Grateful grandma rescued after horse fall urges all to donate to air ambulance

A Kineton grandmother who was among the first people to be rescued by the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance after falling off her horse is backing the charity's latest appeal.
Bronwen Hurley from Kineton, one of the first people to be rescued by the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.Bronwen Hurley from Kineton, one of the first people to be rescued by the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.
Bronwen Hurley from Kineton, one of the first people to be rescued by the Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance.

Bronwen Hurley suffered serious head and spinal injuries after the fall at her stables in Kineton in 2003, as her horse kicked her in the face.

She is now urging people to donate as the service celebrates completing its 25,000th mission this week by launching a new appeal, ‘25,000 reasons to support your local air ambulance’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

The 69-year-old said: “There was blood gushing everywhere. The blow fractured my jaw, knocked some of my teeth out and broke my neck. If the break had been any higher, I might have been paralysed.

Paying tribute to Dr Matthew Wyse, who still works at the air ambulance, she said: “I was so relieved when the air ambulance arrived. Dr Wyse took control immediately and began treating me and I was soon in the helicopter.

“I had a long road to recovery. It was a life-changing experience and I’m so glad the air ambulance team was there. It might have been quite different without them.”

Bronwen was flown to hospital in Coventry where she spent three weeks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

She added: “If you are in two minds about donating, I would say please do. You just never know when you might need them.”

The service’s helicopter is based at Coventry Airport in Baginton and flies an average of three missions a day.

Director of operations Richard Clayton said: “We are delighted to have reached this significant milestone. We couldn’t have done it without our incredible supporters who continue to keep us flying. It’s also down to our highly skilled and dedicated staff whose tremendous work over the years has made us the success we are today.”

The charity is organising reunion events across the area for past patients as part of the 25,000 Missions Appeal celebrations this summer, where guests can meet the crew. Find out more at theairambulanceservice.org.uk/patientstories or call 08454 130999.

To donate to the appeal, visit theairambulanceservice.org.uk