999 Critical Condition: Lucky to be alive following motorbike accident
A motorbike enthusiast today said he was lucky to be alive after crashing his bike into a stone wall and being rushed to the University Hospitals of North Midlands’ major trauma centre.
David Boyce, 34, was travelling home when he crashed into the wall and ended up unconscious in a field. He was airlifted by air ambulance to the trauma centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital for specialist urgent treatment.
His case featured in the second episode of the new series of 999 Critical Condition on Channel 5 on Thursday night. The ground-breaking documentary featuring the clinical staff has received critical acclaim and follows in incredible detail the staff and patients as they confront the realities of emergency medicine.
David, of Wilmslow, said: “The crash happened just a couple of days after my birthday and I had treated myself to a new helmet as a birthday present so it had never been worn but I put it well and truly to the test.
“The doctors said that because it was a brand new helmet it gave me the best protections. Without a doubt I am lucky to be alive.”
In the episode Dr Chris Pickering, consultant in emergency medicine, explains his concerns about a potential head injury and internal bleeding but following a CT scan also acknowledged David was a “lucky boy!”
David, who has made good recovery, said: “I don’t remember anything about the accident or going in the helicopter but I do remember waking up in hospital and wondering why I was in Stoke.
“It is only now that I understand why I was taken there and that I received the specialist care I needed because of my potential injuries.”
He said: “I have ridden a motorbike for almost 17 years and this was my first crash and no-one will let me get back on the bike although I think I would like to. If anything comes from my accident I would urge people who ride bikes to wear the right gear even if you’re just popping to the shops.”
Thursday’s episode also included a mother-of-one who suffered from a ruptured brain aneurism; a 17-year-old girl who is critically injured in a car crash and a patient’s heart stops multiple times.