Teenager’s 20ft cliff fall ordeal to be told to nation
TV SPOT FOR RESCUE DRAMA
“MAM I’m so sorry. I’ve cut my leg. You’ve got to come.”
These were panicked teenager Robbie Drew’s first words to his mum after he fell 20ft from cliffs onto rocks from Man Haven Bay, South Shields.
The 15-year-old frantically dialled mum Lizzy Stavers after the ground gave way beneath his feet on August 2 last year.
Robbie’s dramatic story will be featured on Emergency Helicopter Medics – a TV series which follows the work of the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) charity – on More4 tonight at 9pm.
In spite of his severe injuries, the teenager managed to call his mum, who immediately drove to the clifftop with his dad Neil Drew.
Recalling that day, Lizzy said: “Robbie said, ‘Mam I’m so sorry. I’ve cut my leg. You’ve got to come.’
“We were absolutely frantic and we could see the air ambulance, and Neil said it must be for Robbie, but I thought, ‘It can’t be, he’s only cut his leg.’
“We parked up and got a first aid kit out of the car and ran down the steps onto the bay.
“You could see Robbie perched on a rock, and the rocks were really slippy so we were scurrying across and Neil got to Robbie first.
“I remember Neil taking a towel off Robbie’s leg and turning around and looking at me as if to say, ‘Oh, it’s bad.’”
The GNAAS paramedic and doctor team arrived at the scene and worked alongside the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS), Sunderland Coastguard Rescue Team and South Shields Volunteer Life Brigade to assess and treat Robbie.
Lizzy said: “I remember the doctor and paramedic coming down the steps in orange.
“The doctor gave him some ketamine and then we had to carry him safely off the rocks.
“He scratched all his back and chest and degloved [lost a large a amount of skin fom] his leg, but thankfully there were no broken bones.”
Robbie was rushed to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle by a NEAS road crew and had his leg stitched up as well as a skin graft.
He left hospital after two weeks and the aspiring footballer managed to get back on the pitch just four months later.
Lizzy said: “He’s been left with horrendous scarring as there was a big indentation, but the reconstruction looks great and it hasn’t knocked his confidence.
“At the time there was talk that he could possibly lose his leg, but now he’s back playing football. So it’s a really happy ending.”
Thanking the charity GNAAS for their work, Lizzy added: “Robbie would have been in a lot more pain and discomfort if GNAAS weren’t there. The expertise on board meant they could administer the medication he needed, and we’re so grateful for them.
“The care, professionalism and dedication they gave to Robbie was great and we can’t thank them enough.”
The GNAAS relies on public donations and last year the charity needed to raise £5.1m. To find out how you can help, call 01325 487 263.