Marcus is one of hundreds helped by Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) Patient and Family Aftercare Service

Over the past four years, the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) Patient and Family Aftercare Service has helped hundreds of people following life-changing incidents. Former patient Marcus Bawden, involved in a serious road traffic collision in 2023, is sharing his story to shed light on the lifesaving charity’s work.

Marcus was driving to work in Kent in October 2023 when he was involved in a head on collision. Marcus was trapped in his vehicle with serious injuries and was treated at the roadside by a doctor and paramedic from KSS in one of the charity’s Rapid Response Vehicles before being taken to King’s College Hospital in London, a Major Trauma Centre, for ongoing specialist care.

Marcus said: “Visiting the airbase at Redhill was amazing. Like many people, my perception was that the air ambulance is a helicopter with a paramedic on board, but it is so much more – they bring their lifesaving care to your side. Learning about the set up there and what the doctor and paramedic can do for you was mind-blowing.

“All the training that goes on is incredible, and what they can do at the roadside, in a field or wherever is fantastic. I’m happy to share my story if it helps in some small way. When I think about the crew that came to me and the air ambulance generally, the feeling I have is one that you can't really explain. I owe everything to not just one person but to everyone that was involved, including the paramedics from SECAmb, the fire service, police and, of course, KSS.”

Marcus underwent major surgery for a broken hip and shattered pelvis before returning to work.

(Marcus with Sarita from the KSS Patient and Family Aftercare Service)

KSS Patient and Family Aftercare Lead Stu Plumbley said: “For many patients and families, the impact of a serious incident doesn’t end when they leave hospital. Our aftercare service helps people make sense of what happened, find the right support, and, where possible, reconnect with the team who treated them.

“Seeing someone like Marcus walking, back at work and rebuilding his life shows the difference that specialist pre-hospital care we provide – and ongoing aftercare – can make.”

To learn more about what happened to him, please read Marcus’s story.

About the KSS Patient and Family Aftercare Service

KSS provides lifesaving pre-hospital critical care to seriously ill and injured people across Kent, Surrey and Sussex.

Throughout the charity’s history, KSS has invited patients to meet crew when the time is right. Since the dedicated Patient and Family Aftercare Service was created in 2022 the charity has arranged 169 first time meetings with crew for patients and bereaved families.

The service supports patients and families after an incident, offering information, signposting and a route to ask questions about their care plus the opportunity to benefit from peer support with people with a similar experience.