Sian Kearney

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Type of Incident - Car Accident

Date of Incident - 10^th June 2007

Time - 9am

Location - Caterham

 

Sian Kearney is the first to say she's "lucky to be alive", in saying that she's certainly making the most of life, since the accident that in her words, "could have been so much worse, if the Sussex Air ambulance hadn't arrived when it did". 

 

It was around 9am on Sunday June 10^th 2007 when the 30 year old medical secretary - at the Princess Royal Hospital in Haywards Heath, was driving in Caterham, she was on her way to meet her family in Horsham. Sian, an insulin dependant diabetic, suffered a hypo when her blood sugars dropped very low and without warning. It caused her to pass out at the wheel of her brand new car and as a result she ploughed head on into a brick wall at 70 mph. When the emergency services arrived Sian's car was on fire, both of her legs were broken and she was unconscious. Sian had also sustained a fractured heel bone. The emergency services at the scene were helped by people living close by and also by other motorists who had witnessed the accident.

 

Once Sian had been treated at the scene by the HEMS (Helicopter Emergency Medical Service) crew and had certain bones straightened, she was airlifted to the East Surrey Hospital and underwent life saving surgery. During an operation to pin her femur, Sian's hip became fractured. Her operation was followed by five days in intensive care and several months in hospital, but more frustratingly for Sian, 10 months in a wheelchair until she was able to take her first steps.

 

Over the next few months, Sian will undergo her 10^th reconstructive surgery operation since the accident - but while she's now on the path to recovery - having had endless sessions of physiotherapy, Sian is still in severe pain. However Sian is determined to get her life back to normal, being a keen horse rider she has just had her first riding lesson refresher.

 

Sian, who now lives in Billingshurst in West Sussex, said "I'd heard of the Sussex Air Ambulance before, but now I'm always telling my friends about the service and what great work it does. It's scary to think what might have been had the Air Ambulance not been there". Sian has also just signed up to become a volunteer for the Sussex Air Ambulance service - to "give something back".

 

"My accident was life changing - The Sussex Air Ambulance has allowed me make the most of everything I have now".