A mother of four has described her terror after a motorbike crash left her with a shattered spine, fearing she would die at the roadside before being rescued by an air ambulance. Pauline, 41, lost control of her motorcycle on a corner near her home in Huntly, Aberdeenshire, and crashed into a drystone dyke. The impact catapulted her along the tarmac and split the bike in two.
Crash and Immediate Aftermath
Pauline was heading to a friend's house to watch a football match when the accident occurred. She recalled: "I remember hitting the wall with a sickening crack. I just lay there as people rushed to help. They told me help was on the way." Paramedics arrived and assessed her condition. "I realised I couldn't feel anything – what was happening to me? I was terrified and when a road ambulance crew arrived and rolled me over the pain was excruciating. They cut my leathers away and did pin prick tests on me, but I couldn't feel anything from my chest down. I was paralysed – both physically and with fear of how seriously injured I might be."
Air Ambulance Rescue
Medics quickly determined that Pauline needed urgent hospital treatment and called for air support. The Scottish Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) arrived with a specialist team and a paramedic on board. Pauline was transferred to a spinal board and stretcher. "I heard the helicopter approach and land in a neighbouring field," she said. "I was cold and frightened and worried that the arrival of a helicopter meant things were really serious." The SCAA paramedic's calm demeanor helped her find strength. "'Please don't let me die,' I kept pleading. 'Please don't let me die.' 'Don't worry,' he said. 'We'll take care of you.'" She added: "They kept reassuring me, before I drifted off due to the drugs they administered. I don't remember being in the helicopter or going into Aberdeen Royal Infirmary. I just felt SCAA was in charge and they would look after me."
Devastating Injuries
Pauline was taken to Aberdeen Royal Infirmary's Major Trauma Centre, where scans revealed her spine was completely smashed, with bone shards severing the spinal cord. "My spine was damaged beyond repair so they could do nothing other than insert metalwork to prevent further damage and to keep the damaged spine in place. I was told I would never walk again," she said. The mother of four, who described herself as an active workaholic, found the news devastating: "It didn't sink in at first. I was such an active workaholic and now I could do little or nothing for myself. It was devastating."
Recovery and Gratitude
After spending six months in hospital, Pauline returned home to a house adapted for wheelchair use. Despite ongoing challenges, she believes SCAA saved her life. "I would probably have died at the roadside without this amazing charity and its terrific crew. They got me to hospital when time was running out," she said. Her employer, ASDA in Elgin, kept a suitable job open for her. "I'm now in a whole new chapter of my life. My bosses at ASDA in Elgin kindly kept a suitable job open for me and I'm so grateful to my colleagues, friends and family. But I owe SCAA the biggest debt – I owe them my life. I will be forever grateful to them."
