Thomas Bowen, a cattle trader from Castlecaufield, Co Tyrone, has praised the air ambulance and emergency services after he came within “three minutes of being saved” following a bull attack last year.
On Saturday 17th May, Thomas had not long arrived to the mart at Clogher and was beginning to load cattle when a bull in one of the loading bays struck him in the stomach with its head as he turned around. “There was no warning at all, one second it was standing quiet and the next second he was there,” recounts Thomas.
“The force of the impact threw me up in the air and only for the quick actions of other farmers who saw what had happened, I’m certain that the bull would have went for me a second time. I can remember lying on the ground looking up… I kept hitting the back of my own head off the ground as the pain was so bad. Another farmer put the toe of his boot under my head to prevent me from doing more damage while others covered me in blankets.”
The emergency services were phoned and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) dispatched a road crew and the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS) via the charity air ambulance to the centre of the Tyrone village. Due to the severity of his injuries, the HEMS doctor and paramedic placed Thomas into an induced coma at the scene. They also carried out a one and half litre blood transfusion due to the extent of his internal injuries and loss of blood he had sustained.
Thomas said, “My wife Jackie and family all arrived down to Belfast and at that stage I was already in theatre as my kidneys, bowel, liver, everything was just burst. The surgeons completely opened me up and worked on me for three and a half hours. I spent five days in an induced coma and when I came around again, one of the doctors said to me they didn’t expect me to still be alive and that I was three minutes from being saved when I arrived with them. Only for air ambulance and the emergency services, I wouldn’t be here today.”
Thomas spent thirty-one days in Royal Victoria Hospital and a further four days in Craigavon Area Hospital recovering from his injuries. “During that time, I lost over three stone in weight. I was being fed through a drip and when I tried to eat something more substantial, it was causing other complications. Since then however I have made steady progress and I had my final surgery before Christmas.”
Thomas and his wife Jacqueline are now returning their thanks by planning a charity fundraiser in support of Air Ambulance NI. “On Saturday 18th April, we are having a ‘Night of Celebration’ at Quinn’s Corner, Dungannon. There will be live music by Infinity, a raffle, auction and light refreshments. This is a night for everyone to come along and enjoy all while supporting air ambulance.”
Thomas has asked for the whole community to come along and support the event as “you never know when you might need them”. “Before my accident, I knew very little about the air ambulance and I never thought that morning driving to Clogher that I would ever need them.”
Tickets are on sale for the event priced at £10 each or people can choose to pay at the door on the night from 7.30pm onwards. For those who cannot attend and would still like to support Thomas’s fundraiser for Air Ambulance NI, a donation can be made via his fundraising page at www.justgiving.com/page/thomasbowen
Damien McAnespie, Fundraising Manager at Air Ambulance NI, said, “Thomas has been through the most difficult year but it is remarkable to see how far he has come. We very much appreciate the huge efforts he and his family are going to raise vital funds for the charity and ensure the air ambulance can continue to reach and treat the sickest individuals in the region. It is only through the support of the public that allows the service to be there for everyone and I encourage you to support the charity by attending on the night or making a donation on his fundraising page.”
