Adele, Adrian and Terence’s Story
Adele from North Yorkshire and Adrian from Devon, were both lorry drivers in the 1990s, Adele with three ducks printed on her lorry, Adrian with a cat on his. For many years, they spoke on the CB radio as they drove along the M5 daily. Finally, Adele agreed to meet Adrian for coffee at Strensham Services Northbound.
On 21 June 1997, Adele and Adrian were married, welcoming their son Terence in March 1999. The family often travelled across the UK for Terence compete in ballroom dancing, before more recently enjoying cruises together.
Whilst they enjoyed travel as a family, Adrian’s job meant that was often away from home, staying in his lorry overnight. On 19 June 2024, Adrian had an evening at home. Adele recalled Adrian taking a walk in the garden at 4am, grateful that he wasn’t away as they were looking forward to their 27th wedding anniversary on the upcoming Friday. Just four and a half hours later, the 999 call was received for Adrian.
At 8.30am, Adrian was at a Lyons Seafoods in Westbury when he collapsed. Recognising that he was in cardiac arrest, employees were able to begin delivering care with the defibrillator on site, CPR and calling 999 for help.
The land ambulance crew were dispatched, followed by the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance crew in just three minutes. By 8.45am, pilot Elvis, doctor Reuben and specialist critical care paramedic Dan landed in the school opposite the factory.
Over the next hour, Reuben and Dan were able to continue Adrian’s care, administering advanced medications and carrying out a prehospital anaesthetic to stabilise his condition for transfer to hospital. This gave him the best chance of survival, protected his airway and reduced pain and distress. Adrian also required a specialist mechanical CPR device called a LUCAS machine, which is one of the specialist pieces of kit found on the air ambulance, funded by the Charity’s supporters.
After stabilising Adrian, Reuben and Dan went with him in the land ambulance, which was the most efficient mode of transport for his condition. Coordinating with the hospital in advance, Adrian was transferred via the emergency department to the cardiology team at Royal United Hospital in Bath. During this time, Adele phoned Adrian to ask if he needed anything from the shops. Instead of Adrian, she described his phone being answered by a ‘strange voice’ who explained what was happening. Adele and her friend Sue were met by police who took them under blue lights to be with Adrian in hospital. Adele was able to spend time with Adrian for the day, and returned on the Friday too – their 27th wedding anniversary. Adele said, “I spent our wedding anniversary willing him to get better and saying to him to keep going. I told him not to do anything daft, our son isn’t home yet.”
Terence was working on a boat called Cunard’s Queen Anne in Spain at the time, and Adele didn’t want to worry him unnecessarily before talking to the doctor. However, when she realised Adrian was seriously unwell, she started the challenge of contacting Terence. Not knowing his crew number, Adele contacted the docks at Southampton with just his name and ship, who were then able to put them in touch. Terence spent 24 hours travelling home, flying from Madrid to Bristol. Terence was picked up by Emma, his then fiancée and aunt Ria.
Terence arrived at Royal United Hospital to be with his parents at 1am. Whilst they Terence was able to spend time by his father’s side, Adrian was sadly pronounced dead 12 hours later at 1pm in the afternoon.
Whilst Adele and Terence navigated the devastating news, it wasn’t the end of Adrian’s generosity, because he had carried an organ donation card.
Adrian’s decision enabled three people to receive transplants, giving an incredible legacy to others and their families. This incredible act meant that Adrian received a posthumous award from St John Ambulance. The family also held a charity collection at Adrian’s funeral, raising money for RUHX, Yeovil ShopMobility and our Charity.
Adele explained:
We are now in touch with two of Adrian’s recipients. Both have said it has affected their whole family too, because seeing how ill the recipients before took its toll on all the family members. Three people and their families have had their lives changed for the better and I am so proud of Adrian for being an organ donor.
Since then, Adele and Terence have now chosen to carry cards, acknowledging the legacy that Adrian left for others. They are also on the organ donation network and received tokens of recognition from the service - a golden heart and blanket as family members of a donor, which bring them comfort.
Adele and Terence have also joined our in-memory community here at the Charity. They’ve visited the airbase to meet the crew who treated Adrian, shared their story and received a card and packet of sunflower seeds, symbolising the power of small origins, resilience and the cycle of life. Throughout the year, our network of families also come together to celebrate lives of loved ones, whether that’s through our spring bulb planting or winter ‘In Celebration of Life’ event.
Though it was a sad outcome I will forever be grateful to the crew who supported Adrian and gave him the best chance of surviving, or as in his case, being able to be an organ donor. By sharing his story, I hope it might help others with a painful choice. Mine was less painful as Adrian was already on the donor list and three people have had their lives changed.
