'Lucky to be alive' - Ripon motorcyclist to feature on national TV after dramatic crash

A Ripon motorcyclist will feature on next week’s episode of Helicopter ER, following a dramatic crash last year which left him with life-changing injuries.
Experienced motorcyclist Al Plunkett, 52, was riding back from Scarborough when his motorbike was in a collision with a car which was turning into a farm entrance.Experienced motorcyclist Al Plunkett, 52, was riding back from Scarborough when his motorbike was in a collision with a car which was turning into a farm entrance.
Experienced motorcyclist Al Plunkett, 52, was riding back from Scarborough when his motorbike was in a collision with a car which was turning into a farm entrance.

Experienced motorcyclist Al Plunkett, 52, was riding back from Scarborough when his motorbike was in a collision with a car which was turning into a farm entrance.

His bike hit the nearby dry stone wall as he swerved, and he was flung into the road. Medics arrived on the scene within minutes, followed by the Yorkshire Air Ambulance with their critical care team to assess and treat Al’s injuries.

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The ambulance flew Al to Middlesbrough James Cook University Hospital, where tests revealed that he had suffered severe damage to the bones and organs on the left hand side of his body, and had to have part of his left leg amputated.

Speaking of his injuries, Al said: “It changed everything. Going out with the kids, playing football with the kids – it was a massive of a life changing experience and I’m still going through it.”

Despite his ordeal, Al has remained positive and his recovery is going well. He has not been deterred from his motorbike, having started fixing it as soon as he was able.

Al said: “The Yorkshire Air Ambulance is a fantastic service. The bike was a mess, the car was a mess, and I was a mess, so they did an amazing job getting me to hospital. Where I live, it would take longer to get to hospital by land ambulance, so I don’t think I’d be in the position I am now.”

The episode will air on Monday, July 22, at 9pm on Really.