A member of the Rotary Club of Bridport has praised the Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and paramedics after he fell from a ladder and suffered serious injuries.

Arthur Dalgleish was picking apples from a tree in his garden in Burton Bradstock. The steps he was using were on top of a small retaining wall and leant against the tree and as he reached out to pick some apples, he lost his balance and fell backwards. His head took the full impact as it hit the floor before his body.

Arthur's wife, Hazel, was inside the house when it happened.

"It was the steps hitting the wall that made me turn around to see Arthur through the French windows," she said.

"When I went outside, one of his legs was still in the rungs of the steps and he looked a terrible colour; I immediately called 999.

"He had obviously suffered serious trauma to his head as when I turned his head towards me, there was blood coming from his ear. I kept talking to him , hoping to keep him breathing."

Two response vehicles and an ambulance attended but when paramedics realised the seriousness of his injuries, they called for help from Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance.

It was a very windy day, presenting challenges for all involved, and Arthur was placed on a stretcher on the top lawn. Due to the bright sunlight and winds, a paramedic held up a sheet to shield him and allow the team to get to work.

Hazel added: "Arthur was placed on a stretcher on the top lawn and due to the bright sunlight and gusting winds, a paramedic held up a sheet to shield him, enabling the team to get to work.

"He was intubated [placed in an induced coma] which I had been told would help relieve the pressure on his brain and reduce the potential of brain damage.

"It was amazing to see the hospital being brought to our garden that day and the skills and speed of the team gave Arthur the chance of life back.

"Arthur was flown to the regional trauma centre at Southampton General Hospital and I followed behind with neighbours in the car."

In flight, the air ambulance team placed a blood pressure monitoring line to enable more accurate assessment of Arthur's intensive care needs. This enabled the pressure of blood reaching his brain to be carefully controlled while on route to hospital and during his ongoing care.

Hazel said: "At the hospital, we were warned that Arthur might not pull through after he sustained two bleeds on the brain and a cracked skull. Our family were dotted all over England, but they managed to get to the hospital by 8pm that night. We all stayed close to the hospital by 8pm that night. We all stayed close to the hospital for the next three days, waiting for more news."

Amazingly, after five days, Arthur was stable enough to be transferred to Dorset County Hospital for further rehabilitation.

"Exactly 12 days after the incident," Hazel added, "it was Arthur's 78th birthday and he managed to read every one of his cards.

"He stayed in Dorchester for four months.

"His recovery was slow, but I visited all afternoon every day. Each time I took something different with me to either read, to play, or even a piece of brass to clean."

The brain injury specialist at the hospital thought that Arthur showed signs that he could achieve a good recovery from his injuries and pressed for him to be given one of the 10 beds in the Kite Rehabilitation Unit in Southampton, which takes in brain injury patients. Arthur spent a further two months there, bringing them to March this year.

Hazel said: "With the Covid-19 pandemic becoming a major factor and Arthur desperate to come home, I was able to bring him out on March 13, nine months since the incident happened.

"Since then, we have obviously been in lockdown. Arthur has got much stronger physically and old memories are coming back. We are hoping that this will continue improving; he is already problem solving, so has done really well.

"We hope that by sharing our story, it shows others who are experiencing the effects of brain injury that recovery is possible.

"What's more, we wanted to say a big thank you to Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance and everyone involved in helping Arthur that day. You are responsible for this successful outcome and we are so grateful."

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