A Turriff Academy deputy headteacher who abseiled from the roof of Murrayfield Stadium to raise money for Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) was rescued by the same service just four days later after a road crash.
Kate, 50, had taken part in SCAA's biggest-ever fundraising event in Edinburgh on May 16. She was driving home near Banff on the A95 when a campervan suddenly pulled out of a junction directly in front of her. She was travelling at around 50mph, and the force of the collision flipped the campervan on its side. The front of Kate's truck was badly crushed.
Crash and rescue on the A95
Kate was able to climb from her truck to safety and saw that those in the campervan had also escaped unhurt. However, she quickly realised she was in significant pain and needed to sit down. An off-duty newly qualified paramedic happened to be nearby and stopped to help, sitting in the back of Kate's vehicle and holding her head steady.
She was suffering pain in her neck and chest and was unsure of the extent of her injuries. Kate said: “I didn’t know what was wrong with me, but I knew it was the top half of my body that was really hurting.”
Helicopter transfer to hospital
Police Scotland and ambulance crews arrived at the scene before the SCAA helicopter landed nearby. The specialist crew assessed Kate and carefully prepared her for the flight to hospital, as the extent of her injuries could not be established without a scan. She was transferred to the helicopter by a stretcher with a vacuum mattress to support her head and was flown to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary in just 15 minutes.
It was only then that the coincidence of the previous few days hit home. “I just couldn’t believe the irony of having to need the service I had just been fundraising for a few days before,” she said. “I do endurance horse riding and I ride on my own a lot in very remote areas. I knew if I ever got into trouble that SCAA would be able to reach me when a land ambulance couldn’t. But I didn’t expect to have need of them for this type of incident.”
Recovery and gratitude
Once she arrived at hospital, the adrenaline began to wear off and Kate was given morphine. A CT scan and further tests revealed she had suffered a fractured sternum and severe whiplash to her neck. Kate was able to return to work around a month later and soon got back on her horse, although she said her recovery took time and she has been left with anxiety when driving.
She remains hugely grateful for the treatment she received and says the speed of the helicopter made a huge difference given how far she lives from Aberdeen. “The SCAA crew were calm, with a good sense of humour, and it was clear they knew what they were doing,” she said. “Everything was so quick and professional. Where we live it’s an hour on the road to Aberdeen…the difference a helicopter can make is massive.”
