Former RAF and airline pilot, Chris Williams had been paragliding for 20 years when on a calm and sunny day earlier this year, a sudden change in the weather resulted in him crashing 70 feet to the ground. He suffered multiple trauma injuries including a collapsed lung; and spine and neck fractures. Wiltshire Air Ambulance was able to fly him directly to the helipad funded by the HELP Appeal at Southmead Hospital, which is located right beside its Emergency Department. As a volunteer community first responder and first aid trainer, we asked Chris how he thinks the helipad helped in his recovery.
The helipad that was built at your hospital was located as close as possible to emergency care – how do you think that helped with your treatment?
It made a huge difference! One of the key priorities with medical trauma is getting the patient to specialist care in the quickest time possible and with minimum disturbance. Having the helipad right there at Southmead ticked both boxes.
Did your consultants ever comment on the importance of time, when you were being treated?
I know from experience working with patients how important that first hour, the Golden Hour as it’s often called, is for a good result.
How are you doing now?
Really well! Considering it’s only seven months since my accident and four months since major spinal surgery, I’m amazed at how quickly I’ve got back to my new normal. I’m fully mobile and take no painkillers at all. A fantastic result!
What does a charity like the HELP Appeal mean to you?
It’s surprising and quite shocking to me that such an essential part of a hospital is left to a charity’s fundraising efforts. However, it’s not much use having helicopters if there’s nowhere suitable for them to land. The helipad is one of the many jigsaw pieces that fitted together so well that February afternoon, resulting in my being as well as I am today and for that I am extremely grateful.
Before the helipad at Southmead Hospital, air ambulances had to land on a village green with a secondary transfer required to the Emergency Department. Thanks to a £250,000 donation from the HELP Appeal, Southmead Hospital’s helipad became operational nine years’ ago. Since then, it has seen 2,075 landings, which includes the landing from Chris Williams in an air ambulance. The helipad is giving patients quicker access to specialist treatment which is helping to save lives.
