Last March, Esme and her dad Stuart were involved in a serious road traffic incident. Her Mum, Vicky, shares details of what happened, the role that DSAA played in helping to save Esme’s life and thanks those who continue to support Esme’s ongoing recovery journey.

The Crash That Changed Everything

Esme and her dad were driving home from her football match when an oncoming HGV (tanker) suddenly veered into their lane. Stuart swerved to the right to avoid a head-on collision, but the front passenger side of the car, where Esme was sitting, took the full force of the impact.

DSAA’s Rapid Response

When Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) arrived, Stuart was already being treated by paramedics from the ambulance service. The team took control of the situation, directing Esme’s medical care with precision but also with great respect and dignity, as she was situated at the side of a busy road with traffic queuing in both directions. Although it seemed like an eternity to Stuart, the team worked quickly before moving Esme by ambulance to where the helicopter had landed in a nearby field.

Critical Injuries and Emergency Treatment

Esme had a very low conscious level and an obvious severe skull fracture. A breathing tube was placed for her, and she was given intravenous tranexamic acid, which controls bleeding by helping the blood to clot, before she was airlifted to Bristol Royal Hospital for Children. There, it was confirmed that she had broken her hip and the femoral head; she underwent a seven-hour operation to repair this. Esme also fractured her skull, eye socket and had two compressed vertebrae in her spine, along with damage to several teeth. In total, she was in hospital for seven weeks and has amazed us all with her physical recovery; she was unable to fully weight bear for three months following surgery, but since then has gone from strength to strength.

The Ongoing Challenges of Brain Injury

Unfortunately, Esme also sustained a traumatic brain injury, which means that her recovery journey will continue for years to come. She has short-term memory loss, sensory issues, social anxiety, reduced cognitive ability, fatigue, and loss of inhibitions, making her more vulnerable than others. Despite this, she still has the Esme ‘glint’ in her eye. She is now in school on a part-time basis, focusing on emotional wellbeing, along with five hours of home tuition a week. A return to school, as she knew it, is still some way off and will never be in quite the same format as before the incident.

Support from DSAA and Others

We would like to thank Chloe, DSAA’s patient and family liaison nurse, who met us in hospital shortly after Esme was admitted. She has remained in touch throughout, signposting support and subsequently arranging for us to visit the crew that saved Esme’s life on that awful day. Our sincere thanks also go to Tracey Parkinson from the Child Brain Injury Trust (CBIT), who has been invaluable from day one. She has helped to guide us and navigate the new ‘norm’ for Esme, providing some critical awareness to the teaching staff at Esme’s school.

A Message of Thanks

Without the air ambulance that day, our future would undoubtedly look very different—and most probably without Esme in it. Their team gave her the best possible chance to live a full and happy life moving forward. It is vital that people understand the impact of DSAA’s work and, if they can, support them financially. If our story can help raise awareness, it will go a very small way to show our true appreciation.

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View from the Crew: Chloe, Patient and Family Liaison Nurse

Our team were already airborne when they were tasked to Stuart and Esme’s incident. On arrival, the Fire and Rescue Service were in attendance supporting Esme and had begun the plan to enable her safe extrication from the car. We were the first clinical resource to arrive, very shortly followed by an operations officer and paramedics from the HART team.

On immediate assessment, it was evident that Esme had suffered visible head trauma and her conscious level was low. Our team were concerned that she had suffered a significant brain injury and would require a pre-hospital emergency anaesthetic, to prevent and protect the brain from any further harm.

Esme was safely removed from the car and onto our trolley for further assessment. At this time, it became evident that she had also suffered a significant injury to her pelvis and/or hip. The team performed a pre-hospital emergency anaesthetic, before Esme was safely loaded into the aircraft. Due to her injuries, she required a time-critical transfer to the nearest paediatric major trauma unit in Bristol. She remained stable throughout the 20-minute flight, before handover of care in the emergency department. This was a collaborative effort, with huge thanks to our emergency service colleagues in attendance.

In July, it was a pleasure to welcome Esme and her family to the airbase and meet with the clinical and aviation team again. In a relaxed setting, we were able to discuss and answer questions about the pre-hospital care and conveyance Esme received that day. Equally important, it gave us the opportunity to hear about Esme’s recovery journey, which, given the extent of her injuries, has certainly not been easy. Her strength and determination are truly inspiring, as is the unwavering support of her entire family throughout.

It took great courage for Esme and Stuart to reunite with the team and we are so grateful for this opportunity. The impact of such a meeting cannot be overstated, not only on the well-being of the team but for everyone involved.

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Next: Leanne's Story