18 year-old Freddie's story could have been very different were it not for swift clinical intervention.
18 year-old Freddie’s life changed in an instant…
When Freddie was involved in a devastating road traffic collision with a lorry, he was left fighting for his life with serious internal injuries – the situation: critical.
Freddie’s family have stayed in close contact with Devon Air Ambulance, and in particular Professor Tim Nutbeam who was the Critical Care Doctor on shift that day.
Freddie’s dad, Ashley, said: ‘He’s our youngest son. Happy-go-lucky, with a wicked sense of humour.’ His mum, Jess, added, ‘He’d just finished his A-levels and was taking a year out. He’d had a great summer. Everything was ahead of him.’
From the ordinary to the unimaginable
Freddie had been helping his dad with some jobs and was finishing up by delivering spare patio slabs to a family friend when the day took a horrifying turn. A serious road traffic collision with a lorry left Freddie with devastating internal injuries. His parents received a call: ‘Get here immediately. There’s been an accident.’
As they approached the scene, they saw the Devon Air Ambulance circling overhead. This was the moment it became clear to them how serious the accident was. On the ground, Critical Care Doctor, Tim Nutbeam and the emergency crew were already assessing the situation.
‘We weren’t expecting good outcomes,’ Tim said. ‘Freddie wasn’t breathing – wasn’t responding. His pulse was weak. He was very close to death.’
Freddie had no memory of the crash:
The last thing I remember is leaving the farm gates,’ he says. ‘It’s best not to think about what could have happened and just focus on what did happen.
Thanks to pioneering research led by Tim, the team knew that getting Freddie out of the car as soon as possible – rather than through traditional movement minimisation techniques, whereby emergency responders avoid moving the patient to reduce the risk of further spinal injury – was Freddie’s best chance. The fire crew removed the driver’s side door and carefully but quickly freed Freddie from the wreckage.
‘I have no doubt that If he’d spent any longer in that car he would have died there,’ said Tim.
Freddie was airlifted to Bristol Southmead Hospital, where he began a remarkable recovery. Just a week later, Tim called his mum who was stunned but relieved to hear that Freddie was sitting up in bed, already being a ‘grumpy teenager’ about being stuck in hospital. Time said:
It’s rare to see someone so severely injured make such a rapid recovery.
Today, Freddie is well. He has no lasting injuries, apart from a short period of memory loss. His story is a testament to the power of innovation, teamwork, and swift action — and to the lifesaving impact of Devon Air Ambulance and the advanced critical care they bring to a scene.
‘If it hadn’t been for the rapid extraction method, the skills and speed of the air ambulance, the fire crew, and the fantastic team at Southmead,’ Ashley said. ‘Things could have been very different.’
Freddie’s family are grateful to the supporters who fund the service that saved Freddie’s life. A regular gift helps us to plan ahead and secure the future with the advanced training our clinicians bring to the scene of an accident or medical incident. We welcome your support.
