The UK's air ambulances respond to thousands of emergencies every year. Airbnb. >> Highly skilled doctors, paramedics, and pilots. >> I've got a horrible feeling I'm going to get covered in clarity here. >> Race against the clock to save lives. >> At the moment, Steve, we're first there. >> Unique teams. And that road is the danger area. Does that mean we're going to get shot at? Probably. >> Delivering specialist care. A lot of intrusion on that side, Joe. >> From the roadside to the hospital. >> My bit unseen. >> These are their stories. >> Let them through. >> He's still hosing. So, I'm going to have to do something to it to get the bleeding to stop. Okay. >> I still don't have a road name ever. >> All clear and shocking. >> I'm not going anywhere. I promise. Not going anywhere at all. >> Slowly breathing down. That's a big old explosion. >> Just getting you off to sleep now, Susan. You're doing fantastic. All right. Bushi's in your hands. So, just loading the tube up on it now. >> Can you just get the task team at the theater ready? >> 63 James [ __ ] over. >> Unfortunately, you've missed the inflight meal. [laughter] Durham Tease Valley Airport, operational [music] headquarters of the Great North Air Ambulance. Their pilot, doctor, and paramedic teams have been saving lives for over 20 years. We know that every time we get on the aircraft, uh, we could be on our way to treat someone who may not make it. If you and the team are the only chance they've got, it is about pulling out all the stops, digging deep, and just getting the job done. Having to push yourself to the limit to try and save someone is one of the things that makes me love my job. I've known Dion for around 15 years. Dion as a doctor is um very very committed uh and very driven to really deliver the best trauma care he can. >> He's not the type of person to give up. >> Mind you, at the minute Dion's on a crash diet, so we'll see if he can stick to that. >> I can't believe how strained I'm actually being on this. >> I can't three. What? >> This is This is week coming up to week three. >> I don't think Dion's main primary reason for his diet is anything to do with health. I think it's more vanity and his wife's instruction. He'll be getting out the water to warn you in these little budgies. >> Getting out the water like this. >> Daniel. >> Yeah. [laughter] One's coming. Hello mate. How are you? Good. Okay. Bleeding spurting out artery and groin. I think we'll go to this one. Helmed 63 is needed urgently in a small village 20 mi northwest in County Durham. >> I've got a horrible feeling I'm going to get covered in claris here. Major arterial bleeds are a nightmare to deal with. They can spray up in your face, get in your eyes. >> You can't see what's going on to deal with the injury. >> Is it just northwest of Bishop? Is it >> northwest of Bishop? Yeah. know how this has happened or >> I think he's a pedestrian hit by a car. >> All right. >> The average person has 5 L of blood in their body. If you damage a big artery, you can bleed to death in minutes. >> 3 minutes are on. Okay. I'll tell you where to go. Uh 9:00 low now. See the See that big square green field? >> Yeah. There's a telegraph pole halfway along the fence line. >> Yes. >> But you're happy. >> Yeah. Go in there, mate. We expected to be attending to an injured pedestrian, but what we were faced with was something very different. >> Has he been hit by a car? >> No, he's heroin us. Yeah, injected bomb direct pressure on over 20 minutes. So, >> okay. >> It's too hard to try and get a toilet feel. I haven't actually seen the wound. >> Have you still got it covered up? >> Still got it covered up. We'll just crush you again. >> Excuse me. >> Hello. Hello, sir. >> What up? >> My name's Dion. I'm one of the doctors. What's your name? >> Shane, are you normally fit and well? >> Do you take medicines for anything? >> Right. Anything else? >> No. >> Okay. >> My leg is hurt. Really hurt. >> Do you know him? >> It's my son. >> It's your son. Okay. >> When Shane's artery burst, he was actually driving his mom. >> 37. Well done, sweet. >> Fortunately for Shane, his mom was a nurse. >> She was really able to take control of the situation, put direct pressure on the bleed, and flag down some extra help. When was the last time you've injected into that groin? >> Yes. >> Two days. >> Two days. Okay, fine. >> The Shane's previously injected in his groin. That's caused a weakness in the artery and that's what's burst. >> It's going to sting a minute because to sort it out, I'm going to have to do something to it to get the bleeding to stop. Okay. Um I'm going to take the towel away and we're going to pack the wound. Have you got a hole there? Is there an actual hole or is it just bleeding? The femoral artery is the second biggest in the body and provides the main blood supply to the leg. >> Without help, Shane will very quickly die. >> What I need you guys to do is put pressure on like on the top of his leg below where it is. >> Just one of you. Just one of your hand nice and firm like about there. Okay. Where was it? We spraying that. >> Right. That's fine. I'll stay up here because I don't want to get sprayed obviously. So, I'll come your side if I can. Right. Shane, listen to us. When I do this, don't reach down. Okay. Don't get your hands in the way. All right. >> We're going to have a minute of bleeding. Okay. Right, guys. >> You ready? >> Yeah. >> No. Okay. >> Yeah, that's arterial for >> Okay. Don't worry. That's spawn. Can you just keep pressure on there? You doing well? >> Yeah. I'll try to force down as well. >> Dion packs the wound with a dressing developed for battlefield injuries in Afghanistan. >> Shane, you all right? Good man. >> Containing a compound derived from shellfish. It clots blood on contact. >> That's the best I can do. Shane, lift your left knee. >> Lift it. This one. This one. >> Oh, come on. >> I tell you what. Come on now. >> Yeah. >> Right. Okay. Fine, Shane. Right. Listen to us. This is still bleeding. Okay. What you've done, you've burst the artery in your leg at the top of your leg. Okay? You're going to need an operation for this to fix it. Okay? Now, to stop it bleeding, we're going to have to keep pressure on this all the way to the hospital. All right. Until you get into theater. Okay. So, it's going to be a bit uncomfy, I'm afraid. >> I hadn't considered Shane losing his leg. >> I was more worried about Shane losing his life. call it. You ready to take a pre-alert? >> Yeah, Roger. Go ahead, mate. >> We've got partial vascular control not full. Um, so >> still hosing. Uh, can you just get them to get the vascular team ready? >> What do you do? >> We haven't got control of this. >> No. Does it not just do something from the bandage? >> No, I don't think so. There's going to be 15 minutes in the back of the air without being able to get on top of him. >> We'll manage between us. It's fine. We don't have another choice. >> Just do a cut down now. [ __ ] It'll be an absolute blood bath cuz I can't cuz I can't get proximal control without opening his abdomen. I can't do that with him awake. So, if I try that [ __ ] he's still on. I know. >> Shane's veins have collapsed and Dion can't get a line in to sedate him. An emergency operation to clamp the artery isn't possible. We were getting concerned that Shane might bleed to death. >> The only option is to get him to hospital as soon as possible. >> Yeah. Okay. Swing. Oh [ __ ] >> I'm losing control. >> Hi Cole. It's just me from the back. Just let James Cook know we've lost vascular control. Uh we're free bleeding. >> Roger. >> It's important that the trauma team at the Middlesborough Hospital know exactly what to expect when Shane arrives. >> How long have we got? >> We've got 3 minutes to run. until he gets the surgery. Dion's fist pressed tightly into the wound is all that's keeping him alive. >> Do you want to swap? >> I don't care. >> Okay, stay as you are then. Nearly there, Shane. All right. London on. Yes, mate. Often the temptation's there to rush into hospital when you arrive. >> Great. Cuz we're about ready to go. >> Okay. >> All right. >> Lots of hands. >> Halfway. >> You have to stay slow and controlled. >> You've got the patient's life in your hands. >> Okay. >> We're ready. Okay. Ready. >> This is going to be quite tricky. I've got pressure on. >> You all right there, Dion? >> I'm okay. Hang on. >> Right. I've got the bomb. >> Do you want to get out? >> No. I'm going to follow him out. I'm going to jump out as we go. >> Ready, brace, slide. Oh [ __ ] >> Slowly. >> I've got him. Yeah. Okay. Good. >> Okay. Yeah. All the way. >> I'm down. >> Okay. Oh, that's all right. Right. Guys, can we walk down nice and slow, please? >> Okay, Shane. You've done well, mate. Well done. >> Right, guys. Higher. >> Right. Priorities. Can someone put a line in this gentleman's left neck? >> Shane's lost more than half his blood volume. >> Keep your head still. Ch. >> Getting a line in means he can begin receiving the transfusion he desperately needs. >> Um, >> I'll take all that if you want. >> Uh, I don't want to move actually. Right. Um, heavy arterial bleed. He's got almost certainly got a femoral aneurysm that's gone. >> Um, we've really struggled to get vascular control. We've got control as long as I've got my fist on it. If I take my pressure off, even the slightest, not even full off, it just hoses right all over the place. He's got lots of pain because the police have been kneeling on him for half an hour on this groin to try and get it stopped. So, can we give him a bit of cat as well? >> Yeah. Here's the pad. Put the pad where my hand's going to be. And you need to follow it with your right fist. Are you ready? >> With one of the surgical [music] team able to take over, Dion can finally free his hands. >> That's it. Good. >> Okay. >> Jesus Christ. Can't move my hand. >> What happens next for Shane will be determined in the operating theater. >> The surgeons will cut open his groin to get access to that bleeding [music] vessel. If they can repair it, they will do. If it's too damaged, may just have to tie it off and just hope there's enough blood flow to save his leg. This was one of the more memorable jobs over the years that I've done with Andy. >> Six week clearing. >> It's not often you go to patients who haven't really injured themselves but have got such a severe life-threatening condition. I didn't think we made that much mess. >> Oh god, Keith's having a proper clean. It looks like Oh dear. >> We waited long enough in resource just to make sure everything was done. >> I wouldn't expect anything less. That's part of medical training, isn't it? >> Absolutely. >> I'm sure Shane's mom wasn't expecting him to suddenly almost bleed to death. >> But nevertheless, she knew what [music] to do and she saved him. I think it's invaluable for people to have some degree of first aid training. Hey everyone, thank you. That's us clear and is lifted from Ipsswitch heading back to Norwich. >> 200 miles south in East Anglia. Paramedic Rod Wells and the crew of East Anglian Air Ambulances Helmed 85 are returning to their base in Norwich after a busy start to the day. for 3 miles to the north station. >> Some days are very very hectic and you can go straight out from the very start, get to a call once you're available again, straight on the bounce to another call and then yet another call and that seems to just go on throughout the whole day. >> Full details when you're ready. >> Yeah, roger. Go ahead. fallen query compromised >> anchor injury. >> But the team aren't getting back to base anytime soon. They're being diverted to Harrave, a small village in a remote rural location. >> Head shortly. >> Yeah. 20 mi, mate. 10 minutes. >> A pensioner has fallen and badly injured her ankle. We're worried about this patient because a fractured ankle can lead to poor blood supply to the foot. It's crucial that we get there as quickly as we can so that we can reduce the the dislocation, put the fracture back into place. >> Okay, 3 minutes to run. >> If we don't act quickly, that could lead to an amputation. >> Okay, they've got the two sets of trees. Got the village to the south side. My money's on those white faced houses you can see just in the dip. >> Yeah. With the bright green fields. >> Yeah. From that behind. >> Yeah. My money's there. >> Okay. >> In rural locations like this, we sometimes need the help of locals to show us the way in >> one. Go ahead. >> Angly one. We're overhead grid several houses. Can you actually get something from out of wave, please? >> There's nobody available at all. We have to make an educated guess. We can't stay in the air forever. >> Well, I suppose there comes a point where we're just going to have to to land, isn't it? >> Yeah, it's good on the tower. >> Underneath is good. And let's get this side alpha. Angry one is on the ground. Beware of the dog. Let's get out of here quick. I'll be here then. >> Hello. Hello. >> Hello. >> You have a look at this, Jeremy. You want to put it back in? >> Yeah, we will. >> Pop bag in. >> Unfortunately, broken bones can have life-changing consequences. >> Hi, guys. Any chance we can have the beniccast [music] bag if you could possibly please. >> It's certainly possible that severe fracture can mean that the patient won't be able to walk properly again. >> What happened? on there. >> I fell over on there. Okay. >> I don't know. >> How? >> Obviously, you've hurt your ankle. Did you hurt anywhere else? >> No, just the other foot. >> Just the ankle. >> And your other foot as well. >> The sooner we can get her ankle back into place, that will help the blood supply. Uh, and that will hopefully help her recovery. Can >> I have your arm done? Thank you. >> Well, you got a strong old grip there. Bonnie. >> Yes. >> Um, I do have a bit of a problem. >> I need to cut them jeans. Is that all right, >> darling? You could do that. >> You sure? Okay. Thank you. A bit of cast on here. You see? >> So, we don't want the cast. I just need my hand back for a second. >> You're quite safe. I've got nipples on. >> Oh, thank God for that. >> Bonnie is reasonably relaxed on the gas and air. Uh, but it's certainly not going to be enough to help her with the pain of having her ankle put back into the right place. >> I would have put my makeup on if I known. >> I just thought we can do it. >> Fortunately, we do carry very strong painkillers, including ketamine, which will help in just this sort of situation. >> It hurts like hell. >> Well, once we get that back to normal. All right. You keep sucking on that gas for me. [music] Okay. We're going to pull pull her pull her leg on ketamine sedation. We can monitor CO2 better way. >> I'm sorry. I'm such a wimp. >> We ain't got a cough, have we? Not whey yet. >> No, it's quite nice though. >> Quite a nice feeling, is it? >> But I do prefer port and brandy. >> Oh, so do I. >> Yeah. >> So, Bonnie, what we're going to do, this is the cast. All right. I'm going to straighten your leg and hope to put that back into a normal shape. >> It'll feel a little better once they put it back in the right place. Okay. Nice and slow. Not too fast. That is it. Concentrate on your breathing. Concentrate on the breathing. >> There you go. That's >> in there. That's Bonnie. >> Bonnie wor. Bonnie. >> The most helpful effects of ketamine for Bonnie other than the pain relief is she'll never be able to remember pulling out her leg. >> If you can try and hold it in inversion with with a cast on. >> Okay. Like that. Yeah. How far um is the >> West Africa? >> West Africa. >> Yeah. >> 10 mile. >> It's not far away, is it? >> We got a BP of 230 over 119. Yeah. >> With Bonnie stable and under sedation, the team decide to take her to the nearest hospital by land ambulance. >> Only a 20-minute drive away. >> Brakes on. I >> think it's nasty little break. she's got in the ankle. >> So, they will give me an anesthetic and then they will mend the foot. >> I think you'll have a bit of metal work in your ankle. Yes. But exactly what will depend on what the X-ray shows. >> Jeremy and Rod are traveling with Bonnie as patients on ketamine can sometimes suffer adverse reactions. In Bonnie's case, it just makes her very chatty. I was the first woman in command in Staffordshire. >> In Staffordshire, that was where a lot of the pioneering trauma stuff was done, wasn't it? >> Yes. Bonnie's uh full of life. She had a particularly nasty injury and it can probably take her a long time to get over this. I hope I really hope she gets back to fighting fit soon. >> Bonnie will now head to X-ray and may require extensive surgery to repair her damaged ankle. RAF Benson in Oxfordshire, home to four squadrons of Air Force helicopters and the Temp's Valley Air Ambulance. On duty today, paramedic Lisa Brown and Dr. Monagit Chowry. We talk about the golden hour in trauma. >> So we're keeping the blood here or >> and that is where we come into play. By bringing the helicopter into picture, we can be by the side of the patient within a very short period of time. Then very quickly manage and [music] transfer the patient to the most definitive care. Element 24, go ahead with details over. >> The team have been requested in High Wickham where a child has been knocked down by a car. >> Yeah, we'll do that story. Thank you. >> You have to deal with children in a very different way to an adult. You have to ensure you've gained their trust as good >> because they're still very very frightened. They probably won't be able to comprehend the situation. >> Yeah, I just thank you for just an ETA of 1735. 1735 in the overhead. And I just wonder what resources you've got in case we can't land close by. The highwickham is notorious for problematic landing sites of her. >> If the team have to land some distance from the incident, they may need police help to get them there. >> The laser, what was the clinical update? 9year-old hit by >> uh I didn't hear I think it was car. I think there was an offduty paramedic on scene. Said the child was conscious but very uh in and out. >> Right. Losing consciousness is a sign that the brain has been hit. Unfortunately, most of the cases that we go to where the patient has had a rotic accident, it is the head which has sustained most of the injuries. No, it's not. Got three coppers on the corner. Yeah. Okay. Got it. >> Yeah. The road's closed there. Yeah. Visual. >> Right. The nearest point for us to land. It's either It's either that school or that field. >> Well, the field just below your two 2:00 now. There's a path there. >> Yeah. We'll get in there. >> Yeah. You good [music] my side? Monager, can you find out where we are, please? >> It says Hithercraft Road. >> Heather Cross Road. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> 24. Go ahead. >> Thank you. I just let you know we've landed uh at Heater Cross Road. There's a field just off of Heita Crossroad. >> Guided by their radio controller, Lisa and Monet begin to walk to the scene. >> Helmet 24, thank you. We're on foot. We're not quite sure where we're heading, but we are just outside the gates of the school. Um, I will get you a clearer road name in a moment over there's a main road down here. >> Um, shall I continue working uh on a police lift or are you happy to continue on over? >> Yeah, Roger. We're happy to keep going. Uh, as long as we go the right direction. I still don't have a road name. >> The pastures. >> Oh, is it? Yeah. Apparently, we're on the pastures. When we approached the scene, one of the things that caught my attention was the number of resources, which then made me wonder, was there more than what we knew about? >> There were three children knocked over by this car. >> Oh, really? Yeah. >> To be told that there's potentially three children injured, it does give you a horrible sinking feeling in your stomach. The three boys have run out in front of a slowmoving car >> and a child in there with a GCS of 13 was hit in the front. Um, this child sitting over here, he was hit by the side and then a third child was hit sort of at the back. >> It was a shock to see there were actually three children hit by the car rather than just one. >> Who's mom here? Here. Hello. There's mom there. >> Is that mother? Yeah. Hi. >> Of the three children, Arian had the most significant injuries. >> So he he was the one was head on, was he? >> Apparently. Yes. >> And the car was uh what kind of a speed was it going? >> The car was going very slow. But as a result of that impact, Arian was unfortunately thrown onto the road. >> Do you know where you are? >> No. Yes. Can you squeeze my finger? Good man. Good man. Okay. >> He could have had severe bleed in his head. He could have bled into his chest. >> Take a deep breath. and he could have life-threatening injuries. >> Where is the pain at the moment? Mom's right here. Mom's right beside me. Okay. Mom's right beside you. >> Where is the pain right now? >> Does your chest hurt? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. Does your tummy hurt? >> No. >> No. Okay. >> How old are you? >> What about your hips? Does that hurt? >> My mommy just >> Mom's here. arms right here for me. >> With a head injury, there is a high suspicion of neck trauma. So, it's very important to ensure that the neck is kept in an inline position. >> And let's get this horrible collar off your neck, shall we? >> Yeah, cuz it's not very nice, is it? But you've got to do me a favor, though. You've got to stay nice and still while I do that. Can you do that for me? >> The collars in children sometimes can feel a little bit restrictive. So, it was decided at that point that the collar was going to be removed. >> This is a little game. See? Stay. See how still you can stay? Like musical statues. Have you done that before? To keep your head nice and still. >> We were going to use head blocks to obviously ensure that we didn't move that head any more than necessary. >> All right. You were such a brave boy. >> Not very nice, is it? >> Keep it still. Keep your head still. >> Well done. >> While Lisa looks after Arian, Monet checks on the other children. >> I've just assessed his head and neck at the moment. There's no neurological deficit. Doesn't sound like he was knocked to the ground. >> He's got quite a superficial graze here. >> So, I'm just going to take them to the vehicle and have a good look at them both. >> Okay, fine. >> No, no concerns at the moment. >> Okay. You happy at the moment? >> I'm happy to deal with them. >> Okay, cool. Let me let me know if you need any further help. >> In the ambulance, Arian's dad has just arrived. >> Look, there's daddy. There's daddy. Even give daddy a smile. Give daddy a smile to let him know you're okay. See, he's just a little bit worried about you, sweetheart. It's okay. Going to hold daddy's hand. Hold daddy's hand. Okay. Here we go, sweetheart. Okay. >> Hey, what' you say, darling? >> Sweet. Could you bump your head, darling? We're just going to take you to see some doctors at the hospital. Okay. >> You okay to come with me? >> Yeah. >> Yeah. With children and head injuries, it's quite common for them to decline quickly. >> I had a little boy like this the other day and it wasn't good. >> He's too quiet, too drowsy. >> We want to get him to the major trauma center which is a John Radcliffe in Oxford. And the reason for that is because they've got the neuro team and they've also got pediatric intensive care department. >> I think we need to go and get you up to the hospital, don't we? And go and let a doctor look at your head and make sure you're okay. Yeah. there. So, there is an advantage to going by road because it enables mom to come with us and if things were to change on the way, it means that we could do a lot more interventions on route if need be. >> Oh, Arian, just your head. Keep your head still, Arian. Listen. Listen. Keep your head still. Cuz every time you move, >> listen. It's all right. Well done. >> There we go. When you move your head, sweetheart, you're catching it on the side. I know you don't want to do that cuz that's what's making it feel quite sore. All right. Can you feel mommy's hand touching your arm? Can you feel your mommy's hand touching your arm? Yeah. Well done. >> It's very important to ensure that you are honest with the parents, especially if you've got your own concerns or suspicions that things may happen. >> When they have any sort of trauma, the first thing that children want to do is go to sleep. >> But the problem is because he has bumped his head, we need to make sure that it's not a result of the fact he has bumped his head. So that's why we're keeping him awake and I just want to keep an eye on him. >> So one of the things that we tend to do when we gauge a level of consciousness is can the patient respond to us back. Open your eyes. Open your eyes really wide. I'm going to keep pressing your shoulders to you. Open your eyes nice and wide. Well done. Well done. I know it's uncomfortable. >> Now with children it is very very difficult to get them to do certain things. But one of the things you can normally do from child is get them to talk to you. >> So have you had a nice summer holiday so far? I don't want him to I don't think he's gone. He's not verbalizing now. So, his GCS has decreased now. He's not verbalizing anymore. >> Arian was very sleepy. [music] He was quite dosile, which was a concern. One of the things obviously was going through my mind was, you know, was there a bleed on the brain? >> Open your eyes really wide. >> Really? >> Come on. Open your eyes. Good boy. >> Arian, open your eyes nice and wide. Well done. Is that being a bit sore? Are you not looking at me, Arian? >> Is that Arianne? >> I sincerely felt for Arian's mom. Being a mother myself as well, obviously I find these incidents can be very, very difficult. >> Arianne, open your eyes nice and wide. Well done. We're at hospital now. Okay. >> Right. Let's go inside, shall we? The neuro team will now run a series of tests to determine the full extent of Arian's injuries. >> When you are treating and looking after children, it does hit home and especially you've got your own family. >> Well done, sweetheart. Done really well. >> One of the things I [music] would tend to do is get home and the first thing I do is I give my child a big hug. Waving in the green fuel. We got just over 55 >> Languby in Cumbria, >> home to the Great North Air Ambulance's second aircraft, Helmed 58. >> Her crew can be called out at a moment's notice. >> So 850, >> so meal times are never guaranteed. sausage, uh, bacon, and egg sandwiches. The shifts are 12 hours long, and yeah, you never know when you're going to eat because you never know when you're going to go on a job. So, you like something you can cook quickly, eat quickly, or if you can't eat it, you can take it with you. Hi mate. Got a job for you? >> A call's coming in from the T-side air desk. >> Yeah, it's a confirmed ST elevation. MI >> Okay. Okay. >> It's a heart attack. >> Okay, no problem. >> The team are on their way to a nearby village where an elderly woman has suddenly been taken ill. Sex please John. Okay. I hops is green kit are all present. Heating heating's off. FCL's uh fuel we got 75 minutes and where's the task? >> Oh, which is about 5 minutes. What you mean? >> Okay. So, we got enough gas to go where we need to go to. >> Okay. Carile probably. >> John Ferris has been a doctor for 13 years and has flown with air ambulances all over the country. It has been since I was a child really that I've wanted to to do this job as an air ambulance doctor. It's privileged to wear the orange suit really. Every time you put it on for a shift, you do wonder who you're going to meet and what you're going to do. Um yeah, there's an element of excitement. Uh flight lifting from base at 1 1223 on route 2 in. >> A heart attack happens when one of the arteries carrying oxygen rich blood to the heart is blocked. If you can't restore the blood flow to the heart muscle, then that heart muscle very quickly starts to die. >> Probably looking at the southern end of this uh village. Um it does look surrounded by trees at the moment. >> Right. I'll keep it high so we can see through the trees and between the buildings. Once we get ID on an ambulance the ambulance. >> Okay. Well, what are we going then? >> There's a real time pressure around trying to treat a heart attack victim. Um there's complications that can happen very rapidly that will lead to death if not treated. >> Got a kind of a football pitch just beyond these uh here buildings here. So next to the road. Uh but then you got a little river and only a small path. That's kind of isn't it? >> Yeah. >> We want a landing site that's as close to the patient as possible. >> Well, just to side the buildings there a flat field but very buggy. But you need somewhere that's big enough and firm enough to take the aircraft weight. And in Colombia that can be difficult. Anywhere that's flat tend to be boggy. With Helmed 58 unable to land close by, the team will have to come up with another plan if they're to get to the patient in time. >> That field behind the buildings now is a bit too steep for slowwise. >> The clock's ticking. Anything in the back, John? You can see >> once you've gone around there just in your sort of 7:00 that field at the back, there is a gate out and the higher higher field doesn't look too muddy. >> Unfortunately, the field is some distance from the scene. The land ambulance will have to bring the patient to them. >> Okay. Well, I'm not with that field, mate, with a gate just now to the uh to the left hand side. Yeah. Upper field. I'll park on this little ray just as me. It's not in low ground. >> Just check the carriage, please. Janking a little bit. >> You look good and stable. >> Okay, good. >> Let's go and say hello and see what the story is. Hello my love. My name's John. I'm one of the doctors. Is it Dorothy? How old are you, Dorothy? >> 70. >> 73 next week. >> 73. Okay. Um right. Do you know what's happening? >> Yes. >> So, we're just a little bit worried that some of the tracings on this um heart tracing may may indicate a heart attack. Okay. Have you had a heart attack before at all? >> Very slightly. >> Have you in the past? Do you suffer with angina? No, >> not at all. And do you normally get pains like this or is this a brand new problem? >> It's a brand new problem. >> Okay. The electrical tracing showed there was some abnormality. The segments of electricity rising are a manifestation of poor blood flow. And have you been unwell the last few days at all in any way? >> Come on. >> Okay. >> And other than the heart attack in the past, you have any other medical problems? >> Um, arthritis. >> Arthritis. Yeah. Okay. We look a bit pale, don't we? Yeah, we got >> blood pressure is probably a bit on the low side for this lady, isn't it? I wonder whether it's anemia induced. >> Do you find people who have anemia and low hemoglobin levels are at risk of having a heart attack because they're less able to carry oxygen around the body? >> Okay. Have you been in a helicopter before? >> No. >> You've won your first trip. Not ideal circumstances, but we'll make the best of it. Hey, Dorothy seemed quite upbeat and chatty, but but that doesn't reassure me. to heart tracing had some quite worrying changes on it. This is a time critical problem that needs to be in a specialist heart attack center. >> On lift then ready race and lift. >> Lift. That's it. >> Are we happy? >> Happy. >> Yeah. Okay. Straight arms. >> The specialist heart center in Carlilele is 45 minutes away by road. The helicopter can get there in under 15. >> One, two, three, up. >> That's it. [music] >> Once we got feet on, pause. >> Reposition your hands. You come up for this. That's it. >> Ready to slide in. >> One, two, three, and slide. >> Beautiful. >> Well done. >> Bit of a clip for your finger. That just looks at your oxygen levels. >> Okay. So, this is going to get noisy. It's going to get shaky. Completely normal. putting the headphones on you so it doesn't hurt your ears. All right, my love's just a little bit on the low side. >> Yeah. Oh, in Yes, mate. Have a little bit of heat, mate. Please come. Might just pop a bit of oxygen on. You >> okay? Look. Yes, >> you're doing really well. >> How's that pain? >> Just about the same. >> Okay. >> Are you feeling sick or do you feel okay? >> No, I'm all right at the moment. >> So, uh, dropping oxygen levels are a worry. >> Your oxygen levels are just a little bit low. So, if it's okay, we're just going to put a little mask on your face and give you some oxygen. Is that okay? Okay. Yeah, >> we know that the heart's already deprived of oxygen. We certainly don't want it to drop any further. >> Just going to pop that one over. You'll still be able to talk to me. >> Lovely. Well done. >> If it does, there's potential for the heart to go into an abnormal rhythm or stop. Then we'll be dealing with a cardiac arrest. Green, brakes on, steps open. >> Okay, man. Look, we're just coming into land. Okay. Might just be a little bit bumpy for a minute. Okay. >> My brake. Yeah, just cuz of the speeds going through, that's all. >> Yep. Be prepared for that wind to drop off. Just get in the middle of the fan. Thank you, mate. Pleasure. My job. Bye. >> So, that's uh two free landing. >> As we waited for a transfer from the helipad, we had time for a quick chat with Dorothy. >> Where do your family live? >> Two nephews. One lives in Ke, one lives. >> Okay. >> And then this sister at home, I think. >> Okay. Do they do they know? But you were coming up to Carlile. >> Um >> yeah, they were going to >> where they lovely. We'll check when we get in. All right. >> It's good to know that Dorothy's got family around her. It can be quite upsetting actually to know that there are quite a few elderly patients who go through this whole experience on their own without any support from anybody at all. >> Ready, brace, slide. >> Lovely. Well done, guys. I think it'd be wrong to say that you don't think about patients afterwards. We're we're only human [music] and actually having the personal touch and actually caring for that person is an really important part of what we do. >> Charlie, go ahead. >> Charlie Lima helmed 58. We've just landed at CIC. In broken heart syndrome, the pumping mechanism of the heart can fail suddenly and place the patient in heart failure. It can mimic the signs of a heart attack. This diagnosis is relatively good news for Dorothy. Most people recover over a period of weeks and months. Oh, that's going to see my house in a minute. It's an absolute privilege to be able to work on the Great North Air Ambulance, especially in the mountains and areas that I love. There's no better job in medicine than the one we do. I honestly thought I would lose him that day. because no way could you really stop the flow of blood. He kept saying to [music] me, "I feel I'm going." And then I saw the helicopter. When I saw there was a doctor there, I knew he was, you know, he had a fighting chance. I had surgery in the hospital and they've tied the femoral artery off [snorts] to my left leg which means I haven't got the blood supply what I used to have. So I do suffer from a lot of leg spasms, muscle cramps. It's just something that I've got to live with was either that lose me leg or lose me life. Definitely change [music] things. I do have a daughter. If I died that day, I wouldn't be here for her. >> If the air ambulance wasn't available, I wouldn't have survived by road. So, it was a combination of all the emergency services. I owe me life to them people. >> I like to make a difference. When people hurt themselves, it's myself and the team that are there to come and help.