Bringing Antony Home for Christmas

St John Ambulance in Nottinghamshire used its extensive experience in ambulance services to help bring Antony Giles from Stapleford, who was seriously injured in a road accident in Thailand last month, home to Nottinghamshire in time for Christmas.

Serious accident

Giles, 22, who is married to a Thai woman, was a passenger on his friend's moped when it was in collision with a car on November 25. He suffered serious injuries to his legs, arm and chest and has been treated in a Bangkok hospital.

When St John Ambulance Nottinghamshire learnt he was flying back to the UK, after a campaign led by his family to bring him back to Britain for medical treatment, they stepped in to help get him home.

St John Ambulance responds, twice

The leading first aid charity sent one of its fleet of modern ambulances with an experienced crew to meet him when his flight from Bangkok was due to land at Heathrow Airport on Saturday 18 December. Due to the atrocious weather, the flight was diverted to Copenhagen.

Another experienced ambulance crew was sent to Heathrow last night to meet, who was due to arrive at 7pm. The plane didn't arrive until just past midnight. Giles was met by his grandfather and othe family members.

He was transported, along with his mother – who has been nursing him throughout the journey – back to his home in Stapleford. They arrived nearly three hours later at 4am.

In the spirit of Christmas

Graham Robinson, Commander of St John Ambulance Nottinghamshire said he was glad to be of service to Antony and his family.

'We're pleased to provide this service free of charge as part of our charitable aims, to help Antony and his family in these difficullt circumstances,' he said.

Added Joe Shaw, Patient Transport Manager with St John Ambulance Nottinghamshire, 'We did this in the spirit of Christmas. We wanted to get this guy home for the holidays.'

Giles, who has spent most of his life in Stapleford, attended George Spencer School and Technology College. He trained to be a diving instructor in Thailand and married Nid, a Thai woman last year.