BBC viewers were heartbroken to hear the story of a chef who was killed in a motorcycle accident. He said he had crashed while ‘dozing off after’ a thirteen-hour work shift.
Adrian (51-year-old from Suffolk) was driving home at 70 mph when he collided with the crash barrier. His arm became trapped and he lost one third of his blood supply. He also suffered severe injuries to his hand and forearm.
Surgeons: at the Edge of Life aired his appearance on the documentary. This was where surgeons from plastic and orthopedic surgery made the difficult decision to remove Adrian’s forearm and hand.
Viewers were left heartbroken at the ‘blow for his livelihood and vocation’ and his loved ones have started an online fundraiser to help the chef, who has been learning to cook with just his left hand, return to the catering industry.
Adrian, 51, from Suffolk, had his hand and forearm amputated following a high-speed motorcycle crash and appeared on BBC2 documentary series Surgeons: At the Edge of Life
Adrian was rushed to the major trauma unit at Addenbrooke’s hospital in the early hours of the morning after crashing his motorbike at 70mph into a crash barrier on his way home from a 13-hour shift working as a chef
Adrian is #surgeons was absolutely gutted. It was a lifesaver and an affront to his profession and livelihood. One viewer expressed deep hope that he could find fulfilling work in the food business after his injury.
Adrian seems optimistic about his future. A second viewer commented, “I wish him all of the best.”
“This is amazing tonight. It’s gruesome but so skillful. A third said that these medics were “just awe-inspiring.”
Last night’s documentary series followed the major trauma unit at Addenbrooke’s hospital in Cambridge, where staff are up against the clock to treat critically injured patients.
The chef’s ‘blow to his livelihood and profession’ left viewers devastated. His loved ones started an internet fundraiser in support of him.
Adrian, a former chef and driver of a motorbike, crashed into a barrier at 70 mph on the way back to his home.
During the collision he trapped his arm between the crash barrier and impaled his abdomen with a piece of metal, loosing a third of his circulating blood.
Adrian was in a critical condition when he arrived in the trauma department’s resus bay with potential internal haemorrhaging along with the threat of losing a limb.
‘Adrian’s condition is serious. He is very unstable, he’s at a real risk of dying. We could lose him in the emergency department’, said Dr Mariam Imam, Specialty Registrar in Emergency Medicine.
Dr Imam led the team that quickly assembled a major trauma specialist to examine his external injuries. This included checking his breathing, life-threatening injuries, as well as whether or not he needed urgent surgery. Adrian fluid was administered and intravenous lines were inserted.
The team was led by Dr Mariam imam (pictured). They quickly assembled a major trauma specialist to examine the exterior damage. This included checking his breathing, life-threatening injuries and whether or not he needed urgent surgery. Adrian fluid was administered and intravenous lines were inserted while they assessed his pain.
Adrian was in a critical condition when he arrived in the trauma department’s resus bay with potential internal haemorrhaging along with the threat of losing a limb
Dr Imam stated that the initial few minutes spent stabilizing trauma patients is detective work. Finding clues that might help us determine what’s going on with our patient and any life-threatening injuries we might be dealing with.
“Adrian lost about a third his blood volume. My immediate concern is his abdomen and chest. He could be dying from these places. We don’t know what to do, and every second matters in such situations.”
Adrian received blood, as well as a combination of painkillers and medication before being sent to CT. This was to determine if any metal fragments had penetrated vital organs. A scan quickly confirmed that this wasn’t the case.
The attention of the world turned then to his hand and arm, likely the source of his blood loss. He had been severely injured, so doctors were concerned he might lose his limb.
Adrian was brought back to resus where an orthopaedic surgeon who specialises in bones and joints was called to assess the damage to his arm, enlisting the plastic surgery team to help explore the extent of the damage.
Adrian received blood, a combination of pain relievers and was sent to CT for a CT scan to determine if any metal particles had penetrated vital organs. This was quickly confirmed by a scan.
After determining that there is decent blood supply to the hand, Adrian’s limb was stabilised until he can undergo further surgery.
Alex Reid, a hand and plastic surgeon, stated that the hand looks a lot like a Swiss watch.
Adrian, who was waiting for treatment in the critical-care unit, recalled the accident. “I had been working 12-13 hours. It was my last day of work before I got off. So I fell asleep.
“I was actually facing the crash barrier when I woke up. The ambulance came and took my jacket.
“The pain was unbelievable. You could sense that the blood was pumping out of your arm’.
Adrian told his story while he waited in the critical unit to have his second operation.
Adrian had his second procedure. The doctor opened a small tunnel in Adrian’s wrist that allowed tendons and nerves to run through it.
He said, “I’m a cook.” “Very passionate. Always have been since my days in France. I am always working with my hands.
Forty-eight hours later, he was brought back to theatre with consultant plastic and hand surgeon Ian Grant to discover if there was enough nerves, functioning tissue and blood vessels in Adrian’s forearm to allow it to be reconstructed.
Adrian had his surgery started with the doctor opening a tunnel in his wrist. This allowed tendons to run through and nerves were able to enter his hand.
While the vital median, ulnar nerve and blood vessels were all intact, Ian noticed that Adrian’s hand tissue had already begun to die.
Grant stated that dead tissue cannot be kept alive. He might get sick quickly.
Adrian spent eight months in hospital with the occupational therapy team learning to cook with just his left hand
Adrian discovered that his small muscles, which enable him to move individual joints with his fingers in his hands, were not working properly. The bones around them and soft tissue was also dead. He decided that reconstruction would be the only option.
Twelve days Adrian was involved in a motorbike accident that resulted in his losing his forearm and hand. He spent 8 months at the hospital learning how to cook using his left hand.
Adrian stated that the first session had been “let’s get to work” ‘I’d like to think the future will look bright and i’m certainly determined to ensure that it is’.
Now, eleven weeks on from his accident, friends of Adrian have set up a GoFundMe to help him get back on his feet, revealing he’s had his first consultation to be fitted with a prosthetic hand.
Adrian is He is looking to get back to the catering industry and considers teaching and lecturing to teach the next generation of chefs.