A man who came close to losing his leg as well as his life after he was hit by a car last year has been able to thank the efforts of an off-duty medic and her colleagues in an emotional reunion.

John Michaels, from Great Dunmow, was riding his motorbike on 25th August when he was struck by a car in Hatfield Heath, suffering a broken tibia, fibula, and femur in the process.

By sheer coincidence Kaitee Robinson, a student paramedic with the East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust (EEAST), was in a car behind and stopped to help.

She said: “I noticed lots of traffic and thought someone had broken down, however when I got closer I could see John on the floor and his motorbike halfway down the road. Immediately I thought to myself: this isn’t good.”

Kaitee, who was off duty, utilised her training to ensure John didn’t deteriorate whilst waiting for support, which arrived in the form of Emergency Medical Technician Neil Humber, Senior Paramedic Anne Worley, Student Paramedic Mary-Anne Murray, and a crew from the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance Trust (EHAAT). They worked hard together to immobilise him, using critical care to stabilise as best they could.

John was airlifted to Addenbrookes Hospital near Cambridge, where specialists worked tirelessly to save his leg, and several weeks later, he was able to travel home. This all meant that last week (Friday, 31st March), John and wife, Carmen, were able to thank his life savers in person.

John said: “On behalf of my family, thank you for saving me, because of you I am here today. The series of events following the crash saved my life. From the initial efforts of Kaitee, to the rapid response of everyone else – if it wasn’t for them I would’ve died.”

Kaitee said: “It was so good to see John looking so well; it means so much to us to be recognised for what we did.”

Neil added: “Everyone worked really well together to save John, and it is really nice to see him and be appreciated for our efforts.”

If stories like this interest you in working for the ambulance service, find out more here: http://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/join-the-team/working-for-us.htm