Crash man's family warn of drugs

Mr Edmondson's sister said he started taking drugs aged 15

The family of a heroin addict who died in a car crash have allowed his story to be shown on television to highlight the dangers of drugs.

Andrew Edmondson, 35, died when the car he was driving collided head-on with another and then a van on the A65 near Austwick, North Yorkshire, in May 2007.

His friend William Crompton, 37, was also killed in the crash.

Yorkshire Air Ambulance paramedics tried to save Mr Edmondson but could not find a vein to administer drugs.

Dr Anil Hormis said he suspected that was because Mr Edmondson had recently injected himself.

'Traumatised'

The aftermath of the crash is to be shown on an episode of the BBC One programme Helicopter Heroes.

Mr Edmondson was rushed to hospital but died there a short time later. Mr Crompton died at the scene.

The driver and passenger of the van suffered minor injuries

Mr Edmondson's sister Sharon Holt said she wanted his story to be told to highlight the work of to those who tried to save him, and as a way of saying sorry to those whose lives were affected by the crash.

The driver and passenger of the van also suffered minor injuries.

She said: "He took the life of his best friend and traumatised countless other people.

"He was introduced to drugs when he was about 15 and was still addicted to heroin when he died.

"They were going to take his life in one way or another."

Dr Hormis told the programme: "With most patients we are able to get access to their veins quite easily but this was a very unusual circumstance and sadly it was the drugs that played the biggest part in that."

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Sister warns of drug abuse

Andrew Edmondson's story will be broadcast on BBC One's Helicopter Heroes at 0915 BST on Friday 29 August.