Holly’s Story

In April 2021, 15-year-old Holly Martin was riding her horse when she suffered a life-changing fall, leaving her with a severe traumatic brain injury.

Holly was schooling at home on the family farm in Coverack when her horse spooked, bolted across the field and tripped. Holly fell, landing on her head. Despite wearing her riding hat, Holly severely injured her head and was knocked unconscious.

Her younger brother, George, rushed to get help and mum, Helen, called 999. Cornwall Air Ambulance was tasked straight away. Co-responders from Mullion carried out CPR and got Holly breathing again just as the helicopter arrived overhead.

Helen said: “Considering how rural we are, to know a helicopter was on the way was hugely reassuring.”

With concerns about Holly’s head injury, Critical Care Paramedics Mick McLachlan and Martin Bunt quickly made the decision to put her under anaesthetic so they could take control of her breathing. Once she was stable enough to travel, the crew airlifted Holly to Treliske Hospital.

Martin said: “It was clear from when we arrived on scene that Holly had suffered a severe head injury. With any kind of trauma to the head it is vital that we get the patient to hospital as quickly as possible for urgent care. Incidents like these are when time really does matter, and thanks to our AW169 helicopter and its fuel load, it meant we could convey Holly from the Lizard to Treliske and then transfer her onwards straight to Bristol.”

Critical Care Paramedic Mick, brother George, dad Adam, Holly, mum Helen and Critical Care Paramedic Martin

At the Royal Cornwall Hospital, Holly had a scan which was sent straight to the surgeons at Bristol so they were ready upon her arrival. Cornwall Air Ambulance then conveyed her from Treliske straight to the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children for onward care, where she immediately went into surgery for a craniotomy.

Holly had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury, hypoxic damage due to a lack of oxygen being supplied to the brain and a small basilar skull fracture. She remained in hospital at Bristol for over a year, a total of 410 days.

Dad Adam, who is a retained firefighter and co-responder in St Keverne, said: “She would have died without Cornwall Air Ambulance, without a shadow of a doubt, she would not have survived an ambulance journey, no chance. If they hadn’t come, she would have died.”

Helen added: “The black and white of it is basically that without them she wouldn’t be here.”

Holly at her art exhibition

Now 18, Holly is recovering slowly. Her speech is starting to come back and although in a wheelchair, she is getting more mobile and can stand up using her stand aid. She is currently attending college five days a week and enjoys activities such as singing and art.

Holly was recently invited to exhibit her artwork at the Coast Colour Canvas Gallery at Roskilly’s. She kindly decided to raise money for Cornwall Air Ambulance with her series of sell-out seascape images, bringing in a total of £225 for the charity.