For one Huntly man, being home with his three little boys and supportive partner is so very precious.
“On the day of my accident, I was driving to see a customer in my work ute. On the way, I went past the Hamilton Airport when a tree fell on my ute.” Says Hedley of the accident that very nearly took his life that day.
“This would have been around 11.15 am, it was a very windy and stormy day. I slowed down because of the dangerous conditions, and then a tree fell on top of my ute crushing me.”
Hedley, a sales rep for Giltrap AgriZone Ltd at the time, doesn’t remember anything of the accident but knows someone had to cut the tree off the top of him to free him.
“The fire brigade cut me out, and I was transported to Waikato Hospital by ambulance.”
In a critically serious condition, Hedley was then quickly transferred by the Waikato Westpac Rescue Helicopter for the time-critical flight to Middlemore Hospital, which ultimately saved his life that day.
“I underwent a ten-and-a-half-hour operation to stabilise my broken neck, having broken all the bones in my neck except the C2 joint and had broken T1,2,3 and 4 bones in my back.
“After 29 days in ICU at Middlemore Hospital, I was told what had happened, and the fact that the rescue helicopter saved my life, as I wasn’t expected to get to Middlemore alive,” Hedley says.
After nearly six months in hospital, Hedley is now home and in a wheelchair.
“I can never thank the Crew of the rescue helicopter enough for their expert help which saved my life. My partner and three little boys have their father home.
“I urge everyone to donate to the rescue helicopter, as you never know when that call will be made, and they are there to help.
“The rescue helicopter saves so many lives and makes such a big difference to families like mine,” says Hedley.
Make a difference to families like Hedley’s and donate today.