Why we fly
Jack S’s Story
“The efforts of everyone who went to Jack’s rescue was fantastic and he had amazing care. The air ambulance crew were very supportive and put him at his ease. Jack even managed to enjoy the experience of being flown in a helicopter despite being injured!” says Darren.
Schoolboy Jack Simons was airlifted to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham after he was knocked off his bike, dragged under a bus and trapped for over an hour on a busy main road in Leicester.
It took Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance just seven minutes to fly him to the urgent medical care he needed after the bus was lifted off the ground and Jack was freed.
The 12-year-old had sustained a broken left leg and, luckily, no other injuries despite his horrific ordeal.
His Dad Darren says: “When my son needed help the local air ambulance was there for him. It could have been a life or death situation but thankfully it wasn’t and he was lucky that his injuries weren’t more serious.”
“I was aware of the air ambulance – I had seen it flying overhead – but until something like this happens you don’t fully understand or appreciate the service they provide with no government funding. For this reason I will be supporting them in the future.”
After an overnight stay in hospital Jack was discharged and had a week off school. It took three months for his leg to fully recover and for him to play sport again.
His classmates at The Lancaster Academy in Leicester were so upset by what happened to Jack that they organised a charity event to buy him a replacement bike and raise funds for DLRAA.
Jack’s football team, which is run by his Dad, also plans to support the charity.
“The efforts of everyone who went to Jack’s rescue was fantastic and he had amazing care. The air ambulance crew were very supportive and put him at his ease. Jack even managed to enjoy the experience of being flown in a helicopter despite being injured!” says Darren.