Teenage cyclist thanks paramedics who saved his life

A teenager who had to learn to walk, talk and eat again after a road accident has met the paramedics who saved his life.
Kieren Brown with his saviours, from left, back row, Michael Ackroyd, Dan Evans, Gillian Caldwell, Kev Topliss and John Chippendale with Shaun Woodhouse and Amy-Jayne Parker front.Kieren Brown with his saviours, from left, back row, Michael Ackroyd, Dan Evans, Gillian Caldwell, Kev Topliss and John Chippendale with Shaun Woodhouse and Amy-Jayne Parker front.
Kieren Brown with his saviours, from left, back row, Michael Ackroyd, Dan Evans, Gillian Caldwell, Kev Topliss and John Chippendale with Shaun Woodhouse and Amy-Jayne Parker front.

Kieren Brown, from Bolsover who was 14 at the time, was cycling with his dad and a family friend when he was hit by a car while crossing a main road.

He was tended by passing paramedics and spent five days in an induced coma in hospital with head injuries, a collapsed lung and a broken leg before being woken up on his 15th birthday.

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In the preceding months, the determined teenager’s fighting spirit got him back on his feet and back on his bike.

Kieren, his mum Elaine and dad David visited Kings Mill ambulance station last week to thank paramedics who came to the rescue.

David said: “I can’t praise high enough the compassion and professionalism of everyone who attended. They gave me back my son, what an amazing gift that was.”

Kieren’s accident in April 2013 was seen by Jonathan Chippendale, an East Midlands Ambulance Service manager, who was taking a patient to Kings Mill Hospital.

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He said: “I immediately ran over and shortly after was joined by solo paramedic Kevin Topliss who also came across the incident while travelling to another emergency. We started to provide lifesaving intervention to give Kieren the best fighting chance.”

Kevin said: “Kieren was unconscious with a large wound on his right leg and was bleeding heavily from his femoral artery. This type of injury can be fatal if not resolved in seconds and so it was our first priority. Kieren had also suffered a collapsed lung so it was clear injuries were life threatening.”

While Kevin and Jonathan worked to keep Kieren alive an ambulance and Air Ambulance headed to the scene to take the teenager to hospital.