DSAA Beeline, Issue 1 2017

why we do it
“Never did I dream that
I would need their help”
After a life-changing fall, Bob Maclellan needed DSAA’s swift assistance
I
n 2008, Bob Maclellan suffered a serious fall
while at home. He was having an underground
garage built at the time and, while walking
around the garden, he fell through a fence, bounced off
the wall and landed in the footings of the garage.
Fortunately, a lady who was walking her dog heard
Bob calling for help and together with a neighbour
managed to contact a first responder who lived
close by. She promptly arrived and helped
stabilise Bob, who was in a lot of pain. Due to the
obviously serious injuries that he had suffered, a
call was made to ambulance control.
Bob had suffered a head injury on impact
and totally shattered his left shoulder, as well
as suffering a break to his right shoulder. He had
also broken his spine and has no recollection of
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance arriving or his
flight to Dorset County Hospital.
“The air ambulance team made sure that I got to
hospital as quickly as possible. The incident happened
at 4.30pm in the afternoon and at 02.00am I was
subsequently transferred to Southampton. My partner
Jan was told that if I survived 24 hours, I would be very
Of the 675
missions we
flew last year,
82 patients had
suffered a fall
lucky and would at the least be severely disabled. I was
unconscious for about seven weeks and during that time
was transferred back to Dorchester to be closer to home
so that Jan could visit me.
It’s now eight years on and there are still many things
that I struggle to do, as my balance is not good. I do as
much as I can though, and manage to walk with
sticks. I am so grateful to the air ambulance team
who helped me that day and if I could give the
Charity a million pounds I would.
Back in 2001, Jan and I, together with two
friends John and Joan Saunders, started the
‘Cool Country’ Country Music Club in West
Camel, which this year supported Dorset and
Somerset Air Ambulance. Never did I dream that
one day I would need their help but I did and I can’t
thank them enough for being there in my time of need.
“In January, after 21 years of being together, Jan and I
got engaged. Our wedding date is set for Friday 14 April at
Haselbury Mill, followed by a cruise around Ireland and
Scotland for our honeymoon!”
Many congratulations to Bob and Jan from everyone
here at DSAA.
Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance @dsairambulance 17
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