Ben’s Story

10-year-old Ben Harding was on holiday with his parents in Cornwall when he suffered a seizure and collapsed on the beach.

The family had been enjoying a day at Polzeath in August last year. Ben, who suffers from epilepsy, had been running in and out of the waves and having fun, when he collapsed on the sand.

Dad Tom said: “He hadn’t had a seizure in four years, and we’d been chatting to the doctor about reducing his daily medication, but straight away I knew what had happened.”

Tom administered Ben’s emergency medication and called 999. Several nurses who were on the beach rushed over to help, as well as members of the public with blankets to keep Ben warm.

The Coastguard, South Western Ambulance Service and Cornwall Air Ambulance were all called to the scene, with Critical Care Paramedics Thomas Hennessy Jones and Martin Bunt on board your AW169 helicopter. The crew assessed Ben and monitored his signs to make sure his condition did not deteriorate. Due to the prolonged nature of Ben’s seizure, it was decided that he should be taken to Treliske Hospital by air, to ensure he received onward care as quickly as possible.

“It was reassuring when the helicopter arrived, my heart lifted as I knew he’d get to hospital quicker, and he’d get better quicker”, said Tom. “The crew were incredible; I feel quite emotional just talking about it. The crew were so calm and reassuring. It was great to know Ben was in safe hands.”

Tom said: “When you have a child with epilepsy, every day you carry that feeling with you, is it going to happen. You start to get past that but when it happens again, it’s a bolt out of the blue.”

Mum Michelle added: “Cornwall Air Ambulance got him to hospital quickly, made sure that he returned to health as quickly as possible, and that he got the care he needed. It meant the following day he was discharged, and we carried on enjoying our holiday.”

A year later, the family have been to visit the Cornwall Air Ambulance base whilst on holiday. Tom, Michelle and Ben got to see the helicopter again and thank paramedic Thomas in person.