Virtual flying lesson brings a smile to coma teen’s face
AN Ashbourne pilot has helped a 19-year-old air cadet smile for the first time after being in a coma for nearly a year – by treating him to a virtual flying lesson.
Nineteen-year-old Joseph Flavill, from Tutbury, was involved in a collision with a car in March 2020 and has now started responding well to friends and family who have been streaming sound recordings of Will Flanagan’s course in flying an aircraft to his bedside.
His family, who have been unable to visit him in his care home due to coronavirus restrictions, have been keeping his brain stimulated by streaming messages over Facetime, but the flying lessons have prompted a strong response from Joseph.
His aunt, Sally Flavill Smith, says Joseph immediately responded to the recorded flying lesson, and his recovery from the stage-two coma progressed even further when Mr Flanagan started sending video footage of the personal lessons.
She said: Joseph’s reaction was amazing, but Will has taken that one step further and actually done a filmed lesson.
“And because Joseph is now connecting with the Facetime when we use the ipad, he’ll be able to see Will, he’ll be able to hear, and it’s going to make such a difference to Joseph to have that different stimulation.
“Because he has no stimulation, because he’s in a care home, he’s not allowed any visitors, so what Will has done is incredibly important, and I know Joseph will absolutely love it.”
Mr Flanagan, a friend of the Joseph’s family, recorded the first audio knowing that he had already had three flying lessons before his accident, and he used Darley Moor Airfield as a base for the first recording, which was all done sat on the runway.
He said: “I recorded an audio just as I would a flying lesson, and it’s actually quite difficult when you’re not flying.
“I just feel like I’m actually doing something, because, with Covid, you can’t go and visit the person, you can’t have any physical interaction, you can’t speak with them.
“But I can now do something, and flying is what I’ve got.
“That’s all I’ve got. somebody to fly.
“I’ve never taught somebody to fly just through audio. What a great way.
“And if it can help in a small way, or
I can teach a big way, then that would make me feel so privileged to be part of the recovery process for Joseph.”
A few months after Joseph’s accident, in Burton-on-trent, he was due to attend Buckingham Palace to receive his Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Ahead of his brain injury, his life was full of club hockey, county cricket, A Levels, surfing, skiing and other adventures. His family say he lived life with passion, energy, and a cheeky grin.
The story of Joseph’s recovery has been documented on a website at www.josephsjourney.co.uk and a fund-raising appeal to support his treatments has raised nearly £33,000.
The funds raised will help to provide extra therapy once the pandemic restrictions are lifted which, it is hoped, will further support his recovery.