Harry’s Story

In August 2021, five-year-old Harry Elias was in a remote part of Cornwall when he was climbing a tree and fell, and needed the help of Cornwall Air Ambulance.

It was a normal day at forest school near Treyarnon for Harry, he was climbing one of the school trees when a branch snapped and he fell to the ground, hitting another branch on the way down.

Due to the location not being easily accessible by road and amid fears that he may have suffered an open fracture to his arm, Cornwall Air Ambulance was tasked to the scene.

Critical Care Paramedics Louise Lamble and Jeremy Griffiths attended on board your AW169 helicopter. The crew assessed Harry’s injury, he had broken his arm in two places but luckily the bone had not punctured the skin. Jeremy and Louise administered pain relief before stabilising Harry’s arm for the onward journey to hospital. With another urgent call having come in, they decided it was safe for Harry to travel to Treliske by road.

Harry meeting Jeremy & Louise

At hospital, Harry was taken to the pediatric department where he underwent surgery to have his arm realigned. Throughout his stay on the ward, he kept his Cornwall Air Ambulance teddy bear by his side, which the crew had given him.

Harry’s mum, Stella, said: “If his accident had been more serious, which it easily could have been, if he had suffered a head injury or if it had been an open fracture, he would have had the care right away when he really needed it. It’s so reassuring as a parent of three small children, no matter how careful you are, accidents happen, and there are many places in Cornwall that are not immediately accessible by road. We’re very thankful that Harry’s situation was not life threatening but were very reassured to know that if it had been, he would have had that level of care.”

Harry has recovered well from his injury and has now visited the airbase with his family, to thank Jeremy and Louise for helping him that day.

Harry’s dad, Bram, added: “We spent weeks and months waving at every helicopter and saying thank you to Louise and Jeremy. Cornwall is not Cornwall without the air ambulance and we’re very lucky to have it.”

Harry and his sister, Hope, with Louise and Jeremy