When 25-year-old Nathan Welch was seriously injured in a road traffic accident as a teenager, he had to learn to walk all over again.
Seven years later, he is gearing up to take on a half marathon in aid of the Thames Valley Air Ambulance crews who treated him on the roadside.
The head-on collision with a transit van in 2014 left Nathan severely injured, with numerous fractures and a punctured kneecap.
Most seriously of all, Nathan was trapped in his car on a rainy evening in November as the light was failing.
Thames Valley Air Ambulance arrived on scene first by helicopter, followed by the Fire Service who set to work cutting the roof off Nathan’s car.
The crew gave him ketamine to help manage his pain and, because of the severity of his injuries, he was also given a blood transfusion there and then.
Eventually, he was freed from the wreckage and on his way to the John Radcliffe hospital.
After six weeks, Nathan returned home, where he spent four months in a wheelchair.
He is now incredibly fit and active and looking forward to giving something back with his charity challenge.
Nathan said: “Thames Valley Air Ambulance were the first on the scene after my crash. I’m so grateful to them. I can’t put into words how much it means – thanks to them, my mum has still got her son by her side. By raising money for them I can give something back. It might just help them to save someone else’s life.
“You never know when you might need the air ambulance. I didn’t think I ever would. Without them, I might not be here, or I might have suffered life-changing injuries. Now I’m running a half marathon.”
Ruth Dunkin, head of community and events at Thames Valley Air Ambulance, said: “Nathan’s story is so inspiring because he went through a hugely traumatic event at a young age but managed to come back even stronger. We’re so grateful he’s choosing to run the London Landmarks half marathon for Thames Valley Air Ambulance and wish him the best of luck with his challenge.
“As a charity, we rely solely on the generosity of the public to bring our lifesaving care to the roadside when every second counts. By running for us this April, Nathan could help us keep other families together.”
To help Nathan reach his fundraising goal, visit here.
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