A TRIATHLETE was airlifted for the second time after a sickening bike crash left her fighting for her life on a Lake District pass.

Just months after raising money for her rescuers at the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS), Samantha Sugden needed the flying medics’ care again after colliding with a bus at Kirkstone Pass, near Ambleside.

The incident, in October last year, left Miss Sugden, 38, with an 'annihilated spleen' and facing life-saving surgery. It also reunited her with the team at GNAAS, to whom she was already familiar following a previous bike crash in August 2017.

Miss Sugden, who has been doing triathlons since 2012, managed to return to the sport last year and decided to set herself a special challenge in September – to swim the full length of Ullswater in aid of GNAAS, which is charity funded.

Miss Sugden took four and a half hours to swim from Glenridding to Pooley Bridge and raised £1,000 for the charity.

However, less than three weeks later, Miss Sugden was involved in a bus collision, requiring the services of GNAAS once again.

She said: “I remember everything from this time around, and I knew I’d broken my collarbone but I thought I was alright. I didn’t realise I’d totally annihilated my spleen and I ended up having life-saving surgery to remove it.

“GNAAS saved my life and I’m very grateful for their help. My mum, dad, and kids are also very grateful.