Our Impact Patient Stories “Without the air ambulance, things could have been so different” - Tim's Story Tim Richardson thought he was suffering a heart attack while out shopping. In fact, his symptoms were hiding something different, meaning he needed a time-critical, inter-hospital transfer for specialist surgery. Tim’s partner, Caroline, kindly tells us more… Tim's Sudden Health Scare It was Tuesday lunchtime and Tim was shopping in Bridport when he suddenly experienced chest and back pains and thought he was having a heart attack. The staff at the supermarket immediately called an ambulance and he was blue-lighted to A&E at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester. An ECG was performed which showed that Tim was not suffering from a heart attack, so he was sent for a CT scan. Thankfully, the medical team at Dorchester correctly and quickly diagnosed that he had, in fact, suffered an aortic dissection. This is an extremely serious condition where there is a tear in the inner wall of the main artery, causing blood to leak between the layers, which in turn can lead to internal bleeding and organ failure. If not correctly diagnosed and treated quickly, the condition is life-threatening and requires immediate surgery. Urgent Need for Specialist Surgery Doctors at the hospital acted very promptly after Tim’s diagnosis. They explained the urgency of the situation, continued monitoring him, while lining up a surgical team at Southampton Hospital. The Call for Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance It was becoming clear that a fast transfer to Southampton, with a specialist team of clinicians and equipment, was going to be critical for Tim’s chances of survival. This is where Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance (DSAA) were called upon; thankfully they were available and were mobilised in what seemed like a matter of minutes. The Critical Care Team's Swift Response The critical care team, led by Dr Phil, were in charge of Tim’s care and were amazing. We were both in a state of shock, trying to digest the bad news, but the team kept the situation very calm while preparing him for the transfer via air ambulance. The speed, efficiency and even humour with which they worked really helped us through those very traumatic moments. They allowed us a few seconds to say goodbye, before bearing Tim skywards while I followed on to Southampton by taxi. That journey was the longest of my life and would have been unbearable if it had not have been for the DSAA team who called me en-route, to let me know when they had landed at Southampton and then again when Tim was delivered to theatre. They kept me appraised of his condition, informing me that he was conscious, talking and ready to undertake the operation. Although Tim was already being prepped for surgery when I arrived at the hospital, thanks to the contact from the DSAA team, I was reassured that he had been and would be in good hands. A Life-Saving Operation Tim underwent a nine-hour operation, which involved fixing the most damaged part of his aorta and the insertion of a new atrial valve. The cardio-thoracic surgical team at Southampton Hospital were incredible and Tim was finally woken up in intensive care on Thursday morning. I was contacted by one of the charity’s patient and family liaison nurses that day who offered their services. It was so comforting to know that we could call on them for support if needed. Recovery was tough and due to further serious complications, Tim had to stay in hospital for over six weeks. We finally got to come home in May and since then Tim has made slow but steady progress on his path to recovery. Supporting the Charity That Saved Tim Like many others, we only learned retrospectively that this wonderful service is charity funded, so we have been doing our little bit to drum up support. In the summer, we worked alongside the team at Shipton Gorge Community Café and held a coffee morning and raffle at the village pub, the New Inn, where Tim used to work. During the day, 240 slices of cake and countless cups of tea were sold, all for a donation to DSAA. This event, together with personal donations, means we have been able to donate £2,500 to this wonderful cause. We are obviously indebted to so many people who helped to save Tim’s life that day, none more so than the air ambulance. The time-critical, inter-hospital transfer that they provided played a crucial part in his survival and without it, things could have been so different. Until their experience with the air ambulance, Tim and his partner Caroline hadn’t realised the service was charity funded. They decided to hold a cake sale and raffle, raising £2,500 for DSAA Next: Esme's Story Manage Cookie Preferences