Father thanks crew who fought for his son's life

Susan Crick, air ambulance paramedic Stuart Thompson and Kevin Crick. Inset, Robert Andrew Crick

Nearly three years after the death of Robert Andrew Crick, 21, from Rillington, his father Kevin visited the charity’s base at Durham Tees Valley Airport to meet the team who battled to save him.

Robert was riding his moped on the A64 close to West Knapton at approximately 7.50am on December 23, 2014, when he was involved in a collision with a Mitsubishi Chamonix people carrier.

Robert, a former Norton College pupil, was travelling to Todd Waste Management, in East Knapton, where he worked as a weighbridge operator, when the incident happened.

Kevin, 56, said: “He was on his way to work when a car pulled out and they collided, so he had no chance. The paramedics came, and then the air ambulance crew arrived and looked after Robert.”

Robert was assessed and treated on scene by the trauma team before being flown to James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough, but sadly he died later that day.

At his funeral, £1,400 was raised for the air ambulance.

Mr Crick said: “Because the air ambulance is a charity that relies on donations, I’ve got the T-shirt, the sweatshirt and I’m signed up to the lottery. I’ll do what I can to make sure we continue to have this service.”

Last year the charity needed to raise £5.1m. To find out how you can help,go to www.gnaas.com or call 01325 487263.