A Crook woman has paid tribute to the lifesaving air ambulance team who came to her aid two Christmases ago.
Michelle Hand, 60, was at her home on Christmas Day 2022 when she began to suffer the effects of a cardiac arrest. Her husband called 999 and – thankfully – was able to do CPR with guidance from the phone operator.
Soon after, the Great North Air Ambulance helicopter arrived, landing in a field near her home, and provided lifesaving care. As GNAAS highlights its busy festive period and appeals for the public to help with its Christmas appeal, Michelle told her story.
She said: “My husband dialled 999 and was talked through how to do CPR on myself until paramedics arrived to take over. I was then carried out on a stretcher into an open field where the air ambulance waited for me.”
Then, the flying lifesavers were able to put her into an induced coma and she was airlifted to James Cook Hospital in Middlesbrough. She had seven weeks in hospital, including three in intensive care, as she was diagnosed with heart disease and heart failure.
(Image: GNAAS)
Michelle added: “I am eternally grateful for the guys that saved my life and I have been told I am a walking miracle.”
The GNAAS team highlighted how busy they were on that Christmas Day, they were incredibly, but not untypically, busy. They also attended call-outs relating to an assault, a road traffic incident and three medical emergencies.
David Stockton, chief executive officer at GNAAS, said: “Whilst most people will be spending time with their families and friends over the festive period, our pilots, doctors and paramedics will be on standby ready to respond to those who are unfortunate enough to be critically ill or injured.
“This is only possible thanks to the continued generosity of the public, and while we understand that times are tough for some, we would really appreciate it if people and businesses considered adding GNAAS to their gift list.
“The donations we receive will ensure we can continue saving people’s lives and help keep families together this Christmas”
GNAAS is entirely charitably funded and requires £9.3m a year to continue responding to incidents 365 days a year.
Over the week between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, the GNAAS critical care team on average respond to 38 incidents across the North East, Cumbria and the Isle of Man. The most common incidents they attend are cardiac arrests, road traffic collisions, falls and assaults.
To make a donation to GNAAS click here or call 01325 487263.
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View news Source: https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/county-durham-woman-pays-tribute-30611743
