The twisting fast roads of Northern England prove potentially fatal for two motorists who hit each other head on. Once the Guardian of the North helicopter arrives on scene, Dr Jeremy Henning and paramedic Jane Peacock are left with a difficult choice: there is only one space on the helicopter so only one patient can travel with them.
Across the country, the crew of the Pride of Cumbria are urgently trying to find an injured mountain biker missing in the winding forest tracks beneath them. With no one to guide them to him, the crew become more and more concerned for his safety.
Dr Jeremy is tested to the limit again when called to attend to four-year-old Ryan, whose family car has collided with a tree. Ryan has a possible brain injury and needs to get to hospital immediately by helicopter - but minutes into the journey he starts to deteriorate, desperately worrying Dr Jeremy Henning.