TWO teenage accident victims have had an emotional reunion with the airborne team that saved their lives.
Anneka Rogers, 15, and 18-year-old Anneka Turner almost died in separate accidents on the same day in August last year.
Both were saved by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance, which airlifted them to hospital.
Anneka Rogers was crossing the busy A64 near her home at East Heslerton, near Malton, when she was hit by a bus. She suffered severe internal injuries.
Almost two hours later, Anneka Turner, of Conyers Close, Richmond, was driving home after she collected her A-level results when she lost control of her car and hit a tree. She suffered serious head injuries.
Both were reunited with air ambulance paramedics Pat Greaken and Pete Valance, pilot Steve Cobb and anaesthetist Dr Jez Pinnell when they visited the helicopter base at Leeds/Bradford Airport.
Anneka Rogers said: "It gave me a perfect opportunity to thank the crew for what they did that day, as well as seeing behind-the-scenes. We even got to see it take off when it was called to an incident."
Anneka Turner said: "I was able to put all the pieces of the crash together, which has given me some closure in a way. There is no doubt that the Yorkshire Air Ambulance saved my life. Without it, I would not be here today. I am just so grateful the service exists."
Mr Greaken said: "Road traffic collisions form the largest proportion of the incidents we attend, but to have two serious accidents within such a short space of time involving two teenagers called Anneka was a bizarre coincidence. They both suffered serious injuries, so it is great to see they have made a good recovery.
"Meeting patients who are alive today partly because of our efforts is fantastic -it is definitely one of the best aspects of the job."
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