I wouldn’t still be alive if it wasn’t for the air ambulance
SPEEDY ACTION HELPED SAVE CYCLIST HIT BY VAN WHO HAD BLEED ON BRAIN AND MANY BROKEN BONES
A CYCLIST who was hit by a van at 50 miles an hour has thanked the air ambulance for saving his life.
Darren Howitt, 46, has been riding all his life and has several championship titles under his belt during a successful semi-professional cycling career.
He admitted in an interview with the Mercury that up until an incident in 2015 he had never been involved in any serious crashes.
But on July 9, 2015, it all changed for the Melton man.
He said: “There were 10 of us on the ride. We were just outside Scalford Hall coming back from an 80-mile ride.
“There had been some accidents in that area, mostly horses and motorbikes. I came round a blind ben and just got completely taken out by a tipper van. And after that, I don’t remember much at all.”
After he was hit by the van, he was dragged down the road and thrown through a bush.
He said, at first, his fellow riders could not find him, but when they did, he was almost recognisable.
“It was a freak accident. It was probably the worst accident you’ve ever seen. They thought I had lost my eyes because they were like eggs. I was in bits. I’m still hurting now from it.” Darren was not wearing a helmet, something he regrets, and said his head hit the windshield of the vehicle, causing a bleed on his brain. He had also broken his femur in hours as I had lost so much blood four places, broken nine ribs, broken and I had to be stabilised before surgery.” his back in five places and torn his Darren was in a coma for four femoral artery. months – during which time he had It took Derbyshire, 10 operations – spent another four months in a wheelchair, followed by Leicestershire a year on crutches. and He had to learn to walk and talk Rutland again.
Air Ambulance In total, he spent nearly six months in hospital, including some time in a (DLRAA) neuro-rehabilitation unit. just eight Despite the titanium rods in his minutes to fly right leg, hip, knee, tibia and fibula, him to the Darren has been able to get back on Queen’s Medical his bike and regularly cycles up to 80 Centre, in Nottingham, miles a week. He isn’t cycling competitively to the East Midlands Major but is still involved in the Trauma Centre. sport he loves.
He added: “I wouldn’t be alive if I He is now a Regional Commissaire hadn’t got to the hospital so quickly. for British Cycling and a driver for They couldn’t operate on me for 36 Union Cycliste Internationale – the
LIFE-CHANGING: Darren Howitt had to learn to walk and talk again after the accident. Below, Darren taking part in the Luton Grand Prix world governing body of cycling – driving support cars for cyclists and TV crews at major events.
Last year, he drove at the UCI World Championships, the biggest cycling event of the year, in Harrogate, describing it as “the best time of my life”.
Unfortunately, in November last year he was knocked off his bike by a motorist and had to spend two nights at the Queen’s Medical Centre after breaking a bone in his back.
He has now returned to his job as returns manager at Thermo Fisher Scientific, in Loughborough. He thanked his employers for the patience they have shown and helping him to regain his strength and health.
Darren is adamant that without the air ambulance he would not be alive today. He has even visited the air crew’s base at East Midlands Airport to meet the paramedic who was on duty on the day of his accident.
“It was amazing to shake his hand and say thank you. The air ambulance is an amazing charity and there’s no doubt it saved my life,” he said.
Your local air ambulance launches its brand new life-saving helicopters early next year. To support the vital work they do, call 0300 3045 999 or visit:
The air ambulance is an amazing charity and there’s no doubt it saved my life
Darren Howitt