Video: hurt Mansfield biker thanks air ambulance crew and staff at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre

Matthew Leach suffered horrific injuries and was air-lifted to hospital for life-saving surgery after he was in collision with a car in August last year.

Now the 22-year-old, of Bellamy Road, has paid tribute to the air ambulance crew and staff at Nottingham’s Queen’s Medical Centre for saving his life in the week that the hospital launches £3m appeal for a new helipad.

Said Matthew: “Onlookers said that I went around 20ft in the air and did two full flips.

“All I remember is hearing an almighty bang, then seeing sky and then road, sky and then road – everything happened so quickly. When I hit the ground people said my leg flopped weirdly.

“I was in a lot of pain and tried to drag myself to side of the road using my arms but I couldn’t manage it. I looked down at my legs and saw what I thought was a piece of the car sticking into my leg but as I went to pull it out I realised it was my own bone.

“I remember feeling the helicopter bank a few times and being given something to help with the pain.”

Matthew’s leg bone fractured and broke through his skin, while he also shattered his knee cap, dislocated his hip and fractured his pelvis. He still walks with crutches and has screws in a knee, his pelvis and a pin in his hip.

“The care I received at the QMC was great, the way they treated me – they didn’t treat me like a number but a person,” said Matthew.

“Staff took the time to speak to me, to chat and get to know me – it really mattered to me as my family couldn’t be by my side all the time and it really helped me stay positive.

“I would like to say a massive thank you to them.”

The QMC is home to the East Midlands Major Trauma Centre where the best talent and expertise has already saved many lives.

But there is no dedicated landing pad for emergency patients, with helicopters having to land close by and patients complete their journey to hospital by road - taking up to 20 minutes. For details about Nottingham Hospitals Charity’s Saving Lives Helipad Appeal, go to www./nottinghamhospitalscharity.org.uk/appeals/emergency-care/.