Bedfordshire man whose wife was saved by TVAA fundraises to 'give back'
The incident happened in North Buckinghamshire, from where the victim was transported in an air ambulance to a major hospital
Last updated 26th Jun 2024
A man from Bedfordshire is raising awareness and funds for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance (TVAA) service after his wife's life was saved by them in January 2023.
Stephanie Thorp was driving home from university in Northamptonshire when a van veered out of its lane, causing a head-on collision.
The accident left her with life-threatening injuries, including serious leg injuries, arm injuries, a brain injury, and collapsed lungs.
Stephanie's husband Toby said: "Had it not been for the air ambulance and in particular Thames Valley Air Ambulance, there is no doubt that she wouldn't have made it to hospital and even had a chance at recovering to the point she's got to now."
"So that's that is why we're talking today about the Thames Valley Air Ambulance and the amazing work they do in bringing critical care services to the roads."
The accident occurred near the border of Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire, highlighting the importance of the air ambulance service in rural areas.
The nearest hospital with the necessary resources was John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford, a significant distance away, which would have been impossible to reach through other means given the extent of her injuries.
Toby said: "The air ambulance essentially acts as a mobile ICU, bringing advanced medical care directly to the scene, and without their intervention, my wife would not have made it to the hospital."
"It's a tiny little hamlet where she had her accident and the nature of her injuries were such that as as good as the paramedics were, they didn't have the equipment or the skillset to give the care that was required in order to save her life."
"So there is no doubt that having a doctor turn up who was able to put her onto a ventilator, take over her breathing for her, those things are critical."
Stephanie spent five weeks in critical care and a total of three months in the hospital.
Despite the severity of her injuries, she made what paramedics labelled a 'remarkable recovery' and returned to her job full-time within a year.
Toby is now fundraising for the Thames Valley Air Ambulance, a charity which desperately needs public support and donations, as it costs around £3,600 to mobilise the helicopter and provide the full service with medical staff on board.
You can find out more on his fundraising page, and you can find information about the charity on their website.