Euan's Story

When farmer Euan Baird and his cousin were administering routine medicine to young calves, an anxious mother decided she didn't want to be separated from her youngster - a move that would almost prove fatal for the 52-year-old farmer.

For, as the 800 kg cow crushed against Euan in a funnelled metal barred handling area in a desperate bid to reach her calf, he felt the bones snap in his pelvis amid excruciating pain.

"I knew straight away that something was seriously wrong - I could feel that something had snapped inside me," he said." I roared and the cow pulled back. If she'd pressed on she would have rolled me over and crushed me to death - I had nowhere to go."

Luckily the cow pulling back allowed Euan and his cousin to escape the handling area and call an ambulance.

"My wife and cousin got me into a chair but the pain was getting even worse and I felt I was going to pass out," recalled Euan. "I was frightened - I didn't know how badly injured I was or what the outcome would be. It's a terrifying situation and I was near total collapse with the agonising pain.

"Then I heard a helicopter approaching and as it circled overhead I knew it was an air ambulance - Scotland's Charity Air Ambulance goes over here all the time so it's a familiar sight.

"I've never been so relieved to see it."

SCAA landed in a field beside the farm and paramedics were quickly assessing Euan's injuries and administering welcome pain relief.

"They were amazing - so professional and caring," said Euan. "I was so glad to be in their hands and so relieved. I dared to think I would survive this and come through it OK thanks to their help.

'They came to my aid so quickly and then flew me to hospital in just minutes. I don't want to think what that journey would have been like in a road ambulance - I would have felt every bump in the road."

X-rays and cat scans revealed that Euan had snapped his pelvis front and rear, severing it from the spine. Complex surgery followed to stabilise the bone while pins and plates were inserted to graft the pelvic structure back together.

"I'm out of action for a while as far as farming goes but doctors expect me to make a full recovery in time," said Euan following a two-week stay in hospital.

"I was in the wrong place at the wrong time that day and I paid the penalty," he said, "but it could have been a lot worse and I owe a huge debt of gratitude to SCAA for coming to my aid so quickly. It's an incredible charity and I'll be forever grateful.

"I don't want to think what could have happened if they hadn't been there."