Lake District: Man praises GNAAS for saving his life

Dean Abbott, 33, and his father had travelled to the Lake District on their motorbikes on a sunny day in August 2010.

As the pair travelled down the road in Windermere, Mr Abbott’s bike started to stutter so he turned the fuel tap to reserve while going over the brow of a hill. However, he didn’t realise he was heading towards a right-hand corner and went straight on.

Dean Abbott on a trip out in Scotland in 2014 (Image: GNAAS)

Dean said: “My back wheel clipped the verge and the swinging arm hit a 40mph post and flung me between the bike and cast-iron railings. Up until this day, I was a boisterous, unstoppable young man and for the first time, I was not in control.

“Luckily a doctor was riding her horse in a field close by and the people in a car on the opposite side of the road, who are now known as our ‘Derby family’, all provided support.

Dean with Jo and Russ (his Derby family) and partner Faye (Image: GNAAS)

“In a moment like this, a lot goes through your mind; I remember feeling really tired, seeing the shock in my dad’s face and hearing the words ‘the ambulance can’t get here’.”

The Great North Air Ambulance Service's (GNAAS) critical care team was requested to attend the incident.

They flew from their base in Langwathby, Penrith and after landing close by in Windermere, a paramedic and doctor treated Mr Abbott’s multiple injuries on scene before airlifting him to hospital.

Dean in the RVI in Newcastle (Image: GNAAS)

He said: “Apparently, your body can only cope with so much pain at one time; my ankle and shoulder were both broken, there were wounds on my ankle and forearm which required skin and muscle grafts. My shoulder and elbow were so badly dislocated I still have limited movement to this day and after spending a few weeks in intensive care, I had to be told that my hip was bruised and my nose was also broken.

“I spent the next four months in hospital, almost twelve months in a wheelchair and I still do regular physio.”

Dean, the business development manager at Ethical Planning, met with Ben Sisson, a specialist fundraiser from GNAAS, to discuss how he can support the charity in the future.

Dean with his dad Alex (Image: GNAAS)

The team at Ethical Planning are organising a fundraiser event and GNAAS will be one of the chosen charities.

Mr Abbott, from Hexham, said: “GNAAS saved my life and gave me a second chance, and I have made a promise to myself to give back in any way I can.”

GNAAS needs to raise £8.5m a year to remain operational and launched a raffle with a top prize of £10,000. To find out more and buy tickets visit: gna.as/raffle_2024 or call 01325 487263.