Mary and Jim Carter-White contacted us as they wanted to say thank you to the crew who looked after Mary.  We'll let Mary tell you what happened...

 

'It was July 1st and our last full day of our week's stay in North Devon.  My husband Jim and I had rented a cosy cottage in Newton Tracy.  We  had been pretty lucky with the weather.

 

We decided to drive to Okehampton and take a walk with our border collie Bob, to the Black Tor on Dartmoor.

 

At this time I had never heard of the Devon Air Ambulance, but in about 2 hours I was going to thank God for their existence.

 

We parked the car in the reservoir car park in Okehampton and began our walk.  The scenery was outstanding.

 

We passed the reservoir, the waterfall and the weir, all the time Jim snapping with his camera.

 

The weather began to change.  It started to lightly rain and the mist began to hover around the top of the moor. 

 

Underfoot it became very wet, as I put my feet down to begin to climb the Tor I could feel wet muddy water filling my socks and boots. At this point we wondered if we  ought to turn back, as we both had cold wet feet, but as we were half way to the end of the walk we decided to carry on.

Underfoot was now becoming slippery with the rain, so I borrowed Jim's walking stick to help me along. The rocks leading up to the Tor were now getting bigger and as I plunged the stick down between two rocks the stick slipped and shot sideways, taking my arm with it. 

 

I felt a sickening wrench as my shoulder dislocated. I screamed for Jim and slumped to the ground screaming uncontrollably with the agonising pain. Horrified, Jim could see how bad the injury was and knew he had to do something fast. He reached for the mobile only to find we had left it at the cottage.

 

He ran to the top of the Tor to see if anyone was around, but we were on our own. He knew he had to run back to the car park, a good 4 miles away to raise the alarm. He covered me over with his coat and hat and set off with Bob to get help.

 

I was perched on the side of the Tor for what seemed like ages, in fact it was, Jim told me later, just over an hour. He ran picking his way carefully through the path we had taken, and just before the car park he met two walkers, who managed to get a signal eventually.

Meanwhile I was getting colder and more despondent as time went on although I knew Jim wouldn't let me down.  He never has in the 31 years we have been married. 

I must admit I really was scared up there on my own, the mist was getting lower and the rain heavier, my toes and fingers were going numb with cold and I was feeling sick. I said a prayer to look after our 3 sons and to look after Jim and for someone to help me.

Then I heard an engine faintly and thought I was imagining it and sheltered under the coat again.  Then I heard it again louder this time but again I couldn't see anything. Suddenly over the hills opposite I could see it, a bright red helicopter.  The pilot was circling around trying to find me and I tried feebly to wave but the pain was so bad I could hardly move.

Meanwhile Jim unknown to me was now walking back up to the Tor and was waving frantically to the pilot who had to land to find out from him where I was. I honestly thought the pilot would fly off as he flew over me one more time, so I summoned up all my strength and gave the biggest wave I could manage. I then heard the engine die down, but still could not see anyone. I thought they had gone.

As I sat back wondering what was happening I saw a fantastic sight, somebody coming to help me, fluorescent yellow has never looked so good. The pilot couldn't land near me and had to land on the top of the Tor.

The two paramedics by now were walking towards me and asked my name.  I told them it was Mary. They could see how cold I was and quickly gave me pain relief and a sling.

I asked if they had seen my husband and they said he would be up with us any minute. Just then he arrived looking shattered. 

After all somehow he had ran 8 miles in just over an hour with Bob bringing up the rear. With the help of the pain relief and the paramedics, while Jim carried their helmets I had to climb the last 10 feet or so to the helicopter. 

It was very painful to move, but the encouragement they gave me helped me through and eventually I was strapped into the stretcher on board.

Within 12 minutes we were at hospital.  A nurse and porter were waiting for me as the helicopter landed.

I thanked the crew for their help, thinking they would go, but they accompanied me in to inform the nursing staff of my condition, which by now was not very good, the pain relief having worn off.

I was given gas and air, but that seemed to do nothing for me. One of the paramedics could see I was getting more and more distressed by the pain and informed the nurse who came to my aid. 

I can only say they were fantastic and tried to keep me and my husband's spirits up all the time.

I was whisked away for x-rays, given morphine and taken into theatre for my shoulder to be reset.   When I woke up Jim was at my bedside. 

I was rescued from Dartmoor at 2.20pm and was on my way back to the cottage again at 5.30pm.

Left: Me, Jim and Bob back home safe and sound

Well done to the Devon Air Ambulance and the Hospital.  Our gratitude to you all is enormous.
 
Regards,
Mary Carter-White'