2 weeks Ago By [email protected] (Samuel Port)
A Barnsley 12-year-old boy fractured his leg after losing control of his bike in a muddy field and falling into a ditch. Reegan Dickinson, from Grimethorpe , had been riding with friends on a field near his home when his bike's front wheel skidded into a small ditch. Thrown from the bike, he suffered a serious open fracture to his lower right leg.
His father, who was nearby at the time, rushed to his side to comfort him while they waited for help to arrive. Yorkshire Air Ambulance's (YAA) Nostell-based critical care team were quickly dispatched to the scene. The fracture required urgent treatment to reduce the risk of further complications.
Reegan said: “The ground was so wet, and my bike just flipped when the wheel got stuck in a ditch. I’ve spent weeks playing video games while recovering, but I can’t wait to get back to riding—on a new bike! "I even got to visit the Nostell air base with my family and see Tom [a paramedic] again. My leg was still in its cage, but it was great to catch up and talk about everything that happened that day.
” To manage the intense pain of straightening his leg, the team administered ketamine, a powerful analgesic. They straightened the leg and applied bandages, before applying a vacuum splint to reduce further pain and movement. Paramedic Tom Chatwyn said: "An open fracture is not just a break to the bone; it’s also a break to the skin, which risks infection, nerve damage, and significant blood loss.
This can quickly become life-threatening if not treated urgently. “Despite the seriousness of the situation, Reegan’s humour and bravery brought positivity to a challenging job.” Reegan was carefully loaded into the helicopter and flown to Leeds General Infirmary, a major trauma centre, where a team of specialists were ready to perform surgery and repair his leg with a metal implant.
From there, Reegan began his recovery journey, which included intensive physiotherapy. Reegan's story was told on Yorkshire Air 999, airing on Quest on Friday, November 29, at 9pm. Get all the latest and breaking South Yorkshire news straight to your inbox by signing up to our newsletter here.
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