Daniel's story

In August 2022, 21-year-old Daniel made a decision that would change his – and his family’s – life forever.

“He was a strong boy,” said Olga, Daniel’s mother. “He had just finished university with a 2:1 in Ethical Hacking and Cybersecurity. He had everything ahead of him, until he didn’t.”

That summer Daniel was working behind the bar at the Shard whilst waiting for his degree certificate. After a normal shift, he was coming home with a friend on a late-night train. Just two stops away from home at Arnos Grove, Daniel decided to climb in between the carriages and get on top of the train.

“Every time I get on a train now, I look at the doors between the carriages,” said Olga. “They’re so small, it was such a small space he climbed out of to reach the top of the carriage.’’

On entering Arnos Grove, there is a low bridge across the tracks. Unfortunately, Daniel’s head struck the bridge as the train was moving. He was found face down on top of the train as it came to a stop at the station.

Passengers on the platform dialed 999 and given the nature of the emergency, the London Fire Brigade (LFB), the British Transport Police (BTP) and the London Ambulance Service (LAS), including the LAS Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) were all dispatched. London’s Air Ambulance’s advanced trauma team was also dispatched.

On arrival of the first LAS crew, it was obvious that Daniel was deeply unconscious on top of the train. It would have been very difficult to treat him where he was, so a decision was made to extricate him quickly. The LFB crews led on this, working with the HART and LAS teams to get Daniel onto the platform. When our team arrived, Daniel was being brought up to the station foyer.

Our paramedic who was on scene, Ian McIntyre, said: “When we arrived the emergency crews on scene had done a fantastic job in recognising how unwell Daniel was and rapidly extricating him to the station foyer. On first seeing him, it was clear how badly injured he was. He had sustained a severe traumatic brain injury, he was unconscious with fractures to his head and face, and was needing his airway to be managed manually.”

Working with the other emergency services, the team provided Daniel with an anaesthetic to induce him into a coma and take over his breathing, to ensure he was getting the maximum amount of oxygen and to protect his airway. Only our crew can do this on scene in London.

Prior to leaving the scene, the team made a pre-alert call to the nearest major trauma centre to warn them of Daniel’s clinical presentation and the need for an urgent CT scan of his brain.

“At 1:30 in the morning, the doorbell rang and I cursed Daniel for forgetting his key,” said Olga. “But it was the police. The pain and the fear I experienced at that moment, it still gives me shivers recalling that night and everything that came after. The police blue lighted us to the hospital, where the clinicians were waiting for us.”

By the time Olga and Sergi, Daniel’s father, arrived, Daniel had had the CT scan which confirmed he had sustained a bleed to his brain, causing the pressure within the brain to rise. Later that morning Daniel was taken to theatre to remove part of his skull and the blood clot on the right side of his brain, to help relieve the pressure.

“We got told that our son was very sick. No one could tell us if he would make it, and if he did, no one could say what the damage would be.”

Unfortunately, despite the first operation, Daniel continued to deteriorate and required a second operation to remove his skull on the left side.

“For days his head looked like a balloon,” said Olga. “Then for months he had a big dent in his head.”

Daniel remained in hospital for four months.

“At first you feel like you’re living in a bad dream, waiting to wake up at any minute. Then you realise this is your reality. Watching him emerge from the coma was very scary. He was erratic and confused and not like the old Daniel.

“You look at him and think how did this happen to us. Your world is completely crushed.”

During those four months, Daniel had several other operations. The first craniotomy had not been successful and some of the skin on his head suffered from necrosis and died. He had to have multiple plastic surgeries, taking skin from his arm for his head, then skin from his leg to repair his arm.

In hospital, Daniel slowly began some physio and occupational therapy, whilst awaiting neuro rehabilitation. In December, a bed became available and he was transferred, staying there for two more months.

“Daniel had to re-learn how to do everything again: how to hold a spoon, how to eat, how to talk. It was like we’d completely lost him and he was slowly reemerging with time. But often it was one step forward and three steps back.”

Daniel’s memory was severely impaired and he could get easily confused and frustrated. Olga described his memory as like a five year old’s, which made it incredibly difficult and painful to leave him each evening.

“It was clear Daniel was severely unhappy being an in-patient at the rehabilitation unit and it was difficult for him to understand why he needed to stay. So, in February 2023, the decision was made to discharge him and continue his rehabilitation at home.”

Olga and Sergi rescheduled their lives to be able to accommodate Daniel’s rehabilitation needs. Sergi didn’t work for four months as Daniel could not be left home alone and so they joined the gym together for regular physical activity. Olga changed her working hours so she could be available to attend various community therapies, including occupational, physiotherapy, neuro-psychotherapy and hospital outpatient appointments with Daniel.

Now, nearly three years on from the incident, Daniel is living with his parents at home, enjoying a varied life.

“He attends the gym three times a week – physically he’s about 85% back to normal. He does classes there, swims, uses the sauna. The gym has definitely been a big contributor in his recovery, he has worked relentlessly because all he wants is to get better.

“He also has three volunteering jobs. The brain injury charity Headway has been a huge support for us. Laura, Daniel’s occupational therapist at the time, helped us find a position at the amazing The Palmers Greenery Café. Daniel works here once a week with his support worker and it is the highlight of his week. The owner, a person with a huge heart, enabled further connections, which resulted in another two positions, in a funky vintage clothes shop and helping with landscaping at the café. Daniel enjoys volunteering so much. It gives him a huge sense of pride and keeps his weeks busy.”

Ian McIntyre said: “When we handed Daniel over to the team at The Royal London Hospital, we were not confident he would survive due to the severity of his injury. It has therefore been a delight to meet him, Olga and his sister since then, it’s so lovely to see how well he has recovered.”

Daniel still suffers from brain injury fatigue and naps every day. His short-term memory is also still limited, but routine diary apps recommended by Headway are helping progress this. Daniel requires the support of his family and support worker, but so far, his recovery has been miraculous.

“This is a life-long recovery, we’ll be working on improvements for the rest of Daniel’s life. But we are getting better every day. The latest progress has been getting on the bike again for the first time since the incident. This brought such tears of joy to us both. Daniel is also now doing art therapy, he is so proud of his watercolour paintings and we have dotted them around the house.”

This horrific incident rocked Daniel and the whole family: their lives are irrevocably changed forever.

“Of course, we have our issues and our frustrations. Daniel is often frustrated that his brain isn’t how it used to be and that he can’t go out on his own anymore.’

“But as a family, our bond has got stronger. We’re so close and we’re also so calm. We have to be gentle around Daniel and so it’s taught us all to be calmer and take each day as it comes.

“He’s still so loving and kind. And he’s here. And that is thanks to your charity.

“I wish I had never heard of you and this had never happened. But it did and I don’t know what would have happened if London’s Air Ambulance and the other emergency services hadn’t attended that night.”

In December 2024, Daniel, Olga, Sergi and Daniel’s younger sister Evelina attended our charity’s first-ever carol concert at St Paul’s Cathedral.

“Daniel is very fond of London’s Air Ambulance Charity, he follows religiously on social media!

“We’re living a different life now and it’s been a devastating journey. But we’re here as a family and we cherish every moment. To anyone else on this difficult journey, don’t lose hope. Be patient and be kind to yourself. With hard work, perseverance and lots of love, it can be rewarding.”