Rotherham family's 'horrific' car crash rescue featured on Helicopter ER

A mother who suffered serious leg injuries in a head-on collision with a drink-driver will see her dramatic rescue broadcast on television next week.
Ruth Vernon with daughters Elizabeth and Sophie. Picture: Ruth VernonRuth Vernon with daughters Elizabeth and Sophie. Picture: Ruth Vernon
Ruth Vernon with daughters Elizabeth and Sophie. Picture: Ruth Vernon

The "horrific" crash that injured Ruth Vernon and her two daughters was filmed by crews for Really television series Helicopter ER, and will be broadcast next Monday, July 20.

Mrs Vernon, 42, from Thurcroft in Rotherham, wanted to use the opportunity of the show's airing to raise funds for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA), which, as a charity, relies on donations to run.

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The family were on their way to a dance class on Sandy Lane, Thurcroft, in January last year, when their car was hit by a motorist who was later convicted of driving under the influence of alcohol.

Ruth Vernon's care was badly damaged in the crash. Picture: Ruth VernonRuth Vernon's care was badly damaged in the crash. Picture: Ruth Vernon
Ruth Vernon's care was badly damaged in the crash. Picture: Ruth Vernon

Elizabeth, now nine, was sitting in the front passenger seat and was knocked unconscious by the force of the airbag. Her then-four-year-old younger sister Sophie, now six, suffered serious bruising from her car seat harness.

In a twist of fate, Mrs Vernon, who suffered a serious leg injury and was trapped in the car, knew the YAA aircrew paramedic who helped her, Paul Holmes.

Mrs Vernon told the Yorkshire Post: "We were just three or four minutes from home, and it's still a bit of a blur how it actually happened.

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"Just all of a sudden there was a collision. The front end of the car pushed back and I couldn't get out. I still don't know how long I was trapped.

"In a bizarre twist, when the paramedics arrived, I thought, 'I recognise that voice', and it was Paul - our daughters used to dance together. It was only after a mutual friend had text me afterwards that I found out they had been filming for the show."

After the crash, she was taken to Sheffield's Northern General Hospital, while her daughters were taken to Sheffield Children's Hospital to get checked out. Luckily, the girls did not suffer any lasting injury, but Mrs Vernon spent four days in hospital. Mrs Vernon still suffers from pain in the knee that was injured.

During lockdown, the production crew for Helicopter ER contacted her and they filmed interviews via video-call app Zoom.

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It was re-living the experience that resulted in her wanting to raise money for the charity.

Mrs Vernon, a restaurateur, said: "I wanted to say a big thank-you to the crew for what they did for us. Timing the raffle with the show was important, as I think that when people see something like this on the television, they think 'that could happen to me'. I've been blown away by how much I've raised."

Mrs Vernon has had donations from a variety of businesses, including Fred Aldous, Wilson Design Collective, The Black Lion at Firbeck, Clean Drive driveway cleaning and The Spalding School of Dance, and has even had donations from Australia, where her sister lives, and Spain. She has already raised more than £1,000 and hopes to reach £1,500.

To donate to the raffle, or to buy tickets, search for Ruth's Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service Raffle on Facebook.

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