Crash dad 'forever grateful' to air ambulance crew

Tony, his partner Natalie and their daughter Poppy meet Dr Adam Chesters at the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance

A man has thanked an air ambulance crew for rescuing him after he was involved in a head-on car crash in Lincolnshire.

Tony, 35, was driving on the A15 between Waddington and Sleaford last October with his three-year-old daughter Poppy when their car was hit by an oncoming car travelling at about 60mph.

He suffered severe cuts, bruising and a broken leg which required surgery. Poppy walked away with a sprained arm.

Tony said the help he and his now four-year-old daughter received from Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance (LNAA) was "incredible" and he "couldn't thank them enough for being there".

Tony, who is a Lincolnshire Police officer, said they had been driving home after spending the afternoon visiting family in Wragby when the accident happened.

Emergency crews were called to the scene and the LNAA arrived within 11 minutes in a critical care car after the helicopter was unable to fly.

Dr Adam Chesters, from the LNAA, said: "We could see Tony was in a bad way and Poppy was clearly distressed and shouting for daddy to wake up."

Tony said it was a "miracle" his daughter, Poppy, only suffered a sprained arm in the accident

Tony cannot remember the moments leading up to the crash and said it took him several days to find out what had happened.

He said: "I remember driving down the A15, the next minute I had a fireman next to me and I was in the back of an ambulance. I woke up the next day in hospital.

"Thankfully Poppy was OK. It was a miracle because the only part of the car not to look damaged was where I was sitting.

"I felt guilty that I wasn't there for her, but the air ambulance doctor looked after her and sat until the road ambulance came. As a dad, I can never be more grateful for what they did for her and me."

After he was cut out of the car by firefighters, Tony was taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham for surgery and had a metal rod inserted in his leg.

"It's taken nine months for the bones to heal and I'm going to be back at work next week. It's been a long journey to get to this stage," he said.

Tony spoke about his crash as part of Air Ambulance Week which showcases the work of LNAA.

The team will be in Lincoln city centre on Wednesday to raise awareness of the service and highlight the difference it makes to patients.

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