Paul's Story

It was a clear Spring day. Highly experienced motorcyclist Paul John, owner of four motorbikes and holder of an Advanced Riding Certificate was enjoying riding his new Ducati around Essex country lanes. Little did he know that he was on course for the worst twelve weeks of his life.

The exact details are unclear; to this day Paul cannot recall what happened, or remember the people who found him. Police investigations revealed that Paul somehow lost control on a bend, and hit a telegraph pole at around 60mph.

Thanks to the actions of passers by Essex Air Ambulance was alerted and rushed paramedics to the scene. Paul was flown to Colchester General and spent six weeks in intensive care.

For a long while the doctors’ main concern was whether Paul had suffered brain injuries, and, although he was conscious all of the time, he was heavily sedated. His distraught wife and 18 year old daughter were joined by their son who, in his final year at university, dropped everything to return home. It was a traumatic time, but, after six weeks he was well enough to transfer to Wivenhoe ward where he spent another six weeks making a slow and painful recovery.

Although ambitious, Paul was back with his work colleagues part-time at e2v Technologies in Chelmsford, in September.

Paul says; "If it wasn’t for the people at the roadside, the Air Ambulance, the doctors and nurses at Colchester General, and all my friends and family I would not be here today. When I found out that I had been taken to hospital by helicopter my wife Carol and I wanted to do something to support the hospital and the Air Ambulance."

Thanks to the generosity of Paul, his family, his colleagues, and e2v Technologies Group, £500 was donated to Essex Air Ambulance and £500 towards an electrical chair for the hospital.

e2v’s Group Marketing Communications Manager and Chair of Charities Committee, Andy Bennet said; "Each of our sites supports local charities voted for by the employees. The Chelmsford site supports Essex Air Ambulance, Farleigh Hospice and Little Havens Children's Hospice. We promote fundraising activities to our employees, and, at the end of the financial year divide up the 'pot' of money raised between the core charities."