Man who lost legs after bridge accident reunited with crew

Steve North, from Oakley, was with his wife Kelly crossing the Worting Road bridge in Basingstoke, heading out for breakfast to celebrate his birthday on September 28, 2016, when his life changed forever.

The darts and football fanatic, now 45, heard a loud crash from the road behind and as he turned Steve became crushed and trapped against the metal railings as a car that had mounted the kerb hit him.

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The scene of the incident in Worting Road (Image: Basingstoke Gazette) The force from the car pushed Steve over the railings and onto the dual carriageway 50ft below.

Paramedics attending the incident realised that Steve had suffered numerous open fractures to his lower limbs and pelvis and had a markedly reduced blood flow to his lower legs. He was in a significant amount of pain.

The team decided to sedate Steve before using specialist splints to his pelvis and legs to help keep them straight and secure.

The severity of Steve’s injuries meant he needed to be taken by Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance (HIOWAA) from the roadside to University Hospital Southampton’s major trauma centre.

“The next thing I remember is waking up in UHS 10 days later, having been put into an induced coma,” said Steve.

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“I had more than 20 fractures in my arm, spine, pelvis and legs. I had to undergo 17 operations and, due to the extent of the injuries, on 3 December I lost my lower right leg.”

While he has made an incredible recovery, in 2020 Steve successfully underwent a below-knee amputation to his left leg.

To say thank you to the team who helped save his life, Steve, who was recently declared number one ParaDarts player in the world, became one of Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance’s volunteers.

He has since met with the crew that saved his life.

Steve North (Image: Dave Zapple) “I was only given a slim chance of survival, which is why I am so grateful for everything that the team did for me. They saved my life.

“If it wasn’t for them, I probably wouldn’t be here today. My life changed in an instant and the same could happen to any one of us,” he said.

Nicola Hawkes, aftercare manager and specialist paramedic at HIOWAA, said such meetings can help with physical recovery, adding: “Patients and their relatives often tell us that understanding what happened to them or their loved one and the treatment that was provided has really helped to make them feel supported.  

“We know that supporting emotional trauma helps towards physical recovery, but sometimes just knowing you're not alone and that others have felt and been through the same thing allows them to feel seen and understood.”