A FAMILY is taking part in the Great North Run together to raise funds for the charity that tried to save the life of their beloved relative.
Nicola Taylor, 57, her husband Simon, 61, and their children Ruby, 22, Joe, 25, and Izzy, 27, have all signed up to run the world’s largest half marathon on Sunday 8 September.
They’re raising funds for the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), after the charity’s critical care team came to the aid of Nicola’s father Peter Boardman last year.
On Friday 21 July 2023, Nicola, from Gosforth, Newcastle upon Tyne, was walking her dog with her daughter and as they passed her parents’ house they spotted an ambulance outside.
Recalling what happened, Nicola said: “My mum had been trying to get hold of me to alert me to what had happened, but I hadn’t realised. My dad had taken a fall down the stairs and banged his head on the floor. It was quite a distressing scene, my daughter works in the healthcare sector, and heard the paramedics say it was a Category 1 call, so she knew it was serious.”
Paramedics from the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) had responded to the scene and after assessing Peter they requested assistance from GNAAS.
Nicola said: “He was still semi-conscious but he wasn’t speaking or registering any of us, but I remember he lightly squeezed my mum’s hand when she spoke to him.
“The team from GNAAS landed on a field behind the house, and they came running over and were just absolutely fantastic.
“The doctor took control of the whole situation, and all of the teams worked together to treat him and were very coordinated.”
“The crew from GNAAS stabilised him on the ambulance and then the doctor came back into the house and talked to us for a few minutes explaining what they’d done, and he said, “you must understand that he is very seriously unwell.”
Peter was put into a medically-induced coma to help with his breathing, and he was taken to hospital by the NEAS road crew, with his family following closely in a separate ambulance.
Nicola added: “All of the medics were so humane and sensitive and showed such compassion.”
Despite the best efforts of everyone, sadly Peter passed away at the age of 82.
Speaking about her father, Nicola said: “Peter was an avid sportsman and fan. He played cricket for most of his life, and both played and avidly supported football. Coming from the north west originally, he was a lifelong Bolton Wanderers supporter, but since moving to the North East from Essex 14 years ago and he became a keen supporter of and season ticket holder at Sunderland.
“He was a very loving grandfather and did voluntary work as a driver for St Oswald’s Hospice, and him and mum volunteered at the National Trust.
“He loved watching the Olympics and competitive sports and he felt really at home in the North East, so he would be really tickled that we are all doing the Great North Run, like proper Geordies.”
The family decided to take part in the Great North Run after Nicola’s younger daughter Ruby suggested it, and they’ve so far raised more than £2,700 for GNAAS in memory of Peter.
Nicola said: “We’re overwhelmed by the amount of money we’ve raised. It’s a testament to the way people felt about my dad, and shows how much he meant to them.
“Also, Simon retired in the summer so when people asked about giving him gifts, he suggested donations instead which has significantly increased the amount we’ve raised. We are so touched by everyone’s response, and generosity.”
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