Family of elderly Knaresborough amputee show support for life-saving charity

The life of 94-year-old, Rose Smiles was left in the hands of paramedics from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance (YAA) after a tragic road incident in September last year.

But now, Rose's eldest daughter Maggie Maltby and two of her granddaughters Ellie and Sarah Priest are flying high to raise funds for the charitable organisation.

Rose's daughter, Maggie Maltby said; "Without [the Yorkshire Air Ambulance] she wouldn't have survived, she wouldn't have had a chance, it's a thank you from us personally.

"She's been amazed by all the support and she's really happy. But when I told her I was jumping out of an aeroplane she wasn't very happy about it!"

Following the incident, Rose's left leg had to be amputated below the knee, leaving her wheelchair bound and in need of care.

Despite much distress over the loss of her leg, Rose's family say she is now happy and settling in well at Granby care home.

Maggie said: "She seems to have accepted it now and now she's in this home and there are things going on there and she is happy with the staff.

"I wouldn't say she is distressed any more."

With their beloved relative finally settling back into life outside the hospital the trio are settling themselves with the idea of falling thousands of feet through the air.

Set to take the plunge on Saturday February 27 at the 'Click and Jump Base' in Bridlington, it seems the nerves are warming up.

Ms Maltby said: "I'm very nervous, one of my nieces particularly is very nervous. We might have to push her out!

"At the moment we are in competition with each other over who is going to go first. But we'll do it - just talking about it is getting my heart going."

So far the women have raised more than £530 all of which will go towards funds for the YAA's new helicopter.

The new air vehicle will have better technology allowing paramedics to better respond to emergency incidents during the night, and in turn save more people like Rose.

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