It was back in May this year, and on the first day of her holiday on the Isle of Wight, that 71-year-old Janine Ward was left semi-conscious and with a large wound to her head when she slipped and fell 9ft onto concrete steps at Bembridege – an accident which means she will now spend the rest of her life in a wheelchair.

Due to the severity of her injuries, the air ambulance and Coastguard Rescue Teams from Bembridge and Ventnor were called to provide critical care and a doctor and paramedic from the air ambulance service administered strong pain relief and medication at the scene to improve and maintain Janine’s blood pressure, which had fallen very low.

Once stabilised, Janine was airlifted to hospital by air ambulance to the Wessex Neurological Centre where she underwent emergency surgery.

Tragically on the very same day as her fall, Janine’s brother passed away suddenly, although Janine could not be made aware of this for a further two weeks. 

Janine was later moved from Southampton to the Sheffield Spinal Cord Injuries Unit via a hospital in Nottingham. And, on 14th September, 4 months after her fall, she finally returned home.

On the 18th September, Janine’s son, Russ, completed the Lincoln City Centre Half Marathon in aid of two charities; the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance and Smile4Wessex (Wessex Neurological Centre)  who he thanks for saving his mums life. 

We'd like to thank Russ for raising £981 for Smile4Wessex and wish Janine well as she continues her recovery.