A YOUNG woman who was seriously injured in a horror smash met the helicopter heroes who saved her life.
Katie Hill, aged 19, from Lowedges, Sheffield, suffered a broken pelvis, bruised lung and torn liver, pancreas, colon and spleen after a crash which saw the car she was travelling in flip over twice.
The teenager, who was with her boyfriend Aaron Hogg at the time of the crash in West Handley, Derbyshire, was trapped for two hours and had to be cut from the wreckage by fire crews.
While she drifted in and out of consciousness, police and paramedics contacted the Derbyshire Police helicopter, which is based in Ripley.
Katie was flown to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham where she spent three weeks.
Three months on from the crash in August, Katie was reunited with PC Alan Hudson and Captain Kev Allan, who flew the chopper to hospital.
She said: “All I remember is seeing headlights and then hearing a crunching sound as the firemen were cutting me out of the car. It still doesn’t feel real.
“I can’t describe how grateful I am to everyone who helped to save my life that night – they are my heroes.
“I want to thank everyone including the helicopter crew, the firemen, the paramedics, the doctors and nurses. They do a fantastic job and don’t get enough praise for what they do for people.”
Katie’s mum Julie added: “She is recovering so quickly it’s a miracle. If it wasn’t for the actions of everyone who went to help Katie that night she wouldn’t be here today.”
Captain Allan, who flew Katie to hospital, said: “It was very much a joint effort between all the emergency services.
“Everyone pulled together and that is what saved Katie’s life and made the difference.”