Family of Peak District cyclist who lost leg in horror road collision raises funds to thank Air Ambulance

After a Peak District cyclist lost his lower leg in a horrific road crash this summer, a grateful member of his family took on a cycling challenge of her own to raise £3,300 for the charity which helped save his life.
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Jim, 48, was cycling on the road between Hayfield and Chinley with his wife Elizabeth in July when he was involved in a collision with an oncoming motorcyclist who was overtaking a car.

The impact severed his right leg below the knee, he sustained an open fracture of his pelvis and a broken shoulder.

He said: “I was extremely lucky that there were two First Aiders in passing cars and they managed to stem the bleeding.

Jim, sister-in-law Virginia Phillips, and Kerry Wilson of DLRAA.Jim, sister-in-law Virginia Phillips, and Kerry Wilson of DLRAA.
Jim, sister-in-law Virginia Phillips, and Kerry Wilson of DLRAA.

"One of them used his shirt to make a temporary tourniquet. They called 999 immediately and because they knew the serious extent of my injuries did all the right things until the emergency services arrived.”

He remained conscious after he was injured but at one point Jim feared the worst and was saying his last goodbyes to Elizabeth.

He said: "When I think back about what happened that’s the most upsetting thing about the whole scenario, but thankfully I survived.

"Thanks in no small part to the care I received from the air ambulance critical care doctor and paramedic, and of course pilot, and then being airlifted to a major trauma hospital so quickly.”

Jim is in physiotherapy while he waits to receive prosthetic limb.Jim is in physiotherapy while he waits to receive prosthetic limb.
Jim is in physiotherapy while he waits to receive prosthetic limb.

Jim can still recall the sound of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire and Rutland Air Ambulance landing and the crew who worked to treat his injuries.

They had arrived in the nick of time and flew him to Royal Stoke University Hospital within 11 minutes

He said: “Everything about the air ambulance service I received was really professional and slick. I wouldn’t really expect any less, but I did assume that it was funded by the government.

"If the charity didn’t raise enough money to keep the helicopters flying then it wouldn’t have been there for me and it won’t be there in the future to make a huge difference to other people’s lives.”

Three days after he was admitted to hospital Jim underwent major surgery on his leg and pelvis.

He was told to expect it to take up to eight weeks before he was well enough to go home but surprised doctors by being well enough to be discharged after just 13 days.

Since the accident, Jim has been undergoing physiotherapy sessions twice a week and is now waiting for the swelling in his leg to go down so he can have a prosthetic limb fitted below his knee.

Having learned of DLRAA’s reliance on charitable donations, Jim’s friends and family rallied around to show their gratitude.

The bulk of the work was done by his sister-in-law, Virginia Phillips from Hampshire, who completed a 300-mile cycle ride in three days to raise money.

She said: “In the back of my mind I knew I was raising funds for a worthy cause, and the generous donations kept me pushing those pedals.”

Jim and his wife donated a further £100, taking the final total up to £3,400 – the cost of two lifesaving missions.

He said: “I want to share my story because I think it is important to get it out there exactly what a difference the local air ambulance makes in emergency situations.

"We all expect it to be there when we need it but unless people make donations and fundraise for the charity it won’t be.”

DLRAA fundraising executive Kerry Wilson said: “We’d like to say a huge thank you to Virginia for her fantastic fundraising efforts – it’s an amazing distance to cycle and a great amount raised for our vital charity.

“The money raised will help our service to continue saving lives like Jim’s in the local community and further afield, and we can’t thank her enough.”

To find out how you can support DLRAA, visit www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk or call 0300 3045999.

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