When little Ruby Salter celebrated her fifth birthday, she expected fun with her friends, lots of cake and presents.
But instead she was flown to hospital by the East Anglian Air Ambulance (EAAA) after suffering severe blood loss when her hand smashed through a glass door.
Her dad Bruce Salter, of Victoria Hill, Eye, said: “It was October 2 last year which was her fifth birthday.
“She was having a party at home with about 12 of her friends from school.
“In all the excitement she ran from one end of the room to the other and put her hand straight through a glass door.
“It brought an abrupt end to the party.”
A first responder from East of England Ambulance Trust was soon on the scene assessing the extent of Ruby’s injuries while her mother Sally Salter, 33, comforted her and the couple’s other daughter eight-year-old Rose.
Ruby was found to have severed the arteries, tendons and ligaments in her right arm.
Mr Salter, 44, added: “By the time I got home from work, which was only five minutes down the road, the first responder was there and had called for the air ambulance.
“I arrived home to find her in a pool of blood with her mother and my mother-in-law in bits.
“I had to keep cool and get all the guests home to their parents and while I was doing that I noticed the helicopter circling overhead.”
Mr Salter said the air ambulance landed on the green opposite his house and took Ruby to Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
She underwent a four-and-a-half hour operation the following day to reattach the tendons and ligaments.
“That was probably the worst bit for us because lots of things go through your head,” Mr Salter added.
“She was in hospital for two nights and came home in plaster.
“We have had to go back for regular check-ups and physio sessions but hopefully next week she’ll be completely discharged.
“The surgeons, air ambulance crew and first responder did such a marvellous job. We were initially told Ruby would only regain about 90% function but I’d say she’s got 99% use back.”
To say thank you to EAAA, the family is organising a charity ball, the Eye Ball.
Mr Salter said: “Our next door neighbour, April Ebbage, originally called the EAAA saying she wanted to raise money for them.
“She found out it costs £2,200 per mission so that’s what we want to raise.
“The air ambulance crew were so efficient, cool, calm and collected and put your mind at rest from the start.
“We didn’t have a clue what to do or what was going on but they gave us peace of mind and for that, we are ever so appreciative.” The Eye Ball will be held at Eye Town Hall on June 29.
Tickets cost £35 including a three-course meal and live music from The Outlaws.
Tickets are available from The Handyman shop or Moon’s Hairdressers, both in Eye, or by calling Mr Salter on 01379 871000.
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