When Les Summerfield saw his former speedway mate Brendan Daly’s Back to Base challenge for the rescue helicopter, he happily gave a donation.
The rescue helicopter service had saved Brendan’s life. It had also saved Les’ life.
“My heart had stopped. I was clinically dead, and they brought me back to life. I wouldn’t be here without them,” Les says.
Les was doing a “bucket list” drive. He had already won the Rally of Canterbury three times. This time he was competing in a rare BDA Ford escort, racing through Ashley Forest in North Canterbury.
“Everything was going OK but I had run out of brakes and the gearbox wasn’t shifting properly. I’ve always driven around things, but this time it caught me out.”
Although it was 10 years ago – 2015 – Les still remembers the accident vividly.
“Sarah my co-driver said Crest 60 into 5 left minus, and I said ‘shit’ and tried to change down. The gearbox wouldn’t do it then the brake went to the floor. We clipped the bank and went down the road at 140 km per hour.”
Les’ car flew off a ledge and dropped 35 metres onto the road below. It landed on the boot.
“I still remember we were looking up at the sky.”
The car then rolled another 45 metres over tree stumps until it finished up on its wheels.
Les immediately lost his eyesight.
“Sarah was fine. I said ‘go, go, go’ and she got out and climbed back up the road. I was just sitting there waiting for my eyesight to come back. When it did, I looked at the dash and it was bent in the middle. That’s when I thought ‘this is big’.
“The rally safety crews were on the scene very quickly; they were immediately into action working with the local fire brigade and St Johns.”
Despite Les’ pleas to not cut the car up, the roof was cut off and Les was freed from the wreckage.
“I remember lying there, I heard one of the paramedics reassuring me and then I went blank. All I could see was my mum and I said, ‘take me’. I thought I was done. Next thing I knew we were flying and landing in Hagley Park.
“My heart had stopped but the rescue helicopter crew, they got me back. They were sensational, absolutely sensational.”
Les is still living with the effects of the accident. He tried to get back to his business as a mechanic, but he says he wasn’t the same person.
“I now work as much as I can – about 10 hours a week – it’s enough to keep the wolf from the door. But I’m alive, and it’s all thanks to those boys.”
Les says he’s received incredible support from the Laura Fergusson Brain Injury Trust. He also credits his partner Nicky for her support. She runs Birch Hill Flower Farm in Okuku, North Canterbury.
“The flower farm is just amazing. I encourage people with head injuries to come up and spend time in the gardens; flowers are just great for the brain and the body.”
Les hasn’t competed in another rally since the accident but says he has one more bucket list goal he’d love to achieve.
“I want a build a car to race in the Salt Flat racing at Bonneville in America. I only want to do 200 miles an hour,” Les laughs, quickly adding “you gotta dream!”
In the meantime, Les says he’ll do anything to support the rescue helicopter service.
“The rescue helicopter crew saved my life, 110%, there’s no doubt about it. They’re incredible, just incredible, and we should all do everything we can to give them our support.”
