Harris's Story

Keeping up with faster riders proved a costly decision for 13-year-old Harris as he powered his motocross bike into the air over a jump on the remote Pennan track in North East Scotland.

For, as he took the jump something went wrong - he shot up the embankment and was sent flying 10 metres through the air before crashing hard onto the ground.

As the teenager hurled through the air he realised he was in big trouble and excruciating pain seared through his left leg when he landed.

“The pain in my leg was horrendous,” he explained. “There was no blood, but things didn’t look right.  I just knew I had to get help as my bike and I were hidden behind the barrier of tyres. I pulled myself up on one arm and waved with the other. No one would have heard me shouting for help.” 

A passing biker spotted Harris waving from behind the tyres. Luckily, he knew one of the other riders that day was a former paramedic with Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance (SCAA) and quickly got him to the scene, where he immediately assessed Harris’s condition and called 999 requesting air support.

Meanwhile, Harris’s panic-stricken dad Stewart was standing at another part of the track waiting for him and began running round the track to his crash site, realising that something was wrong as his son hadn’t come past him in a while.

“I just hoped he had broken down at the side, but my gut was telling me my boy was in trouble. I was filled with dread as I approached the scene,” he said.

Stewart was quickly reassured that help was on the way and that Harris was in safe hands.

“Harris was in a lot of pain,” he said. “Thankfully, it was just a matter of minutes before SCAA appeared and landed nearby. What a sense of relief when you see that helicopter coming in. It somehow gives you comfort that everything will be alright.”

Harris’s recollection of his horrendous accident remains sketchy, but he does recall the professional and caring paramedics who attended and all those who helped get him into the helicopter and quickly to hospital, including a Scottish Ambulance Service road crew who had walked in to the site and were also so professional in delivering his care. 

“SCAA was great,” he said. “They gave me a SCAA teddy which was cute – my mates are joking that it’s my first motocross trophy!”

Harris’s mum Heather, a nurse, drove to the hospital as her son was airlifted comfortably and quickly to specialist care.

“Stewart and paramedics at the scene reassured me over the phone that Harris had no bleeding and no head injury,” she said, “and urged me to head straight to the hospital to meet the helicopter as it came in.

“I went with Harris into Accident and Emergency where it was confirmed that he had snapped his thigh bone - full displaced fracture mid shaft femur - and miraculously no other injuries, not even a scratch! The staff said it was lucky he was wearing his proper motocross gear or his injuries would have been worse.” 

Harris was operated on two days later to insert a titanium rod from his hip to his knee. After a year with this strengthening support, the rod was removed and the young biker is now undergoing physio to regain full strength of his left leg. 

And he can’t wait to get back on the bike competing again.

During his convalescence, Harris’s parents posted a Just Giving appeal, raising more than £1,200 for SCAA. And the family hopes to stage future fundraisers to support the charity that made such a difference to their son’s trauma when disaster struck.

“We can’t thank them enough,” said Stewart. “To see them in action and know my son was in their care was extremely reassuring.

“They made all the difference that day. The country roads and track to the Pennan course are twisty and rough – Harris would have had a very difficult journey by land ambulance. They would have had to stretcher and carry him for a considerable distance to get to the road ambulance,  then face a lengthy drive. 

“Accidents happen and when you live and work in a remote area it’s good to know that SCAA has your back.”
Harris adds his thanks to his rescuers that day.

“I was just trying to keep up with the big boys,” he said. “I had a new, larger bike that I was still getting used to and took the jump too fast trying to keep up with those in front. I’m just so grateful to SCAA – and everyone else – who helped me through that day.”