22 May 2026
In August 2025, after receiving fantastic A-level results in the morning and securing his place to study Computer Science at Manchester University, 18 year old Phoenix was celebrating with friends in Tooting.
Fulfilling the results-day tradition of going to Ministry of Sound, Phoenix and his friend hired some lime bikes to cycle to Tooting Bec tube station. But, when cycling through a complex junction, Phoenix was hit at speed by a reckless driver.
“After a really positive day, I received a call from Phoenix’s friend’s mum late at night,” said Natalie, Phoenix’s mum. “She told me Phoenix had been in an accident and was being taken to hospital. I had no idea how bad it really was.”
London’s Air Ambulance was quickly dispatched to the scene – in a rapid response car due to the time of night – to assist London Ambulance Service (LAS) paramedics.
After assessing him, our team suspected that Phoenix had sustained a severe traumatic brain injury (TBI). To make it worse, he also had signs of collapsed lungs, which meant he was not getting enough oxygen to his brain.
We performed a general anaesthetic to take control of his breathing and ensure Phoenix was getting maximum oxygen to prevent further injury to his brain. The team also performed a surgical procedure to both sides of his chest, called a thoracostomy, to release the trapped air that was causing the lungs to collapse. They also performed an ultrasound scan of his abdomen which showed evidence of internal bleeding, likely from the liver and they started a blood transfusion. These are all potentially life-saving procedures that only our team can administer on scene in London.
Prior to leaving the scene, the team placed a pre alert call to prepare the hospital for Phoenix’s arrival.
“I didn’t understand why it was taking so long for Phoenix to get to hospital, as I knew the scene was really nearby,” said Natalie. “But now I know about what London’s Air Ambulance can do at the roadside.”
“It’s amazing how they brought the hospital to his side – he wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that.”
Once in hospital, Phoenix had a CT scan which confirmed the severe TBI and was admitted to the ICU.
He also had six broken ribs, a fractured pelvis, a fractured elbow, a fractured jaw, a lacerated liver and a deep laceration to his scalp from where his head had hit the windscreen.
“They couldn’t say what consequences he would have or how bad they would be,” said Natalie. “There were no definitive answers.”
Phoenix remained in a coma for three weeks, with the process of lessening the sedation to bring him back to consciousness not going smoothly at first and then the results of further scans showing a diffuse axonal injury (DAI). But eventually, he started to breathe without the ventilator.
Once conscious, Phoenix was moved to the major trauma ward, where he continued to become more aware. But he was unable to hold his own head up, sit up or eat – he was bedbound, connected to feeding tubes and catheters.
In various hospital wards, Phoenix began his recovery journey. With a lot of physiotherapy and neuro rehabilitation, he began to strengthen his body, remembering how to sit up and use his body’s muscles. He began to eat solids again and relearnt how to walk, moving from wheelchairs to frames to crutches to strides.
“We focused on every little step forward,” said Natalie. “It was important to concentrate on the positive improvements each day, no matter how small, and we had such a fantastic team of doctors, nurses and therapists helping Phoenix every day on his road to recovery.”
Phoenix was discharged in November, to an outpatient rehab programme where the team focused on developing his walking running and cognitive abilities. The occupational therapy worked on vocational activities, cooking, trips out and using transport.
“My main goal was independence,” said Phoenix. “I wanted to be able to go somewhere independently on my own. In the end, it helped me achieve just that.”
NHS rehab finished in March 2026 and so Phoenix is now back living at home, continuing rehabilitation and planning his next stage of life. Thanks to his hard work and positive attitude, his recovery is outstanding. He is currently deciding on whether he’ll start university this year or take a year out to experience the world before studying in 2027.
“I wanted to live a normal life, be a normal 19 year old, and wanted to have access to as many opportunities as anyone else, so I focused on anything that wasn’t normal and worked hard to get it better,” said Phoenix. “I was aware that nothing was going to get better if you didn’t do anything about it.”
The family recently went away to Hong Kong and Japan, during which Phoenix and his girlfriend were able to take a few days away just the two of them.
“That was amazing, really having that independence back,” said Phoenix. “It was great to see how far I’d come.”
Phoenix has so many goals for the future – he wants to learn a new language, further develop his jazz piano skills, get a job and do some travelling, as well as go to university as originally planned! Thanks to his dedication, the support of his family and the life-saving medical care London’s Air Ambulance provided on scene, this is all possible.
Natalie said:
“If there wasn’t an air ambulance, the outcome for so many people – including Phoenix – would be very different. We’re so grateful, they’re the reason he’s sat next to me today.”
Thinking about how to advise someone else at the beginning of their recovery, Phoenix offered an insightful perspective.
“Rather than comparing yourself to how you were before injury, compare yourself to where you were after a week after the incident” – that helped me see the crazy difference. From slumped in a chair unable to hold my head up, to where I am now – the progress there is amazing. That was really helpful and I found it really encouraging.
“It is hard, but you’re the one who makes your future. It’s in your hands, it’s in your control, even if it doesn’t feel like it. If you try hard, something might happen. You’re more in control than you think.”
We’re so inspired by Phoenix’s incredible journey and thrilled to see him embrace the future he has ahead of him. We’re here for London, today, tomorrow, always – but we’re a charity. We need your support to continue to be there for our patients.