FAMILY members of a young Cirencester man who was airlifted to hospital following a traffic collision said it “could’ve been a whole different story” if not for the help he received from kind-hearted members of the public.
Marc Burston, 29, of Beeches Road in Cirencester, was driving home from Gloucester after work and after visiting his son when he was involved in a collision with a tractor on the A417 near Cirencester at about 9.15pm on Thursday, August 18.
The collision left Marc in and out of consciousness with serious cuts to his left arm, which bled heavily, and burns to his right hand.
He had to be cut free from his crushed car, which, according to his sister’s partner Callum Harvey, was “split in half”.
Marc was airlifted to Bristol’s Southmead Hospital and is now out of hospital and recovering.
But family members were told by doctors that it could have been a fatality if it was not for the help he received at the scene, Marc’s sister Emma Burston said.
(Marc Burston's crushed car after the collision on the A417 near Cirencester)
Motorcyclist Ollie Adams was the first to come to Marc’s aid when he rang 999 and helped support the young man’s head.
A nurse and doctor who happened to be passing by later tended to the Cirencester man’s injuries until paramedics came, making sure he did not lose too much blood.
Other people who came to Marc’s aid were two HGV engineers, Ed and Mark, who parked their van across the A417 to stop cars from passing, and two policemen who made sure Marc was as safe as possible before the air ambulance took him.
They also calmed Marc’s mother Judie down by giving her drinks while her son was in such trouble.
On hearing news of Marc being involved in a collision, his sister Emma, mum Judie, and Emma's partner Callum Harvey tried to get to the scene but ended up stuck in traffic.
Callum decided not to wait and ran to the scene via a slip road.
Emma said: “It was horrible because it was not the first time this happened. My mother kept shouting that she could not lose him again.
“And if it wasn’t for my partner, we wouldn’t have known if he was dead or alive.”
According to Emma, Marc was also involved in a serious traffic accident six years ago.
Speaking of how she felt after she was told that her brother was alive, she said: “Relief. I was led out on the A417 screaming and crying, I assumed the worst. So when I got the phone call, it was relief.”
(Marc Burston's bandaged arm and hand)
She thanked those who helped her brother after the accident: “If it wasn’t for the nurse and the doctor, we could be talking about a different story.
“Marc lost so much blood and was in and out of consciousness. But the nurse and doctor assisted to his arms and hands, and kept him talking about anything to keep him conscious.
“I would like to say a massive thank you to everyone. We can’t express it enough. They were all so helpful.”
Emma and Callum also thanked Sgt Elliot and PC Griffiths for keeping them calm and sorting everything out, and PC Morgan for helping Emma get back to her car so she could get to the hospital in time.
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