Patient Story
Mark Whyte’s Story
Co. L'Derry
Mark Whyte’s Story
A routine motorbike-run turned into a disaster for Magherafelt’s Mark Whyte when he came off the bike in September 2022.  Mark hit a car, which broke his fall and required the services of the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) by air ambulance, who brought a doctor and paramedic to his aid, providing critical care at the scene of the accident.

One and a half years later, Mark has made a remarkable recovery thanks to his personal determination and continuing support of the physiotherapy department in the RVH.  He added, “Clare and I are very excited to be able to plan ahead for our future together. I am very grateful to the medics both at the scene, at the hospital and my physio, Maeve. Without the rapid care and attention I received from the medics of the Air Ambulance, my story could look very different today. I will be forever grateful for their service.”

 

“I wanted to give something back to the Air Ambulance charity and was able to raise £6,225 through a raffle that I ran through the Lambeg drumming associations.  Being able to visit the operational airbase recently, hand over the funds and meet one of the medics who treated me on scene was really special.”

 

The charity Air Ambulance Northern Ireland, in partnership with the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service, provides the HEMS for Northern Ireland.  The service brings urgent medical assistance to anywhere in the province, operating seven days a week for 12 hours per day. The HEMS team attend patients who are seriously ill or injured, bringing emergency pre-hospital care directly to the casualty to save lives, brains and limbs.  The aircraft can reach anywhere in Northern Ireland in approximately twenty-five minutes.

 

On average, the medical team are called upon twice every day, whether that is as a result of a serious road traffic collision, farm or workplace accident, sport and leisure incident or a serious medical emergency.

Icon Quotes
The air ambulance medics were first on scene.  I have no memory of the accident, but they treated me and flew me to the Royal Victoria Hospital in Belfast, where I was admitted to the Regional Intensive Care Unit.

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