Charlie’s Story

I’ll always be thankful to The Air Ambulance team for the speed and skill that gave Charlie the care he needed when it mattered most.

Emma, Charlie's Mum

Charlie Alan Dexter is a bright and energetic 10-year-old who loves spending time with his family. But life changed dramatically for Charlie and his loved ones on 12 February 2025.

Charlie, just 9 at the time, was walking home from school along his usual short route when he was hit by a car when crossing the road outside his home.

Inside the house, his dad Paul and his Nana heard a loud bang at the door and rushed out to see what had happened. To their horror, they saw Charlie lying in the middle of the road. Multiple bystanders had already called an ambulance and it arrived within a matter of minutes.

Charlie was breathing, but he was found unresponsive at the scene.

Due to the severity of his injuries, the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) was dispatched. The crew landed in a park behind Charlie’s home, where Dr Jake Turner and Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) Sam Cooper hurried over to help. They made the decision to sedate Charlie to reduce stress on his brain and prevent further damage.

Charlie’s mum, Emma, said: “Without Dr Jake Turner and CCP Sam Cooper, I don’t think Charlie would be here. I honestly believe they saved Charlie’s life with how quick they acted.”

Due to poor visibility, Charlie was transferred by road to Queen’s Medical Centre, with Emma by his side in the ambulance and Paul following closely in a police car.

Charlie’s injuries were severe: a fracture to the back of his skull, multiple bleeds within the brain, damage to both the left and right lobes, bruising and swelling, and a fracture in his lower leg. He needed surgery to drain fluid from his brain.

Charlie spent two weeks in an induced coma. When he first woke, the family were relieved but then came another battle. He rapidly developed a chest infection, which progressed to sepsis, requiring him to be re-intubated.

Against all odds, Charlie woke up again. From there, he faced a long road to recovery. On the rehabilitation ward, he had to learn how to sit up, walk, talk, eat, and speak all over again.

Today, Charlie is back home with Emma, Paul, his little brother George, and identical twin sisters Paige and Peyton. He is still recovering from the effects of his brain injury, but his family and friends are overjoyed to have him home.

Emma shared: “I knew he’d be okay, I knew he’d be safe – they knew exactly what to do. I’ll always be thankful to The Air Ambulance team for the speed and skill that gave Charlie the care he needed when it mattered most.”

“Since then, our family and Charlie’s school have held fundraisers and donated to the charity to give something back. Knowing that they receive no government funding and rely entirely on donations to carry out their lifesaving work makes it even more important to support them. It’s our way of saying thank you for everything they did for Charlie.”