[A] FOUR-year-old boy who was ‘internally decapitated’ and not expected to survive the same horrific road crash which killed his mother and great-grandmother has met the aircrew which saved him.
Logan Murdoch, from Carlisle, was left fighting for his life after the serious collision on the A595 at Newby Cross. His mother, Hayley Murdoch, 29, and great-grandmother Sheila Dixon, 70, died in the incident, when their car collided with a van on February 23, 2016. Sheila’s husband, Jonah Dixon, was also seriously injured.
Logan, his father, John Murdoch, and grandmother, Karen Rooney, visited the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) Langwathby airbase to meet doctor Laura Duffy and paramedic Colin Clark who were flown to the scene in the immediate aftermath of the incident.
Miss Rooney, 52, of Castlesteads, Carlisle, said: “I lost my mother and my daughter. It’s been horrendous. A nightmare. There are no words to describe how I’ve felt.
“Without Logan, I wouldn’t have got through this.”
Logan suffered an internal decapitation, which is a separation of the spinal column from the base of the skull, as well as brain injuries, a punctured lung and a broken collar bone. He was not breathing when the GNAAS crew arrived at the incident.
The young boy was resuscitated at the roadside before being put into a medically-induced coma by the GNAAS doctor-led trauma team. He was also given blood en route to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle.
GNAAS Dr Duffy said: “Logan was one of our ‘unexpected survivors.’ That means that statistically, with the injuries he sustained, he was unlikely to survive.”
Mr Murdoch, 32, a roof fitter, said: “It’s been like hell. That’s the only way I can describe it. Devastating.”
Speaking of his beloved wife, Mr Murdoch said: “Hayley was perfect. She was beautiful. A brilliant mother and devoted to her family.”
Miss Rooney continued: “Hayley was my only child. She was my world and best friend. When I lost her, a part of me died too. My grief for her has taken over everything in my life.
“My mother Sheila was kind and generous. She was a bubbly person. Her family were her everything. We miss them both so much.
“Logan is the gift Hayley left me. He is the only thing that keeps me going in this tragedy.”
Logan has since gone on to make a full recovery, and astounded the GNAAS team by running around the helicopter during his visit.
Mr Murdoch said: “The doctor said that Logan was a very rare case. He said in all his 25 years as a neurosurgeon, only two other people had been brought to him alive after being internally decapitated. One of those died, and the other was severely paralysed. He is a very lucky boy.
“GNAAS saved Logan’s life. We can’t praise them enough. It was brilliant to come face to face with those that made such an impact.”
Dr Duffy said: “From where he was to where he’s come is incredible. This is the best part of the job, seeing someone survive something thought to be nonsurvivable. What a little ray of sunshine he is.”
Miss Rooney added: “Logan is our special hero as he fought like a trooper and to look at him now you wouldn’t believe what he’s been through.
“We wanted to say thank you to GNAAS from the bottom of our hearts.”
GNAAS is celebrating 15 years as a charity. To find out more about how you can help, please visit www.gnaas.com
