Ambulance crews reunited with young crash survivor after remarkable recovery

A Newcastle teenager who sustained life-changing injuries in an e-scooter collision earlier this year has been reunited with the ambulance crews who helped to save his life.

On Monday 5 October, Davide and his family met members of the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) team who treated him at the scene and transported him to hospital, where specialist teams at the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) continued his care.

Davide-Daniel Tiblea was just 12 years old when he was critically injured in a collision involving an e-scooter and a car in West Denton, Newcastle, on 15 March 2026. He sustained life-changing injuries, including a fractured skull, internal bleeding and a severe traumatic brain injury.

The reunion gave the family an opportunity to thank the people who cared for Davide during the most difficult time of their lives and to reflect on the remarkable progress he has made since the collision.

NEAS paramedic, Kyle Hadjikakou-Peebles said: “It is incredibly special to see Davide again and to see how far he has come. When we cared for him, our focus was on recognising the seriousness of his injuries, providing the treatment he needed and getting him to specialist hospital care as quickly and safely as possible.”

Following the collision, Davide was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary with life-threatening injuries. His mother, Diana Tiblea, travelled with him in the ambulance and still remembers the calmness and compassion shown by the emergency teams during the family's darkest hours.

At hospital, his family were warned that he might not survive. But in the days and weeks that followed, Davide began to defy expectations. After waking from an induced coma, he steadily regained his strength, progressing from intensive care to rehabilitation and taking his first steps towards recovery. Just six months later, he is back at school and looking to the future.

Today, while his recovery continues, Davide and his family are focused on the future and are grateful to the ambulance clinicians, hospital staff and rehabilitation teams who supported him every step of the way.

Specialist paramedic in critical care at North East Ambulance Service, Stuart Mawhinney, said: "Davide's story shows the strength of partnership working across the NHS. The care he received began at the roadside with NEAS crews and continued through the specialist trauma, neurosurgical and intensive care teams at the RVI, and remains ongoing through rehabilitation services.

“Every stage of his journey depended on teams from different organisations working together to give him the best possible chance of survival and recovery."

Speaking at the reunion, Davide’s mother, Diana Tiblea said: "There are no words to truly thank the ambulance crews and hospital staff who cared for Davide. In the moments when our family needed them most, they were there for us, and we will always be grateful for the care, kindness and expertise they showed.

“We will forever thank everyone who helped our Davide and we will keep everyone in our prayers. Once again thank you everyone.”

Davide’s father, Dan Tiblea added: “I’m incredibly grateful for how quickly the ambulance arrived, within just three minutes. In a situation like this, every second matters and that rapid response made such a difference.

“Thank you to everyone involved in Davide’s care. We will never forget what they did for our family.”

Kyle added: “His recovery is a testament to his courage and determination, the support of his family and the teamwork of everyone involved in his care. We hope that sharing his story will encourage young people and families to think carefully about safety whenever they use a bike, scooter or other wheeled equipment.

"To meet him again today and see him back at school and enjoying life is incredibly rewarding for everyone involved.”

The reunion supports the North East Ambulance Service's summer safety campaign, which is encouraging children, young people and adults to take simple precautions when using bicycles, e-bikes, motorbikes, scooters and other wheeled equipment.

The campaign was launched after NEAS responded to 340 bike-related incidents in July 2026. This represented an increase of 25.5% compared with July 2025 and 45.9% compared with July 2024.

Stuart added: "I really encourage parents, carers and young people to wear a correctly fitted helmet, check their equipment before setting off and make sure they have the skills and road awareness needed to stay safe. This not only applies to cycling, but also to motorbikes, scooters, skateboards or other wheeled activities.”

For Davide-Daniel Tiblea and his family, the message is deeply personal. They hope that sharing what happened will encourage other young people to wear a helmet and understand how quickly an ordinary day can become life changing.

His sister, Sonia Tiblea said: "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts to everyone who helped save our whole world, Davide. There are honestly no words to explain how grateful we are to every single person involved.

“We never thought something like this could happen to our family, and that's why we want to help raise awareness. It can happen to anyone, and if sharing Davide's story helps another family stay safe, then it's worth it.”

Stuart concludes: “Davide’s experience is a powerful reminder that serious incidents can happen in seconds and can have a lasting impact on an entire family.

“Wearing a properly fitted helmet is one of the simplest steps people can take to reduce the risk of a serious head injury. We want parents and carers to talk to children about safety and help make helmet use a habit every time they ride.”

People are encouraged to:

• Wear a correctly fitted helmet when using a bicycle, e-bike, motorbike, scooter or other wheeled equipment.
• Check tyres, brakes, lights and handlebars before setting off.
• Make sure children understand basic road and cycle safety.
• Wear appropriate protective gear, including knee and elbow pads where suitable.
• Use suitable clothing and high-visibility items where appropriate.
• Take extra care around roads, paths and busy public spaces.  

Every year, its crews and clinicians respond to hundreds of thousands of emergencies, alongside partners including hospitals, police, fire and rescue services, HM Coastguard, mountain rescue teams and the Great North Air Ambulance Service. 

Find more summer safety and bike safety advice on the NEAS website: https://www.neas.nhs.uk/community-learning/summer-safety-advice