A man who is "lucky to be alive" after a horrific crash in County Durham has thanked firefighters who helped save his life.
Robbie Franklin, 22, was involved in a serious road traffic collision on May 25 this year on Stockton Road, Sedgefield. County Durham and Darlington Fire and Rescue Service's Spennymoor Green Watch and Bishop Auckland Green Watch, attended along with the Special Rescue Unit, also from Bishop Auckland.
Firefighters worked closely with the North East Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust 's HART Team, Durham Constabulary 's Road Policing Unit, and Helicopter Emergency Medics to rescue Robbie, in extremely challenging circumstances. The crash left him with extensive injuries, including broken legs, broken fingers, and a head injury.
Robbie, who is now on the road to recovery, contacted the fire crews who rescued him and asked if he could visit Spennymoor Fire Station to meet the firefighters who helped to save his life. During his visit to the station on Wednesday (July 13) Robbie got the chance to meet and thank the crew.
He also spent time with Chief Fire Officer Stuart Errington and was given a tour of the station and shown some of the equipment used to extricate him. Spennymoor Green Watch Manager David Welsh said: "It is not very often that you get closure to incidents we attend.
"The teamwork ethic across all emergency services that morning and specialist rescue capability from our Bishop Auckland crews is a great example of the exceptional work emergency services undertake protecting our communities and saving lives. It is heartwarming to see Robbie making a full recovery and I wish him well for the future."
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