“I was so grateful to hear the sound of the helicopter”
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A holidaymaker has praised the Cornwall Air Ambulance crew after they were tasked to help when he fell on rocks.
Paul Warren had been on holiday with his wife Rachael, as a getaway after she was diagnosed with stage 4 cancer.
They were walking their two dogs at Booby’s Bay, on the north coast, when Paul slipped while scaling the rocks. He landed in cold, shallow running water and instantly knew something wasn’t right with his arm.
An ex-firefighter and RNLI volunteer was on the beach and helped out, keeping Paul warm and talking while they phoned 999.
Cornwall Air Ambulance was called to the scene, with critical care paramedics Kris Lethbridge and Mick McLachlan onboard, along with doctor Dave Connor. The South Western Ambulance Service and HM Coastguard team from Padstow also responded.
Paul was given an initial assessment and luckily he hadn’t injured his back. He had suffered a broken humerus and the crew administered morphine and ketamine for pain relief.
With the help of the critical care paramedics and Coastguard team, they managed to walk Paul across the rocks slowly and to the waiting land ambulance, which conveyed him to Treliske Hospital.
Paul said: “I was in so much pain I couldn’t get up. The thought of lying in that water for any longer, you’re so grateful for the sound of the helicopter. I could feel myself getting cold and start to shiver. You hear the Cornwall Air Ambulance and you know the right people are there.
“They were fantastic, the service is second to none. We have an air ambulance in North Yorkshire too and where we live it’s always out, because our nearest hospital it quite a way from us too.”
Paul and Rachael have had to cut their holiday short but are hoping to return to Cornwall in May, to celebrate their one year wedding anniversary.
The couple are holding a charity ball at home in North Yorkshire this summer, and will be donating funds to Cornwall Air Ambulance.
You can help more people like Paul, by supporting your charity here.