WATCH: Ellie's survival story in film of Midlands Air Ambulance life-savers
The story of a teenage girl who received lifesaving treatment from the Midlands Air Ambulance following a car crash has featured in a new video promoting the charity's work.
Ellie Collins, from Codsall, was 14 when she was airlifted to Birmingham Children's Hospital after receiving serious injuries in a four-vehicle pile-up on the M54 in June 2014.
Ellie suffered severe internal injuries including a lacerated liver, ruptured intestine and ruptured diaphragm.
In the film, air operations dispatcher Sheelagh Withers explains how the helicopter was scrambled when it emerged that Ellie was losing sensation in her lower body.
Her mother, Marie Lycett tells how doctors informed her that Ellie would die if she was not operated on immediately.
"I was very concerned they weren't dealing with her spine and legs, but they told me if they didn't operate on her immediately we would lose her," Mrs Lycett says during the film.
The film explains how Ellie reached hospital within 15 minutes, compared to about 40 minutes if she had been taken by road.
Mrs Lycett says the time saved in getting Ellie to hospital as quickly as possible played a crucial role in Ellie's recovery.
"I will be forever in their debt, I know that without them Ellie would not be here," she adds.
"The only way that she was able to survive was the fact that the helicopter had taken her to Birmingham Children's Hospital to enable her to get this surgery."
Mrs Lycett also pays tribute to Ellie's courage and determination that she would only leave hospital when she could walk out on her own two feet. Ellie, now 16, also speaks in the video talking about how the crash has affected her.
"No-one expects that they would have to depend for their life on an emergency service like the Midlands Air Ambulance, but that day I had to and I'm extremely grateful," she says.
"Although I may look like I have made a full recovery, I haven't, but thanks to the Midlands Air Ambulance I have made the best-possible recovery that I could have."
Paramedic Greg Ambler, who treated Ellie at the scene, talks about her recovery and the role her parents have played in supporting her.
To thank the team at Midlands Air Ambulance, Mrs Lycett and four friends held a charity evening at Lilleshall National Sports Centre in December. The event, which was attended by more than 300 people, raised more than £41,000 for the charity.
The crash, which happened at about 8am on June 6, involved three cars, a lorry and a van near Junction 7 of the M54 at Overley. Seven people were taken to hospital, and tailbacks lasted for six hours.
The charity's three aircraft each carry a crew comprising pilot, two paramedics or flight doctors plus full life-support medical equipment.
The charity receives no Government or National Lottery funding. Each mission costs £2,500 and more than £7 million is needed each year to keep its three air ambulances operational, which is donated entirely by the public and local businesses.
