East Anglian Air Ambulance 'changed everything' for man after motorbike crash
Pedro Santos was treated by paramedics after the crash in 2022
A man who is helping paramedics move to a new air base in the East of England has said they how they've turned his life around.
Pedro Santos was involved in a collision between a motorbike and a van in Suffolk in August 2022, before being airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge by the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA).
"I wouldn't be here if it wasn't for them," Pedro said.
"I didn't really know a lot about them (EAAA) and then the accident happened, it changed my life, it changed everything."
Pedro, from Suffolk, has been left unable to walk since the accident.
But that has not stopped him from raising money through the EAAA's Trek 24 fundraiser last weekend, which around 150 people attended.
Anyone taking part could cover either 2.4-mile, 24-kilometre or 24-mile routes for the charity, passing through the countryside and into Cambridge, with the longer challenges passing landmarks including the River Cam, Grantchester and Addenbrooke’s Hospital.
"We managed to raise more than £1,000 so it made me feel really good," Pedro said.
"It feels little, but when I look at it, I'm like 'okay, the fact it happened, that is something that's going to help them even more'."
Trek 24 was set up to help the EAAA continue providing lifesaving care to people across Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Norfolk and Suffolk.
This includes the charity's aim to raise £8.2 million to relocate to a new air base near Fulbourn ahead of the planned closure of Cambridge Airport - where their current base is - in 2030.
So far, the EAAA said around £3.8 million has been raised.
Buildings and other landmarks in the East of England are some of the places lighting up in either red or yellow on today (Wednesday) to show support for the EAAA and help raise awareness of its work during Air Ambulance Week.
"Seeing well-known buildings illuminated across the region is a powerful reminder of the difference local communities make in helping us continue to provide lifesaving care, whenever and wherever it's needed," Matthew Jones, CEO at the EAAA, said.
"This is about more than lighting up a building or making a donation.
"It's our community coming together to protect the people we love and secure the future of the lifesaving care we deliver across the counties we serve.”
What will be lit up today?
Cambridgeshire: Cambridge Corn Exchange, The Guildhall, The Grand Arcade, Kimbolton Castle, Peterborough Cathedral, Huntingdon Town Hall, Cromwell Museum and Godmanchester Chinese Bridge.
Bedfordshire: Luton Dart and Bedford Corn Exchange.
Norfolk: Norwich Theatre Royal, The Assembly House, Norwich Castle Museum, Chantry Place and King's Lynn Corn Exchange.
Suffolk: Ipswich Town Hall.
Paramedics 'gave me hope'
Without a Cambridge base, the EAAA's operations would be halved, leaving only one airbase in Norwich, which could significantly increase response times for life-threatening emergencies across the region.
Last year, its crews provided critical care to 1,845 people while from its Cambridge base, the Anglia Two helicopter can reach approximately 1.2 million people within 10 minutes.
For Pedro, he hopes by sharing what happened to him, other people can come forward with the aim of raising awareness of EAAA's work.
"I think the most important thing its to get the message out there, not just mine but more people who've been in a situation of having a tremendously bad day in their lives, to be lucky enough in the end (to survive), he added.
"I was in really bad shape and for the saddest moment of my life, they gave me hope.
"Thankfully, I had an opportunity to meet the crew; that was amazing to see the pilot, some of the paramedics who were there with me that day (of the collision), that was an important time in my life."