“I said to my wife I’d be three hours… but I didn’t come home for three months.”
Paul Bradford – a father of two and a dedicated athlete just weeks away from competing in the World Ironman Championships in the USA – set out for a training ride through the stunning hills of North Wales. But what was meant to be a three hour ride turned into a life threatening emergency that would change everything.
Thanks to the HELP Appeal funded helipad at Aintree Hospital in Liverpool, Paul received critical hospital care in the fastest time possible, giving him the best chance of survival.
Located right next to the Emergency Department, the HELP Appeal, thanks to our supporters, donated £1 million to cover the entire cost of its construction. Since opening, it has seen over 670 emergency landings. One of them was Paul’s
Photo: Aintree Hospital helipad where Paul landed in an air ambulance
Paul’s story
Just 30 minutes from home, cycling at 25mph, Paul collided with a stationary vehicle. The impact was devastating. Paul was knocked unconscious immediately – his head and shoulders taking the full force of the crash.
His friend dialled 999 and due to the seriousness of Paul’s injuries, the North West Air Ambulance Charity was dispatched. The specialist crew arrived quickly and gave Paul a general anaesthetic, intubated him and placed him on a ventilator – critical steps to protect his brain and vital organs from any further damage.
Paul was able to be flown directly to Aintree Hospital – the Major Trauma Centre equipped to handle his complex injuries. The hospital’s helipad, funded entirely by the HELP Appeal, allowed Paul to be taken straight from the scene pf the accident to emergency care in under ten minutes. By road, that journey would have taken over 45 minutes – time he simply didn’t have.
Paul had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury known as diffuse axonal injury, along with a fractured skull, broken ribs and multiple fractures to his jaw. He spent ten days in ICU, three months in hospital, and needed six months to recover before returning to work.
Reflecting on his experience and the role of the HELP Appeal funded helipad, Paul says:
“The accident I had and the injuries I sustained meant I needed lifesaving treatment straight away. Getting me to the right place, quickly, made all the difference. The helipad at Aintree meant after I landed, it was just a trolley dash to the consultants who could save my life.
“There’s no doubt in my mind the helipad helped save my life.”
Traumatic Brain Injury can result in life-long symptoms. Paul continues his recovery through combining athletic training with fundraising. This year he proudly ran the London Marathon in a helicopter costume. He fully supports the importance of helipads, just like the one that played a crucial role in his recovery and survival:
“The HELP Appeal installs helipads exactly where they’re needed – right at the heart of the hospital. That means the air ambulance can bring people like me directly to the care they need, without delay.”
Main photos: Paul with his wife and sons.
