A TEENAGER has thanked the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) which came to the rescue of her stepdad after a crash left him with life-changing injuries.
Astynn Riding, 17, from Ashington, Northumberland, has raised £200 by selling sweet-filled cones to family and friends in a show of appreciation to the charity after they flew to the aid of Ryan Lee.
Ryan, 32, was involved in a motorbike collision on the A696 near Otterburn on October 2, when he crashed through a wall on a bend coming to rest by a tree.
The father-of-three had suffered multiple injuries including a broken back in seven places, a broken leg, punctured lung, five broken ribs and fractures to his wrist and shoulder.
He said: “I can’t really remember much. I was in and out of consciousness. I’m just so grateful to everyone. A passing trainee nurse stopped to help as well as a rapid response paramedic who were both brilliant, alongside GNAAS.”
Following treatment by the GNAAS doctor-led trauma team, he was flown to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary. He was immobile for three weeks and has endured a long recovery.
Ryan, who no longer rides motorbikes after an ultimatum from his wife, said: “She told me I had to give up bikes or get a divorce. I decided against the latter.
“I am eternally grateful to GNAAS. They do an amazing job. You never think you’re going to need the air ambulance until you do.”
Ryan’s wife, Tami Lee, 42, said: “Myself and our daughters nearly lost Ryan and had it not been for GNAAS, I think we would have. The work they do is amazing and is sometimes the difference between life and death.
“We will never be able to show our full gratitude for getting him to hospital so fast and taking such good care of him.
“So a big thank you from the bottom of my heart for keeping my soulmate with me. He is recovering, albeit slowly, but he is alive and that’s all that matters.”
Speaking of her daughter’s fundraising, she said: “We are both extremely proud of Astynn who wanted to give something back to the charity.”
Ryan has also set up a JustGiving page to raise more funds for the charity, to donate click here.
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