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Mum of Applecross sepsis death teen raises funds for helipad | Mum of Applecross sepsis death teen raises funds for helipad |
(about 5 hours later) | |
The mother of a teenager who died from sepsis is raising funds for an emergency helicopter landing pad in her Highlands community. | The mother of a teenager who died from sepsis is raising funds for an emergency helicopter landing pad in her Highlands community. |
Heather Teale's daughter Bethany Walker, 18, from Applecross in Wester Ross, died in January last year. | Heather Teale's daughter Bethany Walker, 18, from Applecross in Wester Ross, died in January last year. |
Bethany was flown to hospital in Inverness in 34 minutes after she became severely ill. The journey by road could have taken two hours. | Bethany was flown to hospital in Inverness in 34 minutes after she became severely ill. The journey by road could have taken two hours. |
Ms Teale hopes to raise £30,000 towards the estimated £50,000 cost of the pad. | Ms Teale hopes to raise £30,000 towards the estimated £50,000 cost of the pad. |
The air ambulance that flew Bethany to Raigmore Hospital was able to land in a pub car park, which was empty at the time but would normally would have been full of cars. | |
'Beyond devastating' | 'Beyond devastating' |
The plan for a dedicated landing site has emerged from a group of Applecross residents. | The plan for a dedicated landing site has emerged from a group of Applecross residents. |
Ms Teale said local GPs along with NHS Highland and Bristow Helicopters, which operates coastguard search and rescue helicopters, have been supportive of the idea. | Ms Teale said local GPs along with NHS Highland and Bristow Helicopters, which operates coastguard search and rescue helicopters, have been supportive of the idea. |
An area of land has been identified, but the final cost of the project has still to be calculated. There are few places for a helicopter to land at the village and even a potentially suitable flat area near Applecross Bay is packed with tents in the tourist season. | |
Bethany, who was suffering from flu-like symptoms when her health deteriorated, was a former Plockton High School pupil. She was on a year out from further education and was planning to study midwifery in Aberdeen. | Bethany, who was suffering from flu-like symptoms when her health deteriorated, was a former Plockton High School pupil. She was on a year out from further education and was planning to study midwifery in Aberdeen. |
Ms Teale, who has started a JustGiving crowdfunding campaign, praised the efforts of air ambulance personnel in trying to save her daughter's life. | Ms Teale, who has started a JustGiving crowdfunding campaign, praised the efforts of air ambulance personnel in trying to save her daughter's life. |
She told BBC Scotland: "Bethany was airlifted with me by her side, but tragically did not survive. I would hate for anyone else to suffer as we are. It is beyond devastating. | She told BBC Scotland: "Bethany was airlifted with me by her side, but tragically did not survive. I would hate for anyone else to suffer as we are. It is beyond devastating. |
"I have seen first hand the necessity for the air ambulance to have a suitable and safe place to land, and the excellent care given by the helimed paramedics. | "I have seen first hand the necessity for the air ambulance to have a suitable and safe place to land, and the excellent care given by the helimed paramedics. |
"This service is absolutely vital to a community such as ours. Applecross is a remote peninsula in Wester Ross accessed by poor quality single track roads." | "This service is absolutely vital to a community such as ours. Applecross is a remote peninsula in Wester Ross accessed by poor quality single track roads." |
'Cannot waste fuel' | 'Cannot waste fuel' |
The village on the west Highland coast is 80 miles (129km) and more than a two hours by road from Inverness. | The village on the west Highland coast is 80 miles (129km) and more than a two hours by road from Inverness. |
The shortest route into Applecross involves negotiating the Bealach na Ba, a mountain pass that rises to about 626m (2,053ft) over about four miles (8km). | The shortest route into Applecross involves negotiating the Bealach na Ba, a mountain pass that rises to about 626m (2,053ft) over about four miles (8km). |
The alternative involves a 25-mile (40km) coastal road. | The alternative involves a 25-mile (40km) coastal road. |
Journey times can be longer in summer due to tourist traffic and also in winter when the weather is bad. | Journey times can be longer in summer due to tourist traffic and also in winter when the weather is bad. |
Ms Teale, who also hopes to raise awareness about sepsis and the work of the UK Sepsis Trust charity, said a dedicated landing site was desperately needed. | Ms Teale, who also hopes to raise awareness about sepsis and the work of the UK Sepsis Trust charity, said a dedicated landing site was desperately needed. |
She said: "The air ambulance has to travel from Inverness to get here, and can only carry sufficient fuel for the journey and the transfer to hospital. | She said: "The air ambulance has to travel from Inverness to get here, and can only carry sufficient fuel for the journey and the transfer to hospital. |
"It cannot waste fuel circling looking for a safe place to land." | "It cannot waste fuel circling looking for a safe place to land." |
What is sepsis? | What is sepsis? |
Sepsis, also known as septicaemia or blood poisoning, is the body's reaction to an infection. | Sepsis, also known as septicaemia or blood poisoning, is the body's reaction to an infection. |
It starts with an infection that can come from anywhere - even a contaminated cut or insect bite. | It starts with an infection that can come from anywhere - even a contaminated cut or insect bite. |
Normally, your immune system kicks in to fight the infection and stop it spreading. | Normally, your immune system kicks in to fight the infection and stop it spreading. |
But if the infection manages to spread quickly round the body, then the immune system will launch a massive immune response to fight it. | But if the infection manages to spread quickly round the body, then the immune system will launch a massive immune response to fight it. |
This can also be a problem as the immune response can have catastrophic effects on the body, leading to septic shock, organ failure and even death. | This can also be a problem as the immune response can have catastrophic effects on the body, leading to septic shock, organ failure and even death. |
Sepsis needs to be spotted and treated quickly, usually with antibiotics, before it spreads. | Sepsis needs to be spotted and treated quickly, usually with antibiotics, before it spreads. |
The signs of sepsis include extreme shivering, skin mottled or discoloured and severe breathlessness. |
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