Why we fly
Kevin S Story
I’ve decided to give something back as I want to say thank you for what the local air ambulance did for me. I wouldn’t be here without them
Kevin Snodgrass (69) was airlifted by Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance after he fell onto a hard concrete surface, was knocked unconscious and broke his pelvis, 19 ribs and three bones in his back.
He was shutting the lids on top of his tanker after filling it with hydrated lime at Hindlow Quarry when he plunged four metres to the ground.
“I don’t remember anything after being on top of the tanker. I lost four days of my life but I am still here, still waking up every morning and I know it’s because of the air ambulance. My surgeon said I wouldn’t be alive if it wasn’t for them,” he says.
The air ambulance doctor and critical care paramedic who attended the scene of the accident – in August last year – sedated Kevin before he was flown to The Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. The flight took just 11 minutes.
During his 18 day stay in hospital, Kevin decided he wanted to organise an event to raise funds for the local air ambulance, which receives no government funding and relies totally on donations to remain operational.
He has become a volunteer and is looking forward to fundraising for the charity as soon as Covid-19 restrictions allow.
It has been very frustrating for Kevin not to be able to fully immerse himself in organising events and collections for the local air ambulance because of the pandemic but he is hoping to get much more involved in the future.
He says: “I’ve decided to give something back as I want to say thank you for what the local air ambulance did for me. I wouldn’t be here without them.
“Before my accident I had seen the air ambulance a few times, but I never expected to be airlifted myself. I really appreciate the wonderful job they do. Unlike the ambulance and fire services they receive no funding so if people don’t support the charity the helicopters will not keep flying lifesaving missions.”