Family takes to skies to thanks saviours of Yorkshire gran Rose, 94, who is battling on after leg amputation

Rose Smiles suffered a head injury and severe leg injuries after she was knocked down crossing the High Street, in Knaresborough, in September.

The Yorkshire Air Ambulance airlifted her to Leeds General Infirmary where surgeons had to amputate her left leg below the knee, while damage to her right leg has meant that she now needs to use a wheelchair.

As a thank you to the charity, one of her daughters, Maggie Maltby, and two of her grandchildren, Ellie and Sarah Priest, will be doing a sponsored skydive on Saturday as part of a £12,000 fundraising drive. The family are also planning to hike the Three Peaks in April.

Ms Maltby, 65, from Knaresborough, said: “She is just amazing but without Yorkshire Air Ambulance she would not be here. She needed surgery as soon as possible and a journey by land ambulance to Leeds would have taken around 45 minutes.

“The crew were brilliant and got her where she needed to be in minutes. We are just so grateful.”

If the family manages to reach their £12,000 fundraising goal, they will have generated enough money to keep the charity’s two air ambulances flying for a single day.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance serves five million people across Yorkshire and has carried more than 6,400 people in its history.

To donate to the family’s fundraising campaign visit justgiving.com/Ellie-Priest2.