Climber and Partner Express Gratitude to Rescuers Following Serious Fall

A man and his partner have extended their thanks to mountain rescue personnel who were instrumental in saving him after he sustained a 10m (32.8ft) fall, landing on his head, during a climbing incident. Aron Thomas, 32, suffered a severe head injury on 2 October last year in the Horseshoe Quarry area of Stoney Middleton, located within the Peak District, Derbyshire. His family received grim prognoses and he was placed in an induced coma; however, he began to regain consciousness two weeks later. By April, he had resumed his professional duties as a surgeon. Dr. Thomas, a Derbyshire resident, recently met a member of the Edale Mountain Rescue team who assisted him, as part of a Countryfile episode broadcast on Sunday. The program focused on the Peak District and commemorated 75 years since legislation established national parks. His partner, Nicola Simpson, 35, who was present during the fall, recounted to Countryfile that he was approximately 10 meters above the ground and slipped while attempting to clip into a bolt. Dr. Simpson, an anaesthetist, further stated: “Because he landed on his head, I heard the helmet hit the buttress. I knew it was bad immediately.” He was unresponsive, but Dr. Simpson could not locate her phone and had to depart to seek assistance. She recalled: “I just remember saying I loved him, gave him a kiss and ran to the road.” She added, “Leaving him, I thought that would be the last time I saw him alive.” She managed to flag down a passerby and returned to her partner while communicating with 999. Approximately 25 minutes after placing the call, Dr. Simpson observed: “There was all of a sudden, a sea of people in red and lots of people and emergency services.” Volunteer rescuer Suzie Imber, who was nearest to the site, responded to the incident. All involved were later reunited on Countryfile. Dr. Simpson remarked: “Suzie is the only person I remember from the day… I remember her trying to keep me calm and reassure me.” After Dr. Thomas’s condition was stabilised, he was transported by air ambulance to Sheffield Northern General Hospital. His relatives were advised to prepare for the worst, and he was placed into an induced coma. Nevertheless, he started to awaken after two weeks, and within two months, he had relearned how to walk and speak. Dr. Thomas expressed: “Without mountain rescue, without air ambulance, without the emergency services as a whole, I would possibly still be there and certainly would not have the opportunity to recover the way I did.” He mentioned that since his return to work, he is performing surgeries, conducting clinics, and engaging in all his previous activities. He extended his gratitude to Prof. Imber, whose primary occupation is a professor of space physics, and the entire volunteer team, who depend on charitable contributions. The couple, who reside in South Normanton, became engaged in March and are scheduled to marry in December of next year. They are also expecting a baby boy in March. Dr. Thomas commented: “So much to be thankful of – so much to celebrate.” His fiancée added: “A year ago, if someone told me this is where we would be, we would have never have believed them. We’re incredibly lucky.” Follow BBC Derby on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.