Need to know
For #TeamEEAST Last updated: 25 April 2024 at 11:10
Two years ago, Dean Osborne was fighting for his life after a serious road traffic collision.
After suffering a serious head injury, he had to learn how to walk, talk and do everyday tasks again.
And after a long road to recovery, the 28-year-old was reunited this week with the staff who came to his aid.
Dean, from Haverhill, suffered a serious head injury in a road traffic collision in West Wratting at about 9pm on 17th May, 2013.The driver of the van he was in was also seriously injured and a man in his 20s driving the other car, sadly died.
Dean met with EEAST staff Jo Goodman, Steven Humphrey and Ben Caine at Cambridge ambulance station on Monday (20th July).
The three were directly involved in Dean’s care by keeping him still and sedating him before rushing him to hospital in a critical condition.
He spent four months at Addenbrooke’s Hospital before being transferred to Blackheath Brain Injury Rehabilitation Centre.
Dean now lives in Haverhill with his partner Louise. The sign maker is also about to start a one day a week placement with Workwise, a specialist adult training organisation in Bury St Edmunds.
He said: “I do not remember anything from that night, but my memory is not very good any more. It is nice to thank the ambulance staff because without them, I would not be here today. They saved my life.
“Over the last year it has been very hard at times, but I am still working on my walking and I am getting there.”
Paramedic Jo said: “It is good to see Dean doing so well. We were in the middle of a field with not much light and everyone worked really well.”
Ben, a critical care paramedic with the East Anglian Air Ambulance, added: “Everybody worked really well as a team to look after the three critically injured patients. It is great to see Dean back on his feet again - we were not sure he would make it.”
Other EEAST staff who attended the collision included Samantha Wilkinson, Claire Dunham, Neil Curry, and Oliver Marshall. Dr Jeremy Mauger, Dr Fiona Andrews and critical care paramedic Mark Milsom also attended from Suffolk Accident Rescue Service.
Published 31st July 2015