THE relieved family of an 11-year-old girl who was seriously injured in a scooter crash has thanked the helicopter team which rushed her to hospital.

The Slater family from Macclesfield have expressed their gratitude to the Wales Air Ambulance who flew to the aid of their daughter whilst they were holidaying on the Ll?n Peninsula.

The family-of-four were enjoying an excursion last year when disaster struck during May half-term.

Richard Slater recalls the frightening experience: “We were on holiday at the caravan in Abersoch just as my wife (Lynne) and I had done as kids.

“Our son Tom and daughter Laura were on their scooters with friends enjoying themselves.

“Laura decided to scoot down a hill and it was at this moment when things took a turn for the worse.

“Whilst scooting down the hill, Laura crashed straight into the side of car, leaving her with serious injuries.

“Fortunately, a friend of ours who is a nurse was nearby when the accident happened and suspected Laura had broken her femur.

“Upon the arrival of the paramedics they confirmed she had indeed broken her femur and an air ambulance was called because of the distance to Bangor.”

“When the helicopter arrived the doctor and critical care practitioner worked very quickly to stabilise her condition and tend to her other injuries which included a cracked rib and lacerations to her other leg. The initial plan was to fly her to Ysbyty Gwynedd but, because of how busy they were, a decision was taken to fly Laura to the Major Trauma Centre at the Royal Stoke University Hospital instead.”

Laura was flown from the scene at Abersoch to the Royal Stoke Hospital in a flight which took less than 50 minutes.

Richard added: “Upon arrival at Stoke, Laura was operated on the next day and had been discharged within a few days to recover at home. It was an incredible relief for us when we were told the air ambulance was en route.

“We realised the seriousness of her injuries so to have the helicopter fly her to the specialist care very quickly meant so much to us.

“We as a family think that Wales Air Ambulance is such an amazing service. Laura is living proof of how important they are in getting quickly to patients who need urgent medical care. We cannot thank the crew enough for what they did for our Laura.”

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