Yorkshire Air 999: Teen suffers asthma attack in the Dales

Phoebe Milford, 13, was out for a walk with her mother, Rose, and her brother, in April this year, when Phoebe began to struggle with her breathing.

Having not used her inhaler or experienced an asthma attack for a year and a half, the sudden onset of symptoms alarmed the family.

Phoebe with an oxygen mask (Image: YORKSHIRE AIR AMBULANCE) After becoming increasingly worried, her family contacted the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, given their remote location; on a hillside high above Keld, one of the smallest and most isolated villages in Yorkshire.

The nearest land ambulance was over 62 minutes away, while the YAA’s critical care team were able to arrive at the scene within 20 minutes, covering the 34-mile journey from their Topcliffe air base in Thirsk.

Paramedics Sam Berridge and Sammy Wills joined a Mountain Rescue team to assist Phoebe, who was feeling extremely unwell and nearing the point of fainting.

Phoebe with the air ambulance doctors (Image: YORKSHIRE AIR AMBULANCE) The team used a nebulizer with a mask and oxygen to help control Phoebe's breathlessness while Sammy comforted her during this distressing time.

Sam recalled: “With asthma attacks, the airways reduce in size, becoming swollen. While patients can get air in, they struggle to get it out. A nebulizer relaxes the smooth muscle of the airway, helping to open things up a bit to ease breathing.”

Phoebe's mother, Rose, recounted the panic of the situation. she said: “I didn’t know what to do; I was running up and down the hills trying to get a signal, but I didn’t have any.

"I saw someone at the bottom of the path, and I charged down the hill, he must have thought I was mad. 

Phoebe with the air ambulance doctors and her family (Image: YORKSHIRE AIR AMBULANCE) "The man had an app that could contact the emergency services and pinpoint exactly where we were, even without signal – so that’s how we managed to call for help.”

Once Phoebe's breathing was under control, the YAA team prescribed additional asthma medication similar to her inhaler, which she had left at home.

They also administered a steroid to assist with her breathing.

“She was feeling really unwell, and her body was working hard to stay conscious”, Sammy explained. “Asthma can be very serious, even fatal at times, but thankfully not today”.

After stabilising her condition, the YAA team transported Phoebe by air to the nearest road where a land ambulance crew were waiting.

Following a thorough check of her vitals, Phoebe was then taken to Darlington Memorial Hospital for further treatment.

Reflecting on the fortunate circumstances of the day, Sam added: “I think Phoebe’s stars aligned that day. If one part of the puzzle hadn’t worked out—had we landed further away, if mountain rescue hadn’t been called, or if that person walking past hadn’t been able to send the location to emergency services—it could have been a very different story.

"There was no other way off that hill.”

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The teenager's incident will feature on a new TV series, Yorkshire Air 999, airing Fridays at 9 pm on Quest.

Following the success of Helicopter ER, which ran for 9 seasons, Yorkshire Air 999 features a fresh format that dives into the lives of Yorkshire Air Ambulance’s cutting-edge medical team, their courageous patients, and the unique landscape and spirit of Yorkshire itself.

Since the incident, Phoebe has been feeling much better, experiencing only slight wheeziness from time to time.

Phoebe said: “I’m so grateful for the help I received. It was a scary experience, but thanks to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance team, I’m okay now and ready to get back to my walks”.