Wayne Burton's Story

Added on: 26 August 2009

Hazel Dean contacted us by email to tell us...

'In March 2008 your helicopter kindly flew my son, Wayne Burton from Exeter Race Course to the local hospital. Wayne, a jockey, had taken a bad fall and with a suspected back injury and loss of consciousness, time was of the essence. With your help he was able to receive immediate attention, which proved vital at that time.

Wayne suffered a broken T4 in his back and is currently in a wheelchair. But, he is still here with us and I am so grateful to everyone who has made that possible.'

We caught up with Hazel again one year on, who gave us a progress report...

'Wayne is receiving on going support from the Injured Jockeys Fund, who recently flew him out to Tenerife, along with other injured jockeys, for a well deserved holiday.

It has been just over a year now, so still early days. But Wayne is focused and faces every obstacle in his path with an optimistic view.

He has Laura, his fiancee, at his side who gives him enormous love and encouragement and has received tremendous support from his family and friends throughout'.

We were honoured to meet Wayne, Laura, Hazel and the rest of the family recently, when they visited our airbase, to meet one of the crew who tended to Wayne on that day.

Because of patient confidentiality, we don't know who we have helped, unless, like Hazel, they get in touch with us.

We do offer patients and their families a visit to the base to see the helicopter and meet at least one of the crew who looked after them. From talking to patients and their families, they have told us that this greatly helps them come to terms with an extremely traumatic part of their lives.

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