comercrawley solicitors

16.03.2009

Air ambulance takes A12 crash man to hospital

A man in his 50s was airlifted to hospital yesterday after a lunchtime crash on the A12 near Stratford St Mary left him with suspected spinal injuries.

An air ambulance flew a doctor to treat the man at the scene of the crash, and the road was closed to traffic in both directions for nearly two hours.

Three fire crews had to cut the man from his car and winch him out of the wreckage. Before they arrived a number of other road users had stopped in an attempt to try and help the injured driver.

It is believed he was the only person in the car at the time of the crash.

The casualty was flown to Colchester Hospital, with the doctor attending to him through his journey on the East Anglian air ambulance helicopter.

The air ambulance is often called out for two or three such emergencies each day, though contrary to public perception it receives no government, local authority or NHS support. Ian Comer of comercrawley, who are the air ambulance service main corporate sponsors, explains the position.

‘The air ambulance is entirely funded by charitable support,’ he points out. ‘It’s dependent for every aspect of its running on money from the public, yet every week it saves lives.

‘It’s become such an important resource for the travelling public, as this incident illustrates, yet every time it takes off to save a life it’s only the goodwill of the public which keeps it airborne.

‘We wish the gentleman involved in this accident well, and hope he makes a full recovery. The vital assistance which the air ambulance has given towards his welfare is a good illustration of what important work the service does.’

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