Naman Shrestha
Netflix’s ‘Critical: Between Life and Death’ is a six-part documentary series that follows the major trauma centers of London, where the healthcare professionals do their best to treat multiple severely injured patients and save them from critical conditions. In the first episode, Alison Collins and her longtime boyfriend, Nick, were rushed to two separate London hospitals after they suffered severe injuries while attending the Lambeth Country Fair in June 2024. The docuseries takes us right inside the operating theater as the doctors diagnose the severity of the injuries and operate accordingly.
Alison and Nick Suffered Severe Injuries in the Lambeth Country Fair in 2024
Around the early 2010s, a seemingly regular trip to Sri Lanka ended up being life-changing for both Alison Collins and Nick. While traveling the island country, they both crossed paths and felt a romantic spark between them, after which they started dating. Over the next decade or so, the couple made many good memories as they explored new places together. However, their lives nearly ended on the afternoon of June 8, 2024, in the Lambeth Country Fair at Brockwell Park. Alison and Nick were among the people who suffered severe injuries due to the malfunctioning of a fairground ride they were on.
While Alison was treated at King’s College Hospital for the skull fracture and chest injuries, Nick was rushed to St. George’s Hospital, where he was treated for his shattered kidney and fractures in the face. Despite the critical and life-threatening injuries, both of them were successfully treated by two different sets of competent surgeons and nurses. After recovering, Alison revealed, “Initially, I was told that I would probably be in hospital for five or six weeks. I was stuck in a bed, and didn’t even know if I could walk. When can I get out of here? In reality, I managed to get better a lot quicker. So I came out of hospital, I think, after two and a half weeks.”
As for Nick’s recovery, it took a bit longer than Alison’s. Having spent several months recovering from the injuries he suffered, he shared his feelings about the entire ordeal. He stated, “It’s the last thing you think is going to happen when you go to a country fair, that you’ll be in hospital for a few months. It brings it home to you, how lucky we are to have the NHS and critical care when something goes wrong. The skill involved in the surgeon who repaired my face, which to me is absolutely astounding.”
Alison Works at a Financial Services Company in London, Where She Lives With Nick
Alison Collins is a seasoned professional who has established herself in the field of business strategy and operations. On the academic front, she holds a Master of Arts degree in Arabic from University of Oxford (1997), with a particular affiliation with St John’s College. Alongside that, she also completed a one-year course at Alexandria University and earned her Arabic Diploma in 1995. She kickstarted her professional journey in December 1997 as an Accountant at Arthur Andersen. For over four years until her departure in May 2002, she obtained training as a Chartered Accountant and conducted multiple audit and due diligence reports for a range of clients. In August of the same year, she joined the home improvement retail brand Homebase as a Financial Manager. The next two years saw her executing her duties as a Treasury Analyst and Head of Import Finance function.
After her exit from Homebase, in November 2004, Alison joined GUS Plc as a Corporate Development Manager. In just over a year, she assumed the role of the Manager of the Investor Relations department, actively participating in the demerger of GUS into standalone companies Home Retail Group and Experian. She began working as a Corporate Development Manager for the latter — the company that focused on financial services and information business — in December 2006. Over the next decade, Alison’s commitment shone through and she went from strength to strength. She was promoted to the post of Strategy Director for Global Product Development and Technology (April 2010) and Strategy Director for Global Marketing Services (January 2012) before occupying the chair of the Director of Global Sales Operations in September 2012.
After nearly six years in that post, Alison left Experian in April 2018. Since June 2012, she has been employed at Pollen Street Capital. While she joined as a Senior Consultant, she was bumped to the position of Director for Pollen Street Hub and Head of Environmental Social Governance (ESG) in March 2019. As a leader, her primary focus is on the aspects of Business Development, Best Practice, Data & Analytics, as well as the development and execution of new ideas that further the organization’s vision and promote business growth. As part of the ESG, she assists in “driving the agenda.” While she prefers to keep the details of her personal life private, we can tell that she is still in a relationship with Nick, who remains away from the spotlight. The two continue to reside in London, leading a fulfilling life surrounded by the people they cherish with all their heart.
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