Why we fly

Georgina’s Story

I want to do something to help raise awareness of the lifesaving work of the local air ambulance which is why I am sharing my patient story. I work with disabled people every day and I know that had I not been flown to hospital and been treated quickly my life now could be very different.

Georgina

Working with disabled people has made Leicester charity worker Georgina Riggall very aware of the daily challenges many face as a result of their disabilities.

So she appreciates how different her life could be had she not been airlifted to a specialist trauma hospital by Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance when she was badly injured in a car accident.

That’s why Georgina (25) is urging local people to support our charity, which receives no government funding and relies totally on public donations to remain operational.

“I am very grateful to the local air ambulance for the speed they flew me to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham where I was treated by specialist surgeons. Things could have been very different if that didn’t happen,” she says.

Georgina was working as a carer, visiting clients in their homes in Northamptonshire when she was involved in a collision whilst driving.

“I don’t remember anything before waking up behind the wheel of the car. I got myself out and lay down on the grass verge. The land ambulance arrived and I was assessed by two paramedics but due to the seriousness of my injuries it was decided to fly me to hospital,” she says.

Georgina, who now works for the Leicester charity Mosaic Shaping Disability Services, sustained a perforated bowel, broken sternum and deep cut on her hip. She underwent an emergency operation to repair her bowel and was an in-patient at QMC for eight days.

It was several weeks before she could walk properly and return to work and she is now enjoying her new job much closer to home.