Hampshire motorcylist, 19, survives brain injury after horror crash
In 2023 alone, the charity brought its life-saving care to 1,842 emergencies, including a Chandler’s Ford teenager who came off his motorbike and hurtled through a barbed wire fence near home last June. Louis Young, aged 19, had broken his femur and sustained a traumatic brain injury. A leg injury from the fence had exposed his blood vessels and nerves and he had lost a lot of blood.
Louis was sedated and given an urgent blood transfusion at the scene. Mum Claire, who has raised almost GBP800 for the charity, said: “The police called me at 6pm.
I was hysterical. It’s the phone call no parent wants. I’ve donated regularly to Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance for many years but felt I needed to do something more, just to say thank you.”
Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance, which has offices in Nursling and an air base at Thruxton, relies entirely on donations to bring life-saving care to seriously ill and injured patients across the region. Last year, missions were up 28 on the previous year, making 2023 the busiest year since before the pandemic. December had the most call-outs (187) for the second year running, and the majority of incidents involved cardiac arrest, road traffic collisions and medical emergencies, such as seizures.
Other cases included falls from height, assaults and sporting incidents. Patients from across the region were taken to hospitals including University Hospital Southampton[2], Portsmouth’s Queen Alexandra Hospital, Isle of Wight’s St. Mary’s Hospital and Basingstoke and North Hampshire Hospital – they even ventured as far as Morriston Hospital, Wales.
CEO, Richard Corbett said: “The patients we have treated in the last year and, indeed, the years before it, have potentially had their lives turned upside down as a result of their illness or injury.
It is only thanks to our incredible supporters who help us raise millions of pounds each year that we are able to play a part in the treatment and recovery of those who need us most.”
To donate, visit hiowaa.org/donate[3]
References
- ^ Tribute to a well-known Southampton saxophonist, cricketer and curry lover (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ Southampton (www.dailyecho.co.uk)
- ^ hiowaa.org/donate (www.hiowaa.org)