Family thank emergency services after Ambergate smash

17-year-old Callum Bradley from Belper was heading down the A610 at Ambergate on Friday, November 21, 2014 when he came off his motorbike.

Despite wearing full protective gear, Callum sustained very serious, life-threatening injuries and was taken to Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham for immediate treatment by the ambulance crew.

Callum and his family hosted a get-together to meet with the people who came to his aid in the initial stages of the accident.

Callum, along with his Aunt Louise Bradley and grandparents Jill and Robert Bradley, met with police and paramedics at Ripley Ambulance Station on Thursday, March 19 to thank those involved.

The emergency on-call doctor, paramedics, police and passers-by that stopped at the roadside, were all invited to the event.

Callum’s auntie, Louise Bradley, said “Callum is progressing well through his recovery journey – he struggles with various things and he’s not the same 17-year-old but doing so amazingly well considering his injuries and the prognosis early on.

“Richard Marshall had the dreadful task of calling at Callum’s grandparents to inform them of his accident and injuries.

“We were in meltdown and we needed to get to the hospital so urgently, he saw we were in no fit state to drive and kindly drove us, calming us all the way with reassurance and information whilst we were frantic and distraught.

“He was truly amazing and we are so grateful to him.”

Sergeant Richard Marshall from the Ripley Safer Neighbourhood Team added: “It’s never a nice job to break such news to people that a loved one has been in a serious collision.

“Taking the family straight to the hospital was the least I could do in the situation to try and help them, I’m just thrilled that Callum has made such a great recovery.

“It was fantastic to be invited along to meet Callum and his family once again.”

Following the motorbike collision, Callum’s family have since launched a fundraising campaign to raise money for the Critical Care Unit at Nottingham and the Neurological Unit in Derby Royal.

‘Heads up for Callum’s Campaign’ will also aim to target 16-20-year-olds to raise awareness of the importance of wearing protective clothing when out riding mopeds and motorbikes. The official launch will take place in April at Chesterfield College where Callum was a student.

To speak to your local Safer Neighbourhood team call 101, the non-emergency number for Derbyshire police.