Horror crash boy saved by roadside blood transfusion

Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance doctor Richard Lyon, Harry Leake and SECAmb paramedic Mark Griffiths. Harry was hit by a motorbike last year and nearly died. SUS-141108-082731001

Harry Leake, ten, of Whitebeam Road, Durrington had multiple fractures, internal bleeding and nearly lost his leg after the collision outside his home on April 13 last year.

He was the first child to receive a roadside blood transfusion by doctors from Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance, before being airlifted to Southampton General Hospital.

On Thursday, he and grandmother Sandra McCann were reunited with the medical team at the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance base in Redhill.

“It was all a blur,” said Mrs McCann, as she recalled the collision aftermath.

“I was indoors and the children were playing and all of a sudden Harry’s sister ran in and said ‘Nanny, I think Harry has broken his leg’.

“When I went out there, he had a massive gash on his forehead and blood coming out, which was horrible. All he could do was whimper and he couldn’t even cry.”

For the full story, see the Worthing Herald, out Thursday, August 14.