A Snargate woman who raised over £27,000 as a thank you for Air Ambulance Kent Surrey Sussex (AAKSS) has been reunited with the doctor who gave her emergency treatment when she was involved in a serious car accident last year.
On 6 July 2018, Wendy Body was driving her son Harry to school when she was in collision with another car after the other driver suffered a suspected fatal heart attack at the wheel.
An AAKSS doctor and paramedic were soon on the scene providing medical care, while a team from Kent Fire & Rescue freed Wendy from her KIA Sportage.
Wendy was airlifted to King’s College Hospital in London suffering multiple fractures to all four limbs and her spine, many of them complex. Harry, now 11, was taken to the William Harvey hospital in Ashford suffering from a ruptured spleen and broken collarbone and transferred to King’s later that day.
The Paediatric Occupational Therapist spent eight weeks in hospital and, while undergoing physiotherapy, hydrotherapy and rehab, hatched a plan with her husband to say thank you to the air ambulance crew.
The result was a summer party for more than 400 guests at Hamstreet Pavilion in July that raised £27,397.29 to support AAKSS’s life-saving work. The event included a hog roast, live music from ‘The Rockitmen’, a raffle and auction of experiences. It was made possible through the generous donations of food, prizes and equipment by local businesses, and the support of family, friends and the local community to plan and host the party.
Wendy and her son have now been to the AAKSS operations base at Redhill with the rest of their family to find out more about the air ambulance and to meet the doctor who came to their rescue, as well as other AAKSS staff.
She said: “It was amazing to meet the doctor who looked after me on the day of the accident and for my husband and I to be able talk to him about what had happened and the treatment I received.
“Everyone I know is incredibly supportive of the air ambulance and were happy to get involved with raising money to support its work and help them continue to save lives across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.
“The air ambulance is one of those things you hope you never need but that when you do, you’re so grateful it’s there.”
