Chris Laker

My name is Chris Laker, and in 2018, my four-year-old son, Alden was out with his granny, Sue, at an event in West Sussex. I was teaching at school, while his mum was sleeping after a night shift.

As Alden and Sue lay on some grass at the event, a van ran over them. There was simply no time for them to move out of the way. Sue rolled over Alden to protect him, but they went under the wheels twice.

When I got the message at school, I ran to the car in a blur but had no idea where the hospital was. By the time I got home to Mel, Aldenโ€™s mum, we were both in shock so couldnโ€™t drive. It took nearly four hours by train before, at last, we reached St Georgeโ€™s Hospital. Everyone stopped. A receptionist sent us through doors marked โ€˜Resusโ€™. He said, โ€˜You should go quicklyโ€™. I thought: โ€˜This is it. Weโ€™re about to lose him.โ€™

Alden trying on a helmet
The Laker Family
As we burst into A&E I called out โ€˜My son is four. Flown in by Air Ambulance. Where is he?’

Chris Laker

We were rushed over to a resus bed. As the curtain was pulled back, Alden said, โ€˜My butt
hurts.โ€™ Iโ€™ve never seen a more beautiful sight. He had a broken pelvis and horribly bruised
legs. Though in a lot of pain, he was alive and being terribly brave.

Unbelievably, Aldenโ€™s legs werenโ€™t broken. The only explanation is that he was so young at the time, so his bones were still growing and more flexible. This, and the fact that he was cushioned by another body, of course.

Even though he was hurt, oddly I consider it one of the best days of my life, because Alden is still with us. There is no way heโ€™d be alive if it wasnโ€™t for Sue, Dr Harriet, Dr Malcolm, and
Paramedic Dean who kept him safe, when we couldnโ€™t.

You hear people say theyโ€™d do anything for their family, but Sue really did. Alden was lucky in many ways, but it is thanks to KSS and Sue that heโ€™s still here to tell the tale

Our patients are at the centre of what we do.

There is nothing more heart-warming for our team than when a former patient gets in touch and wants to visit us. If you, or a family member, has been a patient of ours and would like to get in touch, we would love to hear from you.ย 

Saving lives when every second counts

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