Crash victim thanks air ambulance service after horror Burton Latimer collision

A woman who was airlifted to hospital after a horror smash near Burton Latimer has praised the life-saving service which came to her aid.

Nadine Sowinski, 35, was flown to Coventry by the Warwickshire & Northamptonshire Air Ambulance (WNAA) after the crash on the A6 in May 2019 having been cut out of her car by a fire crew.

The journey - which would have taken at least 40 minutes by road - took just 12 minutes and was crucial as she had lost a lot of blood and had a weak pulse.

Nadine, who lives near Kettering, said: “It was one of the most vulnerable times of my entire life and there was a significant part of scooping me up, rescuing me and getting me to the appropriate place of care with the worst-case scenario in mind.

“You get one shot at providing immediate treatment after serious accidents or serious health conditions and that one shot can be the difference between a positive or negative outcome. The local air ambulance do all they can to ensure it is a positive outcome."

The occupational therapist's injuries included a fractured right ankle, a severe laceration down to the bone on her left forearm, haematoma to her right elbow and a suspected perforated abdomen.

She spent five days in hospital - during which time she underwent surgery to repair her forearm - and then was off work for three months.

Nadine has no recollection being airlifted as she suffered from post-traumatic amnesia and received help from an occupational therapist and physiotherapist, along with emotional support. She also attended trauma and orthopaedic clinics.

An important part of her recovery was meeting the air ambulance doctor who treated her during a visit to the WNAA base at Coventry Airport, where doctor Lauren Weekes was able to tell her about the treatment she received at the scene of the accident.

Nadine said: “It was comforting for me to meet one of the professionals involved in my care and it allowed me to say thank you which was very important to me.

“As I have lost my memory of the actual accident and events just prior to it and for a while afterwards, Lauren helped me to fill in the blanks as to what my injuries were, what help I needed and why. This was a very necessary part of my recovery.”

More than a year after the crash Nadine still suffers pain from damaged ligaments in her right ankle but she finds swimming and yoga help and her walking is slowly improving.

Having been on the receiving end of the life-saving work carried out by WNAA, which is dependent on donations with each rescue mission costing about £1,700, she is urging local people and businesses to support the charity.

She said: “The day you or someone you love need an air ambulance you will regret never having supported them. It is a service that doesn’t discriminate and treats each individual the same – as humans."

WNAA is launching brand new lifesaving helicopters early next year. To support the vital work they do, visit www.theairambulanceservice.org.uk.

Message from the editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

In order for us to continue to provide trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper.

Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the highest standards in the world. The dramatic events of 2020 are having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers and consequently the advertising that we receive.

We are now more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news by buying a copy of our newspaper.

Thank you