Your support gave Bill back the life he loves

In May 2010, Bill Bankes-Jones (now age 69) was enjoying his paragliding hobby with friends and fellow members of his local paragliding club in Norfolk, when he suffered a life-threatening injury.

A pilot since the age of 16, Bill was extremely experienced in a hobby he adored, but that day was different. The paragliding community takes safety very seriously and does its utmost to prevent incidents, but they prepare in case an emergency does occur – and, that day, Bill needed the help of his fellow club members and East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA). 

“A friend had just climbed in a thermal, and I was lining myself up to land. It all looked good, until I flew into heavy sinking air at the very last minute. The last thing I remember is seeing the tops of trees as I sank out.” Bill says. 

Bill fell from a tree to the ground. Following the recent hot spell, the ground was “like concrete.” Bill’s friends from the club acted quickly, calling 999. Bill stopped breathing for two minutes and was given CPR by a friend. A critical care team from EAAA was tasked.

“When I heard EAAA had attended me, I felt safe with a huge sense of relief. I knew they would have done what they could for me, so I could feel relatively at ease.”

Bill was transferred by helicopter to hospital for further treatment. This, he says, may have been crucial for his future path. Unknown to Bill at that time, he had suffered spinal injuries of varying severity, including an L5 burst fracture and a T11 and T12 wedge fracture. 

“A bumpy road journey could have made things worse. I’m convinced that the transfer by East Anglian Air Ambulance helicopter helped to save my leg function, and reduce the chances that I would be paraplegic,” he says.

Bill underwent spinal fusion surgery, having metal inserted into his back, and spent months receiving physiotherapy. Each time he reached a milestone was a special achievement. He recalls being able to ride several miles in a recumbent bicycle before he was able to walk 100 yards: “It was so uplifting,” he says.

The metal in Bill’s back was removed after two years and he regained more mobility. Five years after his accident, Bill paraglided once again. 

“I launched in ideal conditions and had wonderful views across the countryside and coast as far as The Wash. I felt unrestricted, free and liberated. It was truly awesome.”

It’s been 14 years since his incident and Bill is now living a life he loves again. This is thanks in part to the incredible EAAA community of supporters who enable urgent critical care to be brought directly to the scene of medical emergencies across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk and Suffolk. Bill recently returned to EAAA to meet some of the team and talk more about his incident and love for paragliding.

“I am so grateful to EAAA for their help that day. Life may have been very difficult without them. I am now Chairman of my paragliding club, and I can enjoy the simple things like walking the dogs and spending time with my family – I even became a Grandad for the first time two years ago.”

“It’s wonderful that so many people choose to support EAAA in order to look after each other.” He says.