Spalding blood donor has emotional meeting with Shrewsbury woman whose life was saved following accident in Cumbria
A blood donor had an emotional meeting with a woman whose life he helped save after a horrific motorbike accident.
Alex Quant-Smith, from Spalding, met Ruth Cork, from Shrewsbury, for the first time since a motorbike crash in Cumbria in 2022 caused her internal bleeding and life threatening injuries.
Ruth was airlifted by the Great North Air Ambulance and it was Alex’s blood plasma that was transfused into her mid-flight to Royal Preston Hospital.
The pair appeared on BBC programme The One Show where they were interviewed by Jeff Brazier to highlight the NHS Blood and Transplant campaign that appeals for some 200,000 blood donors every year.
Ruth, 38, said: “I am lost for words when it comes to the blood donors.
“Without them I could have bled out. I owe them a lot. I owe them my life.
“As an ordinary person, Alex has done something extraordinary, saving a life, which very few can say they have done.”
After her motorbike was involved in a collision with a car, travelling at around 70mph on the A65, Ruth suffered 13 broken bones and serious head and face injuries.
She was thrown over her handlebars and into a ditch and her injuries included a broken femur, sacrum, jaw, cheekbone, skull, pelvis, displaced and crushed vertebrae.
Ruth had serious internal bleeding, a bleed under her chin and a bleed on the brain.
The Great North Air Ambulance gave her a transfusion of red blood cells and a transfusion of blood plasma during the 14-minute flight which had been donated by Alex.
She said: “He played an early and critical role among the many who helped save mine.
He will always have a special place in my heart, and in my blood.
“Meeting Alex was an emotional experience that filled me with excitement, profound gratitude, and anticipation.”
They met at the NHS Blood and Transplant West End Blood Donor Centre in London and had a tearful meeting.
Ruth said: “I was delighted to finally give thanks, from the bottom of my heart, to the man whose selfless act of donating blood saved my life.
“Our conversation was reassuring and enlightening. We discovered a number of shared interests as we delved into each other's life stories.
“I suspect that we have found a lasting friendship that will endure for many years to come. All from the act of Alex donating blood, without a second thought as to whom it may save.”
The plasma from Alex’s blood donation was separated and as it contains proteins it helps blood to clot.
Thanks to the care she received, Ruth was able to largely recover and has gone on to do charity runs and walks for the Great North Air Ambulance.
Ruth added: “I owe you everything.
“Thank you so, so, much.
“My family and I owe you my life. Without you and your blood and your plasma I would not be here.”
Alex, 36, is a married dad of two adopted children who works as a local authority teacher for deaf pupils.
He has donated around 15 times and used to donate as a young man but had to stop due to previous restrictions affecting gay men.
Alex restarted donating after the Government changed donation laws in 2021, enabling more gay men to donate.
Describing the meeting with Ruth as ‘surreal’ he insisted that she ‘didn’t owe me anything.’
He said: “Meeting Ruth was a once-in-a-lifetime experience.
“Knowing that one simple action has saved someone's life is something that still feels surreal.
“The process of donating is something that so many people can do.”
The pair have been chatting via text and plan to meet up again.
Alex added: “I thoroughly enjoyed the opportunity to travel down to London and talk about blood donation.
“It is something that affected my family when I was younger.
“I am so glad I got the opportunity to meet Ruth and it has made it more important for me to spread the word of blood donation and talk about it more openly.”
The NHS needs nearly 200,000 blood donors every year, especially those with blood types in high demand such as O negative.
Blood is constantly needed to help the NHS treat patients with cancer, blood disorders and those suffering medical trauma or undergoing surgery.
Blood can be split into parts after donation, so each donation can save or improve up to three lives.
Laura Green, consultant haematologist for NHS Blood and Transplant, said: “Blood donations are critical for saving lives after a traumatic injury.
“The red cells replace the blood you’ve lost, carrying oxygen around your body and the blood plasma can help the blood to clot.
“Without Alex’s donation, Ruth may have died from her crash injuries. It was lovely to see them meet. Ruth was so grateful to Alex and so excited to thank him in person.
“Blood donors can only meet their recipients if we arrange it, so this was a very rare and special occasion.”
The run of Bank Holidays contributes to low stocks and the NHS urgently asks people to book appointments.
NHS Blood and Transplant has 27 permanent blood donor centres in towns and cities and 50 mobile teams who collect in community venues such as church halls, businesses, and sports centres.
To book an appointment visit the NHS Give Blood website, use the NHSGiveBlood app, or call 0300 123 23 23.
The episode of The One Show, which appeared on BBC One on April 17, is still available to view on iPlayer.
