“I panicked when they said the air ambulance was coming, because you know then it’s serious.”

A devastating motorbike accident on Mother’s Day 2022 left Harley Gaskin, 36, with life-changing injuries to his leg and spine.

Riding back home from his place of work, Blackgang Chine, Harley detoured across the seafront before going to see his family for Mother’s Day.

But disaster struck when he and an oncoming car collided.

Harley went careering over the roof of the vehicle. He hit the ground and lay stranded in the middle of the road.

Harley's crash was reported by the County Press at the time.

He has now told his story to help raise awareness of, and funds for, Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

Harley had broken both his tibia and fibula and done severe damage to his L1 spine.

The air ambulance dispatch team realised the severity of the incident and deployed the duty crew.

“I heard a helicopter flying overhead but wasn’t sure if it was the air ambulance,” said Harley.

“The ground crew confirmed it was them and that they were trying to find an area to land. I panicked, because you know then it’s serious. But I was sure I wasn’t going to die, so I just had to relax.”

Harley was assessed and given pain relief. A short flight later, the team arrived at the nearest major trauma unit, University Hospital Southampton.

Harley had to have multiple pins and plates inserted into his leg and now suffers from nerve damage and circulation problems.

He is now on the list to have a below-knee amputation to his right leg.

Harley said: "As soon as I’ve had the amputation and I’ve learnt to walk on my prosthetic leg, I’ll hopefully return to work." 

Adjusting to his new life, Harley is in awe of the lifeline that the air ambulance plays in bringing critical care to people on the Isle of Wight.  

“Thank you to everybody that has supported and donated to the air ambulance – I appreciate you all just as much as the crew for helping them to continue and save lives.”