Taking the motorbikes for a 5pm paddock bash to run their four pig dogs after school, was part of a typical Thursday for Sam and his 7-year-old son Oliver.
But when Sam didn’t hear his son’s bike behind him, he turned back to see where he was.
Finding his son unresponsive is a parent’s worst nightmare, and Sam knew instantly that the situation was serious.
“I realised it was bad when he had a big gash on his head, blood coming out his nose but no screaming. I thought, s*** he’s dead.”
“I was freaking out and it was really hard to find a pulse. When I finally found one, I ran back to my quad, yelled at the dogs to get up on the bike, and called 111.”
Guided by the 111 despatch team, Sam moved Olly into the recovery position, removed his helmet and used his hoodie to tilt his head to stem the bleeding.
At the end of the harrowing 19 minute, 30 second phone call, the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter and first response ute arrived together, and the experienced teams began to quickly assess Olly’s condition.
After 35 minutes, Olly began to respond, but after quickly falling back unconscious, Olly was urgently flown to Starship in Auckland for assessment and treatment.
Two MRI’s cleared Olly of a suspected skull fracture, but the development of hematomas at the back of his brain meant surgery was Olly’s next obstacle. The 2.5-hour surgery was scheduled for 12am Friday, with a plastic surgeon, eye specialist from Greenlane Hospital and a paediatric surgeon.
From there, it was a waiting game for Olly to regain consciousness, said Sam.
“The waiting game was just horrific. Olly was sleeping for four days after the accident, would wake up for a moment to talk, then fall back asleep again.
“But from day five onwards, he started to make great improvements, all of a sudden, he was responding, and speaking in full sentences. It was a bit of a miracle I believe.”
Throughout Oliver’s recovery, Sam, mum Georgia and stepmum Chandra were by his side providing support and after a long 12 days, Olly was finally discharged from Starship and returned home to a very relieved family.
“Seeing the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter and first response teams arrive was just 100% relief. There’s only so much I can do, so I can’t thank the amazing team at Starship, Ronald McDonald house, and of course the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter for how easy they made it for us.”
“We’re so lucky.”
Before Christmas, Sam, Chandra, Olly and his best mate Ridge, made up a gift basket to say thanks to the crew and Olly got to meet with two of the guys who looked after him.
“We’re so aware of helicopters now and living rural, when we see it or hear it, you just think ‘Oh God’.”
“The experiences that the crew have to deal with, they’re just an amazing service. The experiences they deal with, normally it’s not a good outcome, but in our case, thankfully it was.”
Sam said when Olly sees any helicopter in the sky now, he asks ‘is that my helicopter.”
Sam is incredibly grateful for the Taranaki Rescue Helicopter crew and service available to the community.
“If you want to do something, support them and give them some recognition and if you can donate, please do.”
“It’s a service that we’re just so lucky to have.”
