Ideas to help with loneliness
May 11, 2022
A Chat with Pilot Alan Petch
May 26, 2022
“They talked to me the whole time, making sure I felt reassured.”
On 10 October 2015, everything changed for Sallyanne when she suffered a crushing fall from her horse. Sallyanne survived the fall but was paralysed from the waist down. She is now living her new life to the full, in part, thanks to Great Western Air Ambulance Charity (GWAAC).
The crew’s specialist skills and their ability to get to a difficult place fast meant Sallyanne got the treatment she needed at the scene as well as a time-critical transfer to hospital. But if you ask Sallyanne what she remembers most about that day, she will say it was the relief of the air ambulance arriving: “When they arrived, all the fear subsided. I felt safe. It felt like these people knew what they were doing, and I was going to be OK.”
Sallyanne is an inspiration to us all. She’s been on a tough journey but she’s back doing the things she loves — working as a nurse and competing as a para-dressage rider.
The video gives Sallyanne’s account of what happened that day and why she will always think of Great Western Air Ambulance Charity as “My knights in shining armour.” You will also get a perspective from our Pilot, Jim who conveyed Sallyanne to hospital that day. Sallyanne’s story highlights why it is so important to keep the air ambulance and critical care service available for people in urgent need.
When they arrived, all the fear subsided. I felt safe. It felt like these people knew what they were doing, and I was going to be OK.
