The heartbroken family of man who was shot and killed have met the air ambulance medics who battled to save his life a year on from the tragic incident.
Vanessa Prest, the mother of Lee Pettite, has praised the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) who went to his aid after he was shot in the back close to his home in Bankfields, Eston, on March 1 last year.
The specialist trauma team from the charity flew to the incident and performed advanced treatment on the 22-year-old before transporting him to hospital in a road ambulance, where en route, they got his heart beating again, but he died a short time later.
Mrs Prest, 46, said: “A year on and it’s still as raw as ever. I’ve not come to terms with it.
“The GNAAS team do an amazing job. They did everything they could. We can’t thank them enough.”
Mrs Prest, Lee’s sister Chloe Prest and his stepfather Andrew Prest visited the GNAAS airbase at Durham Tees Valley Airport on March 22 and met doctor Chris Smith, paramedic Andy Mawson and pilot Keith Armatage who carried out cutting-edge medical interventions to desperately try and save their cherished Lee.
“We wanted to come and mark the anniversary,” said Mrs Prest “we have also released balloons and raised a glass to my loving son.”
Mrs Prest who has completed a sponsored walk for GNAAS in the past, plans to hold an annual fundraiser for the service in Lee’s memory.
“People should support the charity. It’s a fantastic organisation,” she said.
The GNAAS doctor and paramedic team fly to hundreds of critically ill or injured patients every year and need to raise £4.9m to continue to operate. To support GNAAS donate here.
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