My BMW saved my son’s life after horror smash... by calling an ambulance
Accident triggered safety feature V
Hayden, mum Claire and Bradley Car alerted emergency services A TEENAGER who was moments from death after cracking his head in a horror crash was saved after the BMW he was travelling in dialled 999. Bradley Duke was in the back seat with brother Hayden when the vehicle, being driven by their mum, slid on black ice at around 55mph.
Bradley suffered skull and spinal fractures which left him fighting for his life. Mum Claire, 40, woke to a voice coming from the dashboard telling her: “We know where you are and help is on its way.” She later discovered emergency services had been alerted by a safety feature in her BMW 3 Series which sends for help when the car’s airbags are deployed. Paramedics flew Bradley, now 17, to hospital by air ambulance for brain surgery.
Claire said the technology “saved Bradley’s life” after doctors revealed he would have died if he had been treated just minutes later.
She added: “He would not be with us now if it weren’t for that safety feature in the car. If he had been lying there for just a few moments more he would have died.” The crash happened in Sheffield, South Yorks, in January 2017. BMW said when the airbags are set off in an accident, the company will call the car via its onboard SIM card. If it gets no reply from the passengers, emergency services are called. The spokesman added: “We are so delighted that Bradley and Claire are fit and well after their awful crash.” Bradley after the crash Tell us what you think: yourvoice@mirror.co.uk