On Friday 21st July Toploader, famous for the worldwide hit `Dancing in the Moonlight’, headlined Blue Reef Festival, Maidstone, and invited the event’s founder John Wingate and Stu Plumbly, the Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex Paramedic who saved John’s life, onto stage.
John, who was critically injured in an industrial accident nearly ten years ago, says:
“If it wasn’t for the lifesaving work of Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, I wouldn’t be here and Blue Reef Festival wouldn’t exist.
“Surviving my accident inspired me to follow my passion for music and to launch the festival for the enjoyment of local people, to nurture lesser-known music talent, and for everyone to sing and dance along to some of the very best of British bands, such as Toploader.”
Joe Washbourn, lead singer of Toploader, said:
“The incredible lifesaving story behind Blue Reef Festival made it a very special event for us to headline. We loved playing for the thousands of local people who came along and helping to raising awareness of the amazing work of Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex.”
John, who visited us and met the crew who saved him earlier this month, added:
“It was an emotional day visiting the charity and reuniting with the crew members who fought so hard to save my life that day. The skills of the crew are extraordinary. They worked in very difficult circumstances to provide me with lifesaving treatment at the scene of my accident, which not only meant that I survived, but also that I have been able to recover so well from such serious injury.
“I owe my life to Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, every team member, and every supporter, who makes the charity’s lifesaving work possible.”
Paramedic Stu Plumbley, Patient and Family Aftercare Lead at KSS, said:
“We attend the most seriously sick and injured people, so we are always pleased when former patients such as John get in touch and let us know how they are doing.
“As a charity we depend on the support of the communities we serve, and we’re only able to keep saving lives thanks to wonderful supporters like John.
“In creating the Blue Reef Festival John has done a fantastic job of raising awareness about our life-saving work, and everyone at KSS is grateful to him and we all enjoyed some great music!”
For more information about the Blue Reef Festival: bluereeffestival.co.uk
