Doctor’s death inspires major online petition for air rescue

Doctor’s death inspires major online petition for air rescue

8 July 2015

A “FLYING doctor” of Irish motorcycle sport will be laid to rest in Portaferry tomorrow.

Thirty five year-old Dr John Hinds, a former pupil of St Patrick’s Grammar School in Downpatrick, died at the weekend after being injured while providing medical cover at a practice session for the Skerries 100 in County Dublin.

His funeral Mass will be held at St Patrick’s Church at Ballyphilip Road at 2pm with burial in the adjoining graveyard.

Widely respected for his medical work on road racing circuits, Dr Hinds was credited for saving many lives in motorbike accidents by being quickly on the scene on his machine.

He was understood to have been travelling with marshalls after the practice race on Friday when he was involved an accident. He died the next morning.

A leading trauma expert, Dr Hinds had led a campaign for an air ambulance to be introduced in Northern Ireland and had recently met Health Minister Simon Hamilton to discuss the issue.

Within days of his death, his campaign has snowballed with over 34,000 people putting their names to a petition in his memory.

Those behind the petition need to secure just a few hundred more signatures before attempting to persuade the Northern Ireland Assembly to pursue the need for a life-saving air ambulance service.

As the petition gathers momentum there have been widespread tributes paid to the consultant anaesthetist and trauma specialist, which Dr Hinds’ family said they have found “incredibly heartwarming”.

A spokesman for the  family said his partner, parents and brothers had found the acknowledgement of his work a “great source of comfort” at such a terribly sad time.

“We are only now beginning to understand just how many lives John touched during his 35 action-packed years,” the spokesman said.

“John lived for his family, his patients and the biking fraternity. The world will be a poorer place without him.

“We would like to thank the media and all followers on social media. Your stories, photographs and films are proving a great source of comfort to us today and we anticipate they will in the dark days ahead.”

Among those to pay online tribute to John Hinds are his former schoolmates from St Patrick’s Grammar School’s class of 1998.

These classmates credited Dr Hinds for “devoting his life to helping others”. 

“What a tragic loss of life. May God bless those who are left to mourn this loss of a good man,” wrote one schoolfriend, while another simply described his loss as an “absolute tragedy”.

Colleagues from Craigavon Area Hospital, where he worked as a consultant anaesthetist and lecturer in trauma science, have remembered him as a “true inspiration” and “amazing mentor”. 

“His vision and drive have changed the field in Northern Ireland,” wrote one.

“No words can describe how inspirational and amazing he was as a doctor and a mentor. We are forever indebted.”

“An amazing clinician, educator and leader with a wicked sense of humour. His legacy will live on,” wrote another.

Among those to sign the petition in Dr Hinds’ name was one man who was helped by him when he was in his own motorbike accident: “Dr John was a random passer-by, he stopped and helped me after I was hit by a car and thrown from my bike. I never got a chance to thank him, maybe I can honour his memory by signing this.

“Thank you for helping me in my hour in need, you were a good man.”

Another woman explained she signed the petition because of the role he had taken saving her father’s life.

“He met the ambulance on his own motorbike. An air ambulance meant precious time could have been gained rather than paramedics trying to negotiate the roads. Our family was lucky our dad made it.”

Portaferry councillor Joe Boyle said Dr Hinds was well respected locally, particularly for his air ambulance lobbying.

“His death is a great tragedy and my sympathies go the the Hinds’ family,” he said.

“Lifesaving is all about response times and Dr Hinds saved many lives on the racing track because he was a first responder. He was there to sort out life-threatening injuries or to make people more comfortable.

“Where some people like to play golf on their days off, he spent his free time continuing to save people’s lives. 

“He would have known that on the peninsula his family and community were isolated from services that many others take for granted. They are among those who will never get proper ambulance response times without an air ambulance.”