Air ambulance patient gives thanks to crew

Nov 18 2008 by Neil Mckay, The Journal

TRAFFIC cop Piers Lawrence returned North yesterday to thank the people who saved him after an accident.

PC Lawrence was hit by a Citroen Saxo last August as he and a colleague were managing the scene of an accident near Newton Aycliffe in County Durham.

He was knocked unconscious and initially thought to have been critically injured. He was flown to Middlesbrough’s James Cook Hospital by a crew from the Great North Air Ambulance. Doctors then diagnosed his injuries as a broken leg and dislocated shoulder, for which he is still receiving physiotherapy. He also suffered a deep cut to the head.

PC Lawrence, a father of four, had been due to retire the following week when he reached his 50th birthday.

The collision put him in hospital for a fortnight and his plans to join wife Michelle and the family at their new home in Cornwall were put on temporary hold.

Fortunately he was well enough to make the move at the end of August and the family are now enjoying their new life in the South West.

He said yesterday: “I cannot remember a thing about the accident, which is probably no bad thing.

“I remember seeing the vehicle from the previous accident being towed off in a low loader, and the next thing I was aware of was waking up the next day in James Cook Hospital. I was fortunate that the emergency services were already on hand when I was hit.”

Mr Lawrence said the injury was the worst he had suffered in 31 years of policing.

“I once dislocated an ankle chasing a car thief down some concrete stairs, but apart from a few cuts and bruises while arresting prisoners, I had been lucky until the last week before I retired.”

He said he now hoped to find a job as a road safety adviser in Cornwall.

Yesterday he returned to Durham to hand over a £2,000 cheque arising from the force’s Bikewise show this summer.

The contribution to the work of the air ambulance was one of 17 donations to local charities and good causes from Bikewise.

The event, held every summer in the grounds of police headquarters, is organised by the force’s motorcycle section and attracts a crowd of about 10,000.