Stuntwoman Ansko Pitkanen, known for roles in Barbie and Batman, broke 12 bones in a motorcycle crash on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, on July 19, 2024. She was airlifted to Southmead Hospital in Bristol in 15 minutes, where a full body scan revealed breaks to both ankles, arms, legs, and five ribs.
Crash and Immediate Response
Pitkanen, 46, from Harefield, London, was riding when another vehicle hit her. The Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity crew—pilot Simon, doctor Rosie, and specialist critical care paramedic Matt—arrived on the scene in 11 minutes from take-off, using a What3Words location provided during the 999 call. Before the airlift, they delivered enhanced critical care to stabilize her condition, administer medication, and support her leg to prevent further damage.
Pitkanen recalls little of the incident: “I remember seeing the headlights on the right hand side but they were so close there is nothing I could have done. I think I remember the noise but the next moment is emptiness and all I could feel and think about was the horrendous pain in my chest and it was becoming harder and harder to breathe.” She lost consciousness and has no memory until waking in hospital.
Hospitalization and Recovery
At Southmead Hospital, Pitkanen underwent three surgeries to repair broken bones and a later procedure to remove screws, pins, and plates. She was discharged in August 2024 but required home rehabilitation. She says she “continues to strengthen” her body two years on. During her hospital stay, she could not move her arms and saw both legs strapped. “I couldn't feel anything from the waist down and thought ‘was I paralysed?’ or ‘am I going to be in a wheelchair?’ It was really confusing,” she said.
Pitkanen also faced memory challenges, initially telling her mother she was in Germany. Hospital staff conducted brain scans to assess the issue. She said, “In rehab the whole brain thing was scary, really, really, scary, because I thought my brain had been permanently damaged.”
Aftercare and What3Words
Seeking support, Pitkanen contacted the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Charity’s aftercare service, where she was connected with specialist critical care paramedic and aftercare manager Louise Cox. Cox explained the role of What3Words in locating rural emergencies: “Basically, imagine a three-metre square identified by three words passed and inputted by the ambulance service – it's literally for us like dropping a pin on the map.” The system divides the world into 57 trillion three-metre-by-three-metre squares, each with a unique three-word address.
Pitkanen began rehabilitation using a walking frame within weeks. She said, “When I got home I needed the help of other people. I was not able to do anything but personally in my career I am consistent with training. Even if I could move my finger 2cm I would move it 2cm until I could move it 3cm.” She credited physiotherapists, nurses, carers, osteopaths, lymphatic therapy, oxygen therapy, personal trainers, and nutritionists for her recovery. Cox described her recovery as “quite remarkable.”
Return to Work and Reunion
Pitkanen returned to work as a stunt performer in autumn 2024, though she is now selective about jobs. “Training is what I do for a living and a part of my job but it was a bit of a detour into deeper training,” she said. “I’m not doing the things I used to do before. I’m selective in the jobs I choose.”
On June 16, 2025, Cox helped Pitkanen reunite with the team who cared for her that day. Pitkanen said, “Seeing the specialists helped fill in the gaps that way of what actually happened. It was really important and the Wiltshire and Bath Air Ambulance Service makes me really emotional, they are the reason I’m here and alive today.”
