Ella’s Story

For as long as she can remember, 12-year-old Ella Major has loved dancing. It’s where she feels most at home – twirling across the floor, nailing every beat and making memories with her closest friends. But on 13th July 2023, she felt as though that world could be slipping away.

During break time at her school in Hemel Hempstead, Ella was playing with her friends when she climbed a tree – something she’d done countless times before. But this time, as she hurried down, she lost her footing on one of the rain-soaked branches. The fall was brutal, and as she landed hard, her leg twisted “into what can only be described as a Z-shape.”

“It was so painful, but I couldn’t even bring myself to cry,” Ella remembers. “Every time I tried, the vibrations in my leg made the pain worse.” 

Her friends rushed to get help, and as word spread, panicked voices filled the playground. Teachers quickly stepped in, creating space around Ella and calling for an ambulance. Help was on its way, but as it was such a serious injury, Essex & Herts Air Ambulance was called in to ensure she received the urgent, specialist care she needed.

When her mum Louise picked up the call from the school, she was expecting something minor, perhaps a small graze, a forgotten lunch or a misplaced jumper. But this time, there wasn’t the usual “Nothing to worry about” greeting from the teacher. Living just around the corner, Louse quickly called both Ella’s Dad and Grandad, putting them on standby as she sprinted straight to the school. 

The moment she arrived, Louise expected to be taken to a classroom or the office, but instead, the teachers led her through the building and out the other side towards the woods. That’s when she saw Ella. She was doing her best to stay strong despite the pain. “There was no point in me being hysterical,” Louise remembers. “Ella was holding it together so well – being so brave – it then helped me remain calm.” 

The reassuringly loud rumble of rotor blades soon filled the air. The trees were heavy with rain, and as Essex & Herts Air Ambulance’s AW169 helicopter descended, its powerful downdraft sent a shower of water from the branches, soaking everything below. “It was like something out of a movie,” Louise recalls. 

EHAAT’s critical care team quickly assessed Ella’s injury and provided advanced pain relief to keep her comfortable. They carefully stabilised her leg before deciding to transfer her to Watford General Hospital for urgent treatment. She underwent surgery the next day to have plates and pins fitted, but the journey to recovery had only just begun. 

Known for always being so active, Ella loved dancing and surfing, and suddenly having to use a wheelchair as she began her recovery was incredibly tough. 

“I missed out on all the summer dance shows, the surfing trips, everything,” Ella says. “It was really emotional because I had a main role in my drama school show and I couldn’t perform.”

Her resilience was tested, but she slowly regained her strength. By September, she was back at school in a wheelchair, later progressing to crutches. 

“Every time I walked down the very same hill on my crutches, I thought, ‘If I keep doing this, I’ll be able to dance again.”

Her friends and teachers never stopped supporting her, and in recognition of her perseverance, Lisa Donne from LD Dance Co. awarded her the ‘Dedication to Dance’ trophy.

“When I heard about Ella’s accident, I was heartbroken for her,” Lisa says. “Dancing is her life, and I wasn’t sure if she’d ever get back to where she was. But her determination never wavered. From a wheelchair to crutches to being back in ballet class, she never gave up. In fact, I think it’s fuelled her passion even more.”

That same drive was evident in the water too. Bodhi, her surf instructor at Bude Surfing Experience, was amazed by her resilience.

“Ella was always fearless, and I worried she might lose some of that confidence after her injury. But nope – she came back just as strong, even setting a new record for the most switchfoots on one wave! Her story proves that with a positive mindset and hard work, you can overcome anything.”

Grateful for the care received, Ella and her family have been determined to give back. For the past two years they have organised a charity music event, Boxfest, drawing in around 200 people each time and raising nearly £6,000 for EHAAT – just one way they’re helping ensure other families receive the same level of care. 

“It has been amazing,” Louise says. “Ella even went on stage to introduce the bands. The whole community came together and we realised how many lives the charity has touched.”

Louise has since taken her support even further, becoming a volunteer for EHAAT. She helps by holding talks at local groups to raise awareness and funds for the charity. “You never think you’re going to need them,” she says. “But when you do, you realise they are the best people you could hope for.”