A GRIMETHORPE boy whose leg was saved by Yorkshire Air Ambulance medics who rushed to the scene after a bike crash in the summer appeared on television to tell his story.

Reegan Dickinson, 12, featured in Yorkshire Air 999 which aired on Quest last week.

The episode showcased the rapid response of Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s critical care team after Reegan was involved in a serious accident.

He had been riding with friends on a wet and muddy field near his home when he lost control of his bike as its front wheel skidded into a small ditch on June 14.

Thrown from the bike, he sustained a serious open fracture to his lower right leg.

His father, who was nearby at the time, rushed to his side to comfort him while they waited for help to arrive.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s Nostell-based critical care team, including paramedic Tom Chatwyn and technical crew member Alex Clark, were quickly dispatched to the scene.

Tom said: “An open fracture is not just a break to the bone, it’s also a break to the skin, which risks infection, nerve damage and significant blood loss.

“This can quickly become life-threatening if not treated urgently.

“Despite the seriousness of the situation, Reegan’s humour and bravery brought positivity to a challenging job.”

Upon arrival, the team was relieved to find that Reegan had been wearing a helmet, minimising the risk of head injury.

With his dad by his side for support, Reegan was assessed and initial pain relief was administered via gas and air.

However, the fracture required urgent treatment at the scene to reduce the risk of further complications.

To manage the intense pain of straightening his leg, the team administered ketamine, a powerful analgesic.

Reegan’s dad played a crucial role in keeping him calm, sharing happy memories to distract him as the medication took effect.

Once relaxed, Tom expertly straightened the leg, applied bandages to control the bleeding, before applying a vacuum splint to reduce further pain and movement.

Reegan was carefully loaded into the helicopter and flown to Leeds General Infirmary where a team of specialists were ready to perform surgery and repair his leg with a metal implant.

Reegan paid tribute to the medics who saved his leg.

He added: “The ground was so wet and my bike just flipped when the wheel got stuck in a ditch.

“I’ve spent weeks playing video games while recovering, but I can’t wait to get back to riding.

“I even got to visit the Nostell air base with my family and see Tom again.

“My leg was still in its cage, but it was great to catch up and talk about everything that happened that day.”