Litton pensioner relives injury ordeal ahead of air ambulance's 40,000 rescue mission

Sue Clark is recovering well at home after breaking her hip while out walking her dog earlier this year.

Sue Clark, 71, who has Parkinson’s Disease, set off from her home in Litton in February. But after a mile and a half, she felt dizzy and fell over. She was in such pain that she couldn’t manage to get on her feet.

Luckily, a couple who were also walking in the countryside came to her rescue as sleet fell and the temperature dropped.

Sue said: “They helped get me to my feet but I couldn’t stand on my own. The young man rang 999 and held me up for over an hour while we waited for help.”

Responders from the ambulance service arrived at Sue’s side but it was obvious that she needed urgent treatment for her injuries and to get to hospital quickly. They requested the assistance of the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland air ambulance to provide additional help.

Within 18 minutes of receiving a call, the helicopter landed in a field next to where Sue had fallen. By now she was “in terrible pain” and very cold. The air ambulance doctor and paramedic administered pain relief and made Sue comfortable for the flight to Northern General Hospital in Sheffield. The flight took nine minutes compared with a bumpy 35-40 minutes by the rural roads.

Sue’s husband, John, said: “If it had not been for the air ambulance Sue could have been in serious trouble. She had broken her hip and was suffering with the onset of hypothermia.”

Three days after an emergency hip replacement operation, Sue was transferred to Chesterfield Royal Hospital for post-operative care.

Sue returned home two weeks after the accident and is recovering well.

She said: “When you live in a very rural community like we do you don’t realise how important the air ambulance is until you need it. I am so grateful that the helicopter was there when I needed help.”

Sue and John hope to run a fundraiser at The Crispin Inn, Great Longstone, to thank the life-saving service which relies on public donations.

The air ambulance will fly its 40,000th mission on June 24. Go to www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk