A man is celebrating a second chance at life thanks to the swift actions of an air ambulance crew saved him after a crash.
Daniel Goodall, 31, from Braintree, was left fighting for survival after his car left the road and collided with a tree in October 2022.
He suffered a traumatic brain injury in the crash, which left him in a critical condition.
Mr Goodall said: "It’s so important for me to say thank you.
"Without their quick response, I wouldn’t be here today, and I wouldn’t have the chance to be a dad."
The Essex and Herts Air Ambulance team arrived at the scene and performed an emergency anaesthetic to stabilise him before transferring him to the Royal London Hospital.
He was placed in an induced coma and spent two months in intensive care, battling a collapsed lung and sepsis during his recovery.
Mr Goodall said: "I think of that every Father’s Day I get to spend with my son.
"Being here to watch Henry grow is something I didn’t think would happen.
"Every day with him feels like a second chance, and I can’t thank everyone enough—my family, the medical teams, and everyone who’s helped me along the way."
After months in hospital, he had to relearn how to walk and speak.
One year after the accident, he celebrated the birth of his son, Henry.
Brain injuries are a key area of focus for the charity, which invests in research, innovation, and education through its Centre for Excellence to improve patient care.
Laurie Phillipson, a clinical academic fellow and critical care paramedic, said: "Stories like Daniel’s are what get us up and on shift every day.
"What happens in those first few moments at the roadside can make all the difference to a patient’s long-term outcomes.
"We are constantly looking at how we can improve care for patients who suffer head injuries."
Essex and Herts Air Ambulance now carries specialist equipment such as pupillometers, handheld devices that provide an instant reading of how a patient’s pupils respond to light, helping teams make rapid, informed decisions about brain injuries at the scene.
Alice Kershberg, who leads the patient and family liaison team and has supported Mr Goodall’s family since the incident, said: "Helping Daniel and his family get to this point where he can celebrate with his son means so much.
"Our focus is on being there for people on that long road to recovery."
To support the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance, visit ehaat.org.
