Karl’s Story

On the day of his accident, Karl Dexter was enjoying a motorbike ride on a sunny day in February 2017. As he approached a bend on the A39 he had a head-on collision with a car travelling in the opposite direction.

Karl was thrown from his motorbike, suffering extensive injuries to his legs, pelvis and lower back. The 53-year-old had also suffered a bleed to the brain and needed urgent medical attention. Over an hour’s drive from the nearest hospital, Cornwall Air Ambulance was requested.

Critical Care Paramedics Steve and Mick helped to stabilise Karl while he was transferred to Derriford Hospital in Plymouth.

He said: “My internal injuries were very bad and I lost a lot of blood, so time was critical that day. I don’t remember anything about the accident, but I later heard that doctors told my family I had about a 5% chance of surviving the night. If I hadn’t got to the hospital as quickly as I did, I wouldn’t be here.”

Karl lost 23 pints of blood in the accident, and was placed in an induced coma for 12 days. He spent a total of 8 weeks in hospital recovering from major surgery.

It would be a further year of rehabilitation before Karl could return to work part-time. Two years on from the accident, he has made a remarkable recovery.

“From where I was to where I am now- I’ve been given another chance. Someone was looking down on me that day. It’s thanks to the air ambulance team and everyone at the hospital that I’m back to almost 100%.”