A Belfast man has thanked the air ambulance for saving his life after a motorbike crash when he sustained major injuries.
On August 4, 2018, Alan Dowie was travelling on his motorbike near Nutt’s Corner when he was suddenly involved in a crash that changed his life forever.
A car pulled out of a junction and although he tried to avoid it, Alan hit the driver’s side and toppled over the car. His boots stuck on the handlebars of his motorbike and came off with the force of the impact.
A friend who was riding with the 34-year-old witnessed the accident and immediately called 999. Alan’s parents arrived at the scene within minutes and sat with their son while waiting for the emergency services to arrive.
At first Alan, who was still conscious, didn’t appreciate the seriousness of his injuries, but once he began struggling to breathe, he realised the severity of the situation he was in and began to panic.
Given the extensive injuries he had suffered, Air Ambulance Northern Ireland was tasked to the scene. Alan does not remember much about the incident although he does recall the helicopter landing.
The sight of the aircraft frightened him as his friend had previously been involved in a serious incident which the air ambulance had also been tasked to.
Alan’s friend passed away as a result of his injuries so Alan knew if the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) was called to treat him, his injuries must be 'life or limb threatening'.
The motorcyclist suffered from a comprehensive list of injuries - he had fractured his pelvis, both hips, both femurs and both of his tibia bones.
The impact of the collision had also fractured both of his ankles and shattered his heals, fractured both of his collar bones and he fractured several fingers on both of his hands.
The HEMS team performed critical care interventions on the roadside where Alan had landed, before transferring him to the Royal Victoria Hospital for onward treatment.
Alan spent the remainder of August at RVH before being transferred to Musgrave Park Hospital where he remained on and off for six months.
The Belfast man has had several metal plates fitted and spent the first year of his recovery in a wheelchair but is now on two crutches and working with physiotherapists to reduce this to one crutch.
Alan visited the Air Ambulance NI base last week and speaking about this visit, he said: “It was emotional to see the helicopter again but it’s something I needed to do to.
"It was so great to hear from the team and understand exactly what pre-hospital interventions the paramedics and doctors can perform at scene. It is evident that the service is an invaluable asset for the people of Northern Ireland.
"I cannot thank the air ambulance enough for my life saving treatment on that day and I would encourage everyone to do what they can to support the charity.”
The charity Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the HEMS for Northern Ireland.
The service brings urgent medical assistance to anywhere in the province, operating seven days a week for 12 hours per day. It can get to anywhere in NI in approximately 25 minutes. From inception to May 2021 the medical crew have been tasked 2,266 times.
The service was called out on 229 occasions from January to March 2021, an increase of 30% on the previous year and a 73% increase from 2018.
The HEMS team attend patients who are seriously ill or injured, bringing emergency pre-hospital care direct to the casualty with the aim of saving lives, brains and limbs. The charity cherishes connecting with former patients and patient families.
To find out more about helping the charity, visit http://www.airambulanceni.org/.
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