Radcliffe girl, 13, ‘owes life’ to crew after horrific accident

Ruby Hayes, who is now 13, was galloping across a field on her pony, Nero, when he tripped and she was thrown under his feet and trampled on.

She sustained injuries to her face and body and started to drift in and out of consciousness after losing a lot of blood from a facial injury.

The North West Air Ambulance Charity was dispatched and administered pre-hospital care and performed emergency surgery to save her eye.

Ruby's mum, Sinead, said: “When the air ambulance crew arrived, it was like a strange calm came over everyone.

“The team seemed to take absolute control of the whole situation. I remember thinking it was like a beautiful, choreographed dance. They knew exactly what to do.

North West Air Ambulance Charity medical crew member Andrew, with Ruby, her mum Sinead, and North West Air Ambulance Charity emergency consultant doctor Eimhear (Image: North West Air Ambulance Charity)

“Ruby was awake, vomiting, and in so much pain.

"They sedated Ruby and carried out an on-the-spot operation to relieve the pressure on Ruby’s eye at the scene.”

Ruby was put on the helicopter with her mum and they were flown to Manchester Children’s hospital in just six minutes during rush hour.

Her mum added that she dreads to think what would have happened if the air ambulance hadn’t been there and is sure that it could have cost Ruby her sight.

Eimhear, Emergency Consultant Doctor with Salford Royal and the North West Air Ambulance Charity, was on the helipad at Preston when she and medical team partner Andrew got the call.

She said: “Critical care for us isn't a place, it's a thing. We bring hospital-level interventions – that were historically only done in critical care settings – to the patient at the roadside.

“With injuries to the head, you can't see the damage inside to the skull and the brain. And unfortunately for Ruby, her trajectory got worse.

“We put Ruby in a medically induced coma. When we put her to sleep, we gave her brain a rest.

North West Air Ambulance Charity emergency consultant doctor Eimhear (Image: North West Air Ambulance Charity)

“Being on scene, getting the right care, getting them to the right hospital at the right time - helps save lives – and probably saved Ruby’s eye.”

After arriving at hospital, crew carried out a thorough handover to staff who were prepared for her arrival and she spent three days in intensive care before being transferred to the high-dependency ward, spending around two weeks in hospital.

Sinead said: “Ever since the accident, our family and friends have been fundraising for the North West Air Ambulance Charity.

“We have a joke in the family that we need to pay off the Uber bill!”

The family have raised more than £3,400 for the charity so far with no intention of stopping any time soon.

Sinead and her partner Alan have even asked for charitable donations instead of wedding gifts when they tie the knot in September.

North West Air Ambulance Charity medical crew member Andrew (Image: North West Air Ambulance Charity)

Ruby is now back at school and riding horses.

Just a few months after the accident was competing in dressage competitions with her new pony Tilly.

Sinead added: “It has been a tough road, and her recovery is still ongoing. She will need further surgery on her eye but she’s very resilient.

"Thanks to North West Air Ambulance Charity, Ruby is alive, and she can still see.”

Ruby has now had the opportunity to say thank you to the North West Air Ambulance Charity team, who saved her life after being invited to the charity’s Barton base.

Sinead said: “It was a really emotional day. Ruby got to sit in the pilot seat of the helicopter and we learnt about the kit that the medics wear and the equipment the aircraft carries.

North West Air Ambulance (Image: North West Air Ambulance Charity)

“Following the accident, I used to cry when I saw the air ambulance in the sky. Now, I cheer and say ‘Yeah, go and save a life’.”

The charity is not part of the NHS and doesn’t receive any government funding.

They rely completely on public and corporate donations to carry on saving lives and must raise more than £12m every year to continue its lifesaving service.

For more information on the North West Air Ambulance Charity or to donate, visit www.nwairambulance.org.uk  or call 0800 587 4570.