(Image: NEAS)
A North East teenager left with life-changing injuries after an e-scooter crash has reunited with the ambulance crews who helped save him.
Davide-Daniel Tiblea, 12, of Newcastle, was critically injured when an e-scooter and a car collided in West Denton on March 15, 2026.
He suffered a fractured skull, internal bleeding and a severe traumatic brain injury.
Davide and his family met the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) crews who treated him at the scene and took him to hospital at a reunion on Monday, October 5.
Davide-Daniel Tiblea, 12, reunites with NEAS ambulance crew members who helped save him after a life-changing e-scooter crash (Image: NEAS)
Kyle Hadjikakou-Peebles, a NEAS paramedic, 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."
Davide was taken to the Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) with injuries that threatened his life.
His mother, Diana Tiblea, travelled with him and praised the emergency teams’ calmness and compassion during the family’s darkest hours.
At hospital, the family was warned that Davide might not survive.
But Davide began to defy expectations in the days and weeks that followed.
After waking from an induced coma, Davide regained strength and moved from intensive care into rehabilitation.
Six months later, he is back at school and looking to the future.
Stuart Mawhinney, a NEAS critical-care specialist paramedic, said: "Davide's story shows the strength of partnership working across the NHS.
"The care he received began at the roadside with NEAS crews, continued through the RVI's specialist trauma, neurosurgical and intensive care teams, 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."
Davide’s mother thanked everyone involved in his care.
Mrs 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."
His 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."
Mr Hadjikakou-Peebles said Davide’s recovery showed the support and teamwork behind the scenes.
He said: "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 is part of the North East Ambulance Service’s summer safety campaign urging people to take simple precautions when using bikes, e-bikes, motorbikes, scooters and other wheeled equipment.
Davide’s family hopes his story will remind others of the risks and the need to stay safe.
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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."