Biker donates to Yorkshire Air Ambulance after horror smash

A father who was airlifted from a horrific motorbike smash has thanked the helicoptor heroes who saved him with a £2,700 donation.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance received £2,700 from Paul Sharrock from a fundraiser he organised after being rescued from a horrific bike smash.Yorkshire Air Ambulance received £2,700 from Paul Sharrock from a fundraiser he organised after being rescued from a horrific bike smash.
Yorkshire Air Ambulance received £2,700 from Paul Sharrock from a fundraiser he organised after being rescued from a horrific bike smash.

A motorbike ride on his day off in August nearly ended in tragedy for Paul Sharrock when a van driver made a sudden U-turn across the A58 dual carriageway.

Paul crashed into its side at around 60mph, launching him and the Kawasaki Ninja bike over the van and down the carriageway near the Chain Bar Roundabout.

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“The first thing I remember is waking up in intensive care after being placed in a medically induced coma with my wife in floods of tears and me saying I’m sorry,” Paul said.

The father-of-two from Middleton suffered serious multiple injuries including six broken ribs, punctured lung, a compound fracture on his left arm, broken collar bone, damaged spinal nerves and lacerations to his liver and kidney.

After impact, Paul’s quick-thinking friend Andrew Precious cleared his airways after the shock had made him vomit inside his helmet.

Then Yorkshire Air Ambulance flew him to Leeds General Infirmary in minutes.

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“I still have a left arm that is paralysed because of the nerve damage,” he said. “I have had an operation and I’m starting to get movement in my fingers but it could be two years before I know if the procedure has been a success.”

Paul has visited the YAA air support unit at Nostell, near Wakefield, to thank the paramedics and pilot that saved him.

He planned a fundraising evenint at the Plantation pub in Middleton which included a quiz, raffles and auction. Around 100 people attended and donated £2,700 to the charity.

Pictured (from L to R): Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedic Dave Appleby, Andrew Precious, Paul’s wife Ellie, Paul, mum Cindy, YAA pilot Gary Brasher and paramedic Pete Vallance.