Caitlin's Story
Caitlin's day took a terrifying turn
In August 2022, four-year-old Caitlin from Norfolk, visited her great-aunt’s horses with her Mum, Sophie and little brother, Ryan who was aged two. It was the summer holidays in heart of the Norfolk Broads and a trip that Caitlin had made countless times before. Caitlin really loved horses and helping her great-aunt to feed her horses was a normal and regular occurrence for the family.
“The horses had been fed and shut away in their stables so the children could have a little run around in the field. Caitlin was standing about three metres in front of the stable door when, we can only assume one of the horses was stung by something like a horsefly. It bolted straight through the stable door towards Caitlin.”
Catlin had her back to the stable and didn’t see what was about to happen.
“The horse went straight over the top of Caitlin. It had hit her before she even knew what was happening.” Sophie says.
With this frightening turn of events, Sophie and her aunt didn’t know how badly Caitlin was hurt and told her not to move but, instinctively, Caitlin ran to her Mum for help and comfort.
“Her face was cut and bleeding, and I could see that her thumb was very badly hurt.” Sophie continues.
The family called 999 and were on the phone to the East of England Ambulance Service when Caitlin complained of feeling sick and became disorientated.
The outcome could have been very different if things had taken longer. The advanced pain relief and speed of getting Caitlin to the right people at the right hospital was crucial.
— Sophie, Caitlin's Mum
The ambulance service said that this was a possible indication that Caitlin may have a head injury and, in addition to a land ambulance, they deployed East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) as she may need to be transferred to a trauma centre. Due to the more local Norwich helicopter already being tasked, it was the EAAA Anglia Two crew from Cambridge who attended Caitlin.
“Shortly after the road ambulance arrived, we heard the helicopter above us. It had been just 18 minutes, but unbelievably, the crew apologised for the delay – but it was amazing that they were there so quickly. The crew were fantastic. I was a nervous wreck and they calmed myself, Caitlin and her little brother.”
EAAA’s Dr Dave and Critical Care Paramedic (CCP) Chris administered advanced pain relief to Caitlin and discussed the best hospital to transfer Caitlin to. Even though the James Paget was the closest hospital distance-wise, it was decided that Caitlin should be flown to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital as it was the nearest trauma centre and would be best placed to treat Caitlin’s injuries. They sent photos of Caitlin’s thumb injury to the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital ahead of their arrival, so the N&N team could assess and ensure the right people were there ready for when they handed Caitlin over.
“The pain relief meant that Caitlin thought the helicopter ride was the best trip of her life! However, we knew how poorly she was and, as a result, I can’t remember much about the journey itself.” Sophie says.
At the Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, a Neurologist thankfully ruled out head injuries and said that shock was the likely cause for Caitlin’s confusion. However, her significant thumb injury was a major cause for concern.
“Only the tendon of her thumb was intact.” Sophie explains. “The bone was broken, and her nerves and ligaments had been severed as we believe the horse has trampled it, bending it back the wrong way. There was a high chance she could lose her thumb completely.”
Caitlin had an operation to try to repair her ligaments and bone. She then had 48 hours of intravenous antibiotics to reduce the chance of infection before undergoing a further operation to repair the nerves in her thumb. In total, she spent five days in hospital.
Eight weeks later Caitlin had full use and feeling back in her thumb. This was unexpected as the hospital Plastics team had expected her to at least have some reduced mobility or feeling.
“The outcome could have been very different if things had taken longer. The advanced pain relief and speed of getting Caitlin to the right people at the right hospital was crucial. Caitlin’s hand injury was so full of mud and muck that there was a real risk of infection. She could have lost her thumb, so every minute was important.”
Caitlin, now six years old, has raised an incredible £550 to help save the lives of others across the region.
Members of the EAAA team, including Helibobs our mascot, were thrilled to visit Caitlin during a school assembly to present her with a medal and some thank you gifts for her kindness. It was wonderful to see her and her school friends to say a big thank you for her incredible support!