When a young dad is rushed into hospital after a horrifying accident at work - surgeons are left fearing the worst.
Simon Wright suffered catastrophic injuries after a large 100 kilo sheet of metal slammed into the left-hand side of his face after breaking free under hydraulic pressure while he was trying to straighten it.
Devastatingly, the metal sliced open his skin, knocked out his teeth and broke most of his facial bones in the process.
After being helicoptered to Royal Stoke Univesity Hospital, Trauma Team Leader Anthony Taylor urgently calls for surgeons to assess the damage.
In the brand new series of 999: Critical Condition on Channel 5, viewers will see how the incredible staff rush to help Simon after the traumatic incident.
There are fears over life-changing brain and facial injuries, as well as a concern that the 37-year-old may lose his left eye.
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Simon is unable to tilt his head backwards due to the blood in his airways and he can't even lie down flat.
While it's clear that Simon will need extensive reconstructive surgery in the future, it's saving his eye and cleaning his wounds that are the immediate priorities for surgeons,
They know that an infection at this stage could have catastrophic consequences for their distressed patient.
"There is a big blood supply to the face. You can bleed a lot when you injure the face as badly as he has. Bleeding from facial fractures can actually be bad enough to kill you," says Anthony.
"He's terribly unlucky that he's had this happen to him and I don't know whether the eye is going to be salvageable."
With dozen of separate fractures, there is no idea where the facial surgeons will start as they start taking off Simon's bandages.
With his wife and two children anxiously waiting for news, a barely conscious Simon is rushed to theatre.
One of the big problems the surgeons have is finding a bone that has enough volume and strength to attach a steel plate to that will ultimately help knit his face back together.
But most of the bones in his face have become fragments and the whole of his upper jaw has been pushed so far backward it's blocking his airway.
They manage to find a stable bone in his cheek to put a plate on with screws, but this is only temporary and he needs to be monitored before more definitive surgery the following week.
It's revealed that Simon did lose the vision in his left eye due to his catastrophic injuries and after several reconstructive surgeries to his face he is at home recovering with his family.
And he feels lucky to be alive.
The new series of the award-winning 999: Critical Condition follows the expert emergency team at the Royal Stoke University Hospital Critical Care unit as they take split second decisions to save the lives of critically ill patients.
Filmed over the last six months, each programme witnesses remarkable emergency life-saving care.
With extraordinary access to NHS staff, patients and families alike, this powerful and engaging series follows their efforts to save those whose lives hang in the balance.
Time is also of the essence for Gavin, who has been brought into the Emergency Department after his ownhorrific accident.
Trapped against a wall by an out-of-control van, Gavin's arm has taken the full force of the vehicle and has been pinned above his head for over 45 minutes.
There is immediate concern about the weak pulse in his arm, which is a sign of limb-threatening damage to his major blood vessels, and potential damage to his chest could be life-threatening.
Finally, when retired miner Anthony arrives with pain in his abdomen following an RTC, initial x-rays suggest that he has damaged a number of ribs.
Trauma Team Leader Anthony Taylor is immediately concerned that the pain in his patient’s ribs may be masking a bigger problem and he starts to prepare him for a scan.
However, before they can get him to CT to assess the damage, Anthony’s blood pressure dramatically drops and his pain levels soar.
As staff race to stabilise him, they suspect Anthony has suffered a major bleed in is stomach and the team suddenly find themselves battling to save his life
999: Critical Condition airs tonight on Channel 5 at 9pm
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