Farmer and Devon Air Ambulance (DAA) patient Nick Turner, from Winkleigh, has become one of the service’s regular flyers due to his condition, commonly known as Farmer’s Lung.

Nick had had an irritable cough for many months, but didn’t realise the extent of his condition despite his wife Sarah, a former nurse, urging him to seek help. Finally, after being taken to Royal Devon & Exeter Hospital by land ambulance in Christmas 2011 for x-rays, his condition was revealed.

The first time Nick needed the air ambulance team for his condition was back in 2016 and, struggling to breathe, he was very fearful about the severity of the situation.

However, despite flying multiple times, Nick admits that his anxiety about needing to be airlifted hasn’t diminished.

“I've now flown with them about eight times and know that, despite my fears, I must stay calm and focus on breathing steadily. I’m always very grateful for the aircrew’s calm professionalism, despite the seriousness of the situation!”

Farmer’s Lung is brought on through the inhalation of fungus which can be found in most compost heaps.

Nick accepts that he should have worn a face mask when handling the cattle bedding but believed, as many do, that ‘problems only happen to other people’.

He now suffers from brittle asthma, is very susceptible to illnesses and must take continuous antibiotics to prevent infections.

Sadly, one consequence of Nick’s medical issues is that he and his wife had to sell their animals and let the land. Nick explained, “I now do contract work with a JCB and ploughing as and when I can. All the people I help out know about my condition and understand if I have to change arrangements last minute.”

On arrival at hospital Nick will have already been given large amounts of oxygen and often a steroid, administered by the air ambulance crew. The hospital continue treatment until his condition becomes manageable again. With Nick’s illness changing so rapidly from one moment to the next, the amount of time he then spends in the hospital can vary greatly from only a few hours to well over a week.

Nick has huge admiration for the medical teams that have kept him alive. He still rarely believes that he’s ill enough to justify the air ambulance and often struggles to go through with making the 999 call. However, both land and aircrews have told him that they never mind going to his assistance because “when we come to see you, you’re always pleasant”.

Nick’s farm is just a few hundred yards from the Devon Air Ambulance Community Landing Site in Winkleigh, one of over 120 around the county. As an additional visual aid for the air ambulance, however, Nick has installed a windsock on his farm with an LED light just behind it to ensure that it’s visible and to light the local lane, helping the whole community.