A Wales Air Ambulance past patient is set to take to the skies to raise funds for the charity that helped save his life.
Four years ago, Joshua Tayman, was hiking with his friend Benjamin in Snowdon when their day out resulted in Joshua nearly losing his life.
As they walked along a track at the top of a waterfall, Joshua slipped and fell approximately 50ft into a river close to Swallow Falls near Betws y Coed.
Benjamin free-climbed down to the river to help his friend, which took approximately 5-7 minutes, where he found Joshua, from Ellesmere Port, face down in the water.
To save him from drowning, Benjamin jumped into the river and pulled Joshua out. He performed CPR on Joshua, and dragged him across the river where a passer-by, who happened to be a doctor, took over the CPR.
Thankfully, after 10 minutes Joshua started to breathe a little and a road ambulance arrived on scene, followed by the Wales Air Ambulance critical care team.
Joshua remarkably survived the fall, but it resulted in him suffering from a broken coccyx, parietal scalp haematoma, multiple whole-body bruises and a 4cm wound behind his left ear.
He was kept in an induced coma and on a ventilator for three days in the intensive care unit, before being woken up and taken off the ventilator on day four.
As a thank you to those who helped to save his life, Joshua will be taking part in a skydive to raise funds for the Charity that means so much to him.
Since his accident Josh has got married and has become a father, a grateful Josh, said: “The Wales Air Ambulance is extremely important to me, if only for the fact that I wouldn’t be here to do stunts like this without them, or to experience getting married.
“I’m also an avid hiker, so I know how easy it is to get into trouble in the mountains or near rivers and waterfalls. The air ambulance is there for anyone who needs it in those situations.
“I picked to do a skydive because I am a bit of a thrill seeker and believe that if you’re not excited and a little scared then what’s the point. So doing things that others would find uncomfortable gives me a thrill and is impressive to those who would donate.”
Josh plans on taking the leap near the Lake District on Saturday 27 June after a year of waiting. Unfortunately, due to weather issues his skydive has previously been cancelled twice.
Joshua is hopeful the skydive will go ahead this time, he added: “I’m really looking forward to the skydive after waiting over a year now. So, I’m excited to get up there and get it done.”
Following his accident Joshua has played an important part within the Charity where he is part of a patient forum run by the Charity’s aftercare service.
The Wales Air Ambulance is consultant-led, taking hospital-standard treatments to the patient and, if required, transferring them directly to the most appropriate hospital for their illness or injury.
It is delivered via a unique third-sector and public-sector partnership. The Wales Air Ambulance Charity relies on public donations to raise the £13 million required every year to keep the helicopters in the air and rapid response vehicles on the road.
The Emergency Medical Retrieval and Transfer Service (EMRTS) supplies highly skilled NHS consultants and critical care practitioners who work on board the Charity’s vehicles.
This advanced critical care includes the ability to administer anaesthesia, deliver blood transfusions and conduct minor operations, all at the scene of an incident.
As a pan-Wales service, its dedicated crews, regardless of where they are based, will travel the length and breadth of the country to deliver emergency critical care.
Debra Sima, Wales Air Ambulance’s Regional Fundraising Manager for the area, said: “Good luck to Josh for taking on a skydive in aid of our lifesaving charity. Josh is a thrill seeker and we’re extremely grateful that since his accident he has wanted to give something back to our all-Wales charity.
“Josh knows firsthand how important and how vital our service is to the people of Wales. Despite Josh’s horrific fall and nearly drowning, he has made an incredible recovery and is now going to jump out of a plane for the Charity!
“I hope the weather is kinder to him this time and it will be third time lucky. We wish Josh well with his skydive and I hope people support his fundraiser.”
