Iron Maiden shirt saved my life

Iron Maiden
Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden have helped a bike crash victim reward a fan who saved his life by using a vintage band shirt as a tourniquet.

Steve Radeski lost his right leg in the traffic accident in Australia in 2014 – and the fast reaction of passer-by Bill Gaythwaite kept him alive until help arrived.

Last night in Adelaide, Maiden gave Radeski a brand-new, signed shirt, which he’ll present to Gaythwaite.

Radeski tells AdelaideNow.com: “There was no one around, and a returned soldier from Afghanistan turned up after he heard the accident.

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“My leg had come off totally, and the bones were coming out of my hand. I only had about six minutes to live and he came up after about four minutes.

“He was wearing a 1985 Maiden tour shirt which he’d had since he was a kid. He realised he would have to use it as a tourniquet, which stemmed the blood-flow until the helicopter arrived.”

Gaythwaite – who received two commendations for his actions – told Army News at the time: “His right leg had been severed below the knee. Coupled with a compound fracture to his wrist, he was losing a lot of blood. I realised he might die so I made a tourniquet our of my shirt.

“The ambulance arrived after about 15 minutes, followed by the police. It was such a relief to see them both.”

Iron Maiden sent a car for Radeski and made him guest of honour at their Adelaide Entertainment Centre show. He says: “It was a fantastic show – really good. It’s one of the best nights I’ve ever had. It means a lot to get to this point.”

He adds: “I still have the shirt from that day, and it hasn’t been washed!”

Iron Maiden’s The Book Of Souls world tour continues tomorrow (May 14) and runs until August, including a headline appearance at the Download festival on June 12.

Iron Maiden: The TeamRock Archive Of Souls

Iron Maiden: The Book Of Souls world tour

May 14: Perth Arena, Australia
May 18: Cape Town Grand Arena, South Africa
May 21: Johannesburg Carnival City Festival Lawns, South Africa
May 27: Dortmund Rock Im Revier Festival, Germany
May 29: Munich Rockavaria Festival, Germany
May 31: Berlin The Waldbuehne, Germany
Jun 03: Lucerne Sonisphere Allmend Rockt, Switzerland
Jun 05: Rock In Vienna Festival, Austria
Jun 08: Arnhem Gelredome, Netherlands
Jun 10: Paris Download Festival, France
Jun 12: Donington Download Festival, UK
Jun 15: Oslo Telenor Arena, Norway
Jun 17: Gothenburg Ullevi Stadium, Sweden
Jun 19: Dessel Graspop Metal Meeting, Belgium
Jun 21: Herning Jyske Bank Boxen, Denmark
Jun 23: Kaunas Zalgirio Arena, Lithuania
Jun 25: Moscow Olimpiyskiy, Russia
Jun 29: Hameenlinna Kantolan Tapahtumapuisto, Finland
Jul 01: Sopron Volt Festival, Hungary
Jul 03: Wroclaw Stadium, Poland
Jul 05: Prague Eden Arena, Czech Republic
Jul 06: Zilina Airport, Slovakia
Jul 09: Viveiro Resurrection Festival, Spain
Jul 11: Lisbon MEO Arena, Portugal
Jul 13: Madrid Barclaycard Center, Spain
Jul 16: Barcelona Rock Fest
Jul 22: Milan Mediolanum Forum, Italy
Jul 24: Rome Rock in Rome Sonisphere, Italy
Jul 26: Trieste Piazza dell’Unita D’Italia, Italy
Jul 27: Split Spaladium Arena, Croatia
Aug 02: Esch-sur-Alzette Rockhal, Luxembourg
Aug 04: Wacken Open Air, Germany

Freelance Online News Contributor

Not only is one-time online news editor Martin an established rock journalist and drummer, but he’s also penned several books on music history, including SAHB Story: The Tale of the Sensational Alex Harvey Band, a band he once managed, and the best-selling Apollo Memories about the history of the legendary and infamous Glasgow Apollo. Martin has written for Classic Rock and Prog and at one time had written more articles for Louder than anyone else (we think he's second now). He’s appeared on TV and when not delving intro all things music, can be found travelling along the UK’s vast canal network.