TWO different Air Ambulances were involved in a race against time to save a Bude man's life highlighting their vital role and emphasising the need to raise funds to keep them in the air.
One morning in early September, 2008, David Teale, a retired Junior School teacher was looking across Flexbury Park Road at the men and ladies who were enjoying a game on the North Cornwall and Bude Golf Course. His ground floor flat was directly opposite the18th Tee and as a former player, he would spend many hours studying the form of the golfers..
On this particular day, he suddenly became aware of severe pains across his chest and he immediately realised that he was having a heart attack. His instant decision was to walk to the Ambulance Station which fortunately was less than a hundred metres away.
Luck was on his side because a paramedic was in the building waiting to go out. He called to his partner and together they checked David's condition and established that the patient was having a massive heart attack.
They administered treatment to stabilise the condition and they knew that they would have to drive David to the North Devon District Hospital in Barnstaple. Since the heart attack was so severe, they doubted if they could make it to hospital in time. A call was put through for the Cornish Air Ambulance to take David.
With a golf course nearby, there were plenty of landing spaces for the helicopter. Unfortunately, there was no access for a patient in a wheel chair since the course was surrounded by a fence. Four strong Ambulance men took hold of the chair and lifted it clear of the obstruction.
All formalities were quickly over and the red helicopter took off for Barnstaple.
Once in the hospital, the emergency team dealt with the patient and decided, after a series of tests, that his heart would probably not stand major surgery. There was one treatment called angioplasty which should be tried and this would have to be administered at the Royal Devon and Exeter Hospital, Wonford, Exeter.
David was therefore put into a road ambulance and they set off for Exeter. After a distance of a few miles, his condition deteriorated and the Devon Air Ambulance was called.
This helicopter arrived quickly and the patient was flown to the hospital where angioplasty was tried but without success. There was only one further procedure which was major heart surgery and this would have to be done in Derriford Hospital, Plymouth. As soon as a bed and operating theatre were available, another road ambulance journey was arranged and David was operated on successfully. On the following day he was up and walking about and 4½ days later he was allowed to return home to Bude.
David is not only fit and well but he takes his dog for a four-mile walk twice a day and he has given up smoking. He considers that his NHS treatment, two helicopters and two road ambulances have given him a new lease of life. He is naturally very grateful for the care given to him throughout the treatment and he particularly commented on the preparation which was given before each move or stage of the treatment. This removed his fear of the unknown and gave him confidence to endure the procedures. He cannot speak too highly of the Ambulance crews who worked so well together in many difficult circumstances.
The cost of running the Cornish Air Ambulance will exceed £1.5 Million this year and relies on donations for most of this money. Last Christmas, Bude Choral Society donated the sum of £500 which were the proceeds of a Concert in which Bude Metric Brass and Bude Wind Ensemble were invited to join. This year the Choral Society will be bringing together the musical talents of the Mini-Minstrels and a return visit of the Bude Wind Ensemble.
Members of the choir will be taking part in the event and the audience will be invited to sing some of their favourite carols. The concert will again be under the baton of John Hobbs who has been the Society's Director of Music for nearly 40 years. The Concert will take place in Central Methodist Church at 7.30pm on Wednesday December 17. Admission is by programme priced at £5 on sale at Ark Angel Bookshop or at the door of the Church immediately prior to the Concert.
The society hopes that a number of local people who have benefitted from the Air Ambulance will attend the Concert and during the refreshment time will talk about their experiences.
If you or your family have a story to tell about the Cornish Air Ambulance Service please phone 01288-356305. No story will be made public without your permission.