Still, he kept going.

While Jerry struggled alone in the woods, witnesses of the accident had already called the emergency services. The report was serious: a major road traffic collision.

For Dr Mike, the air ambulance doctor responding that day, Jerry’s accident was unforgettable. “It was during my first few months with Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, Jerry was the first really significant incident I’d been to.” When the helicopter arrived overhead, the severity was instantly clear.

“I remember seeing the scene and thinking — someone’s going to be really badly injured down there.” Mike recalls.

That someone was Jerry.

Because of the location, the injuries, and the time-critical nature of the situation, the air ambulance wasn’t optional, it was essential. The crew reached Jerry quickly, delivering advanced medical care at the scene before transferring him to hospital.

Jerry survived.

Recovery was not quick or easy. The injuries were severe, and doctors warned Jerry that his foot might need to be amputated, and even if it was saved, walking again could be impossible. It was a devastating blow, but Jerry refused to let the accident define him. With his wife by his side, he faced the long road of surgeries, rehabilitation, and recovery.

Eventually, he did something remarkable. As part of his recovery, Jerry set himself a goal few would expect after such trauma: running the Lincoln 10K.

Jerry completed the race to raise money for Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance, the very service that reached him when he was injured and running out of time.

Jerry’s accident began as an ordinary drive to see a friend which in seconds, turned into a race to save his life.