran the Great North Run for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance and later the London Marathon for ITU in Swindon.

He nearly died in a car crash and when he was in ITU he said when he recovered he would raise money for those who had saved his life.

The marathon was great and he raised lots of money. Hope you do to.

Have sent you a donation to help.
 
Wow poor you! Good thing you are well again now though. I havnt donated to you but did already make a large donation to the notts and leics air ambulance, after i was rescued when i fell off my old horse and he jumped on me accidentally!
 
Thanks Nicco for your help. I'm very grateful :)

Fantastic news to hear your son is well. It sounds horrific. My accident was terrible but I can only imagine it must be far worse when you're travelling at speeds like in a car or on a motorbike. Mine was a split second thing and that second I have replayed so many times in my mind.... it fixates me. And if I think about it enough I actually start getting anxious. And that was at about 15mph. At faster speeds it must be unbelievable.

I'll keep putting pics of my training updates on here as it might be interesting. Maybe I'll start with a pic of my toe-nail that's about ready to drop off after 18 miles last weekend:(
 
Snowysadude (curious name there!!!). It's great that you support the air ambulance. So you're one of those strangers who helped the helicopter fly to my rescue. I can't thank you and others like you enough. Being charitable for causes like this is so altruistic. It makes me happy to be a human :D
 
Your story brought a tear to me eye, it's scary how easily accidents can happen, and what a huge impact they can have on your life. I think we all take things for granted sometimes, I ride out in the woods pretty much every weekend, but always go with company 'just in case' - this thread has made me realise just how important that is.

Well done for getting back on and for giving something back - good luck with the run - I have made a small donation.

(who was your H&S lecture by?)
 
I have made a contribution, not much but enough to make it to a nice round figure for you! I hope it goes well and your feet dont get too sore running!! I got exhausted after walking the XC course at the weekend. i look forward to hearing your report after!
Good luck,
Charlotte x
 
Hi ncarter

Thanks for your help. BIG SMILE!

It's never a great idea to hack on your own. I was lucky I had my sister. I'm not sure I'll ever go hacking alone again. Thought-provoking. I've hacked out alone so much before it seems strange to say that.

You asked who my H&S lecture was by. I'm really sorry but I don't understand your question. Please explain. Bec
 
Hi Charlotte. Yes, lovely round figure. It was a nice surprise to see it start with a '7'. Thanks so much.

I think my body will take me round ok. It is only my feet I wish I had another pair of. Oh, to open my cupboard and plonk on another pair of size 5 fleshy feet would be divine!!!
 
Will defo keep reporting on here too. Nearly published pic of my toe-nail. Then thought better of it. My feet are certainly not pretty photogenic things.
 
Hi everyone.

If you happen to be in Lincoln City this Sunday you may just catch sight of me pantin gmy way around the 10k run that's happening. This is all in prep for the London Marathon challenge I've set for myself.

My fund-raising is going well (thanks to lots of people for their support:)). I'm now just over 50% of the way to my £1500 target.

I really don't like to be a little beggler (like begger, but cuter).... but PLEASE if you can help me boost my fundraising I'd appreciate it HUGELY :D

Rebecca
 
Thanks for your help

I'm very appreciative. I'll keep this forum thread updated too with some pics and stories of my training. And the finale will be some pics of me crossing the line in London next month. Wee hee!!! BRING IT ON x x x
 
Wow! That is some scar! I have always supported our local Air Ambulance because they don't get any government funding and are really essential for anyone who rides. Someone at our yard had a bad fall out hacking with her daughter, and they had to call for the Air Ambulance. Unfortunately there were problems finding them as they were on the edge of a field wearing dark clothes, and also the daughter had to take the horse's back as they would not have been sensible with a helicopter landing.
But it certainly acted as a good reminder to always take a mobile phone out with you on a hack, let others know roughly how long you will be and where you are going, and also I always wear a high viz, as I know, being a pilot, just how much easier that makes it to locate someone on the ground. Its also obviously easier for someone on the ground to find you too, if you are on your own and your horse has disappeared. Others have thought I was a bit mad wearing high viz round the fields, even those that wear them on the roads, but after I explained it they don't think I am mad at all!! I also always wear a back protector out hacking - I figure that if I am on my own, fall off, and am winded, I am going to have serious trouble doing very much. If a back protector can just save me enough to allow me to make a phone call, that has to be worth doing.
I also have useful numbers in my phone - livery yard owner, vets, other liveries, etc.
 
Hi SazzyB

Did I read correctly that you're a pilot??? That's fantastic. What a super thing to do. Your advice is very sound. High-vis is such an important bit of gear. When I'm out running I wear a super fluro pink top. I think EVERYONE notices it. (also detracts people from the pained look on my face as I try to keep the lead legs going!).

I've been out today and got 18 miles of running and 2 miles of walking under my belt. My legs are the thing which go first. Breathing....no problem, but legs at 15 miles just say NO NO NO. I've invested in some little energy gel tubes that taste ok, but the texture (think viscous glue) is FOUL FOUL FOUL. I think they worked to a certain degree, even if it was only a placebo.

Will keep you all updated on my progress. Hope all had a good weekend.

Oh before I go, while I was out today, the air ambulance that rescued me, flew overhead. Once to an accident I imagine and then back over me again on way to hospital. I felt real proud that I was down on the ground doing my bit to keep the helicopter up there. Best of luck and love to the person(s) involved in the incident.
 
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