Appeal for crash tragedy survivor

Paramedics from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service have launched a fundraising appeal for an eight-year-old boy from South Tyneside who survived a crash in which four members of his family died.

Paula Marie Gilbert, 29, her partner Neil Jex, 37, and sons Tristan, three, and Kaiden Gilbert, seven months, died in Saturday's accident.

Macauley Gilbert was airlifted from the scene on the A1 near Catterick badly injured but was in a stable condition in hospital on Monday . Macauley was airlifted to James Cook University Hospital, on Teesside.

Martin Eede, Yorkshire Air Ambulance chief executive said "

It's not often that something touches the paramedics the way this has " The Air ambulance crew gave the stricken youngster a teddy bear for comfort and he is still clutching it tightly in hospital and refusing to let go.

This is the first time the Yorkshire Air Ambulance Service have launched such an appeal.

Sgt John Lumbard, of North Yorkshire Police, said: "Two families have been totally devastated by this tragic road collision which has taken the lives of two parents and their two young children."A third child is in hospital after undergoing surgery and has other family members with him.

"But it's a miracle that he has survived at all.

"He is going to need an awful lot of support to get through this."

You can make a donation, a lot or a little as it all counts, on the Macauley appeal website.


The guys from the Yorkshire Air Ambulance also deserve a donation to keep them aloft. Donations can be made to their service fund through through their own website