In an emotional meeting, 38-year-old motorcyclist Ruth Cork from Shrewsbury was introduced to the man whose critical blood donation saved her life after a devastating accident. Alex Quant-Smith, 36, hailing from Spalding in Lincolnshire, had donated the blood plasma which played a pivotal role in aiding Ruth’s recovery following a brutal crash at 70mph, causing her 13 broken bones and severe head injuries.
Their meeting, held at the NHS Blood and Transplant Centre in London, was laden with sentiment, with Ruth expressing her profound gratitude and stating, ‘I owe you everything.’
The accident took place on the A65 in Cumbria in 2022, where after, Ruth received a life-saving transfusion during her airlift to the Royal Preston Hospital. Highlighting the crucial importance of blood donation, their encounter was filmed for The One Show on BBC as part of an NHS blood donation campaign.
Quant-Smith, a teacher by profession, who has already made approximately 15 plasma donations to date, mused about the impactful and surreal experience, stressing the immense importance and life-altering effects of blood donation.
Consultant haematologist at the NHS, Laura Green, reiterated the essential role that such donations play in saving the lives of individuals confronted with traumatic injuries. In the absence of such a beneficial donation from Quant-smith, Ruth’s situation could have concluded in a more grim and tragic ending.
Therefore, their encounter stands as a stirring testament to the life-saving potential housed within a single act of blood donation.
This article was sourced from the original report by www.bbc.com and has been reproduced here by The Lincoln Post.
