7 May 2026
In July 2020, in the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, On was working from home for JPMorgan and partaking in Zoom quizzes like the rest of the country.
With the allocated one run or cycle a day, 40 year old On was the fittest he had ever been and was enjoying training regularly. “I headed out that day with the plan to do a PB – looking to reach 50 miles on the bike,” said On, “but 11 miles in, the ride was over.”
While cycling towards Charlie Brown's Roundabout in South Woodford, a car came from behind, knocking On off his bike and onto the road. The car continued to drive over him and dragged him along the road, underneath the car, for 30ft.
Once the car was stopped, On was trapped underneath, where he remained for some time.
“I was shouting for help, I remained conscious throughout the whole thing,” said On. “I thought I was going to die.”
A member of the public heard On shouting and while others called the emergency services, she organised eight people to come together and lift the car, enabling him to crawl out from underneath.
“Her name is Tereasa O’Sullivan and she is my real-life hero.”
On had broken his right shoulder blade, his left humerus and his left wrist. He’d also broken 13 ribs which were causing both lungs to collapse. He’d fractured his spine at L5 and broken his right ankle. There were also injuries to his liver, damage to his left radial nerve, a wound to his face, the loss of his two front teeth and various burns across his arms from the hot exhaust.
“When I heard the air ambulance team had been dispatched, I realised how badly injured I must be,” said On. “I knew they only attended the most serious of situations.”
On our arrival, we found On already being cared for by London Ambulance Service (LAS) paramedics, including an Advanced Paramedic Practitioner (APP). They’d already given On oxygen and some painkillers and had applied a pelvic binder. We quickly reassessed On, before administering stronger painkillers to allow him to be placed on a scoop and then onto an ambulance stretcher. The team also applied a cast to his left arm for immobilisation which helps reduce pain. They made a call to the nearest major trauma centre to alert them of his arrival, transported On in a road ambulance to the nearby helicopter (which had landed in a Tesco car park) and then flew him to hospital.
In hospital On underwent multiple operations on the various broken bones he had suffered and had skin grafts from his left thigh to his left arm.
“I was a collection of pins and scars!” said On.
Hardly able to move and unable to eat solids, On lost a lot of physical strength and had to relearn how to take the weight of his own body. The damage to the radial nerve also meant he’d lost use of his left hand, with a weak grip and intermittent function of his fingers. Nurses were helping him wash, feed and dress himself while in hospital.
“I don’t know what would have happened without London’s Air Ambulance. I was so broken, but it would have been a much worst state if it wasn’t for them. Getting to hospital so quickly was pivotal for me.”
It was decided he was unable to live on his own when he was discharged from hospital 15 days later and so moved in with his younger sister Lauren and her partner. They helped him attend numerous follow up appointments, therapy sessions for his hand and the removal of the moon boot that had been on his ankle.
The hard work didn’t stop once home and On concentrated on his physio, doing exercises three times a day for over a year to strengthen his whole body. Which paid off – in May 2021, On achieved the milestone of moving back into his home, independently.
“My family and friends were amazing. My sisters were incredible. They gave me the motivation to push through all my rehab.
“I believed that if I didn’t recover as best I could, I would be letting them down. That got me through.”
Six years on, the gratitude On has towards his three sisters, brother-in-law and extended family still shines strong.
Now, On is working at a new job, back to full time hours. He’s back in the gym, training and lifting weights. His dad has dementia, so he’s thankful he’s still here to support him, while chasing all the nephews and niece around too!
There are many moments On has got to experience thanks to the treatment he received back in 2020, including a Californian roadtrip and attending his grandmother’s 90th birthday in LA.
When giving advice to someone who may be at the beginning of their recovery, On said: “Make the little steps – because the little steps will add up and become big steps. Take each day as it comes and you’ll get there. You’ve got to put the work in to get better and accept all the help that is offered to you.
“I want to say thank you to London’s Air Ambulance Charity. Without them, my recovery wouldn’t have been possible. Getting that hospital treatment so quickly was where it all began.
“And with Tereasa of course!”
In the last few years On raised £2,000 through JPMorgan’s Corporate Challenge, which went towards our Up Against Time appeal to replace our two helicopters. Thanks to him, and thanks to supporters like you, we’re here for London, today, tomorrow, always.