Local care worker who collapsed while taking care of 93-year-old, praises Great North Air Ambulance Service

A local care worker who collapsed while looking after a 93-year-old client has praised the Great North Air Ambulance Service.

Earlier this year, Aretha Lawson from Jurby had been helping her client get dressed when she began to feel unwell.

Speaking about the incident, Aretha says she began to feel 'sick, dizzy and sweaty', so she went outside to get some fresh air, but collapsed soon after.

The 54-year-old managed to crawl to her car before blacking out, when she came back round she rang her husband Julian.

When she collapsed, Mrs Lawson suffered a deep cut to the head, eye and had twisted her knee.

When the ambulance arrived Aretha was told her heart wasn't beating properly, and the decision was made to call the GNAAS, who arrived at the scene within minutes.

When the team arrived by Helicopter they decided she was stable enough to be taken by road to Noble's.

Despite tests, they were unable to tell Aretha why she collapsed - she was kept in hospital for three days before being sent home on bed rest.

Mrs Lawson says before her accident she had never hear of the GNAAS, but now plans to fundraise for them later this year. 

GNAAS has responded to 22 patients in the Isle of Man since April 2022. 

To find out how you can support the charity, you can visit: gna.as/readyforanything