Prince William’s air ambulance crew was scrambled March 2017 and the team received few details.
Although the crew had hoped for a small injury, they quickly fought to save the life a young boy who was seriously hurt after being struck by a car.
William does not identify the child in the podcast, but Bobby Hughes’ parents, who were five years old at the time, told The Mail last Sunday that their son was the victim.
William makes the most impactful speech in debate on mental health provision. He explains how Bobby’s shock lasted with him, and then sent him into deep depression weeks later.
“I was only interested in this particular job.” He says that it was not far. The maximum time we flew was fifteen minutes. And that was the great thing – you get the aircraft out as quick as you can. It took only a few minutes.
“I can still recall the crew that were there, they were my great friends. I was accompanied by a paramedic, a doctor and another pilot. The call that we receive is brief and not detailed. Therefore, we expected a minor case.

William does not identify the child on his podcast. However, Bobby Hughes’ parents told The Mail that Bobby Hughes was only five when the incident occurred. Pictured: William appearing on Time to Walk
“It was obvious that the young man had been seriously injured in an accident with a vehicle. There are certain things you do not want to see in this life.
“And all that we were concerned about was this boy. As you can see, the parents become very anxious, screaming, crying, not knowing what they should do and even in pain themselves. It’s all part of your life.
“But, our team worked hard and stabilized the boy. Then it was just a matter of getting him to hospital. The whole thing happened in a matter of minutes. We had the patient at our door in less than an hour. The patient has the highest chance of survival.
“I returned home from that night feeling very sad, though not completely. I didn’t cry, but I did feel something was different inside.
“I felt some tension in my stomach. The next day I went back to work with a different team. We move on to the next position.
“And that’s what’s the important thing is, you are not always together.
“So, you don’t have to spend a whole day processing it.
“And so you have some reluctance about talking about it because they don’t want each other to be held up. You don’t wish to burden others. Also, you don’t like to ask yourself, ‘Oh! Is it only me? Are you the only person who is really affected?
William was unable to cope with the emotional effects of Bobby’s experience until a while later. He recalls that it really struck him weeks later.

William was unable to cope with the emotional effects of Bobby’s experience until a while later. He recalls, “It hit me really weeks later.” Bobby Hughes (with his parents)
“It felt like somebody had entered a key into a lock without my permission.
“I felt like all of the world was ending. It is an incredible feeling. This feeling is so overwhelming.
“And that’s me. That’s something I have never experienced before. Everything was perfect in my personal and professional life.
“I felt happy at home, and at work. But I couldn’t help but look at myself and wonder, “Why do I feel like that?” Why is it that I feel sad?
“And then I realized that you were actually bringing home other people’s traumas, sadnesses, and it was affecting me. However, I cannot explain how I came to that realization. A lot of people do not have this realisation.
“And here is where you slip unnoticed into your next problem.
“It’s difficult to comprehend until you have experienced it.”
“I had the good fortune to have someone I could talk to in my workplace at Air Ambulance, because I felt that mental health was very important.
Talking about the jobs was a great help, as well as sharing the stories with others. In one instance, we met the families and patients involved, who both made a good recovery.
This definitely worked.
William was a pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance Service between March 2015 to July 2017 and witnessed the moment. William, four years later after helping Bobby in his distress call, says that he still has fond memories.
He says, “It makes me feel quite emotional right now.” They come in, thank you and then, “Here’s he.” He’s OK.’ It’s… you know, it still even affects me now.
“But as a human being you cannot help but feel affected when you witness someone in this kind of dire situation, literally at death’s doors.”
His very personal experience puts his recent work – to raise awareness of the mental health of emergency service workers – into context.

His very personal experience puts his recent work – to raise awareness of the mental health of emergency service workers – into context. Photo: William, taken for Time to Walk.
The Duke stated that cases involving children were much more difficult for him since becoming a father during a Kensington Palace event last month.
Prince George was his eldest son, and was only three years old when Bobby was hurt.
William shared his thoughts with Chloe Taylor (emergency care assistant) and Will Parish (paramedic), at the event.
‘So, for me, it was the relationship with my personal life with essentially the family or the incident I was at – I found that very difficult.
“There were many times that I needed to get away from it because it was getting too much of me and it felt it.
‘And then I’d go to talk to someone else after the event, which was really important, but it continues, it doesn’t really leave you there – you just manage it better.’