Bus crash victim thanks air medics

8:49am Thursday 3rd July 2008

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A SCHOOLBOY seriously injured in a bus crash last year has thanked the air ambulance crew who saved his life.

Ben Conroy, now 13, suffered a broken ankle, damaged knee ligaments, a fractured pelvis, broken ribs and a punctured lung in the incident in Hartlepool, on July 11, last year.

He had to be airlifted to the intensive care unit at The James Cook University Hospital, in Middlesbrough, after being struck when an out-ofcontrol bus mounted the pavement outside English Martyrs School.

Yesterday, the Great North Air Ambulance landed at the school, where Ben presented the crew with a cheque for £12,777.

As he handed over the money, Ben said: "I want to say thank you for what they have done. It's just been amazing seeing the ambulance."

Ben raised the money through a series of fundraising events since the accident.

His father, Paul, said: "He was in a very serious condition - we didn't know whether it was going to be life or death at that point.

"It was a really tough time, especially when he was in intensive care. He's still not 100 per cent, he's got some way to go, but it's a miracle. He was saved by the air ambulance."

Ben's mother, Jane, said: "He's very determined. He pushed through all the pain barriers. We are very proud of him."

Great North Air Ambulance paramedic Paul Scott said: "For a 13-year-old to put himself out and raise all this money is excellent. He's done a remarkable job."

Meanwhile, the helicopter's pilot, Chris Attrill, has spoken of the moment he first heard the emergency call.

Mr Attrill said: "We were going to a different task at the time when we heard the information coming over the radio.

"The police had already been activated by one of our paramedics back at the air desk.

"They were first to arrive at the scene, but we arrived shortly afterwards.

"We were only on the ground for about five minutes - Ben was all packed up and put in the aircraft and we were at James Cook hospital about five minutes later."