Thursday 5th November 2015 – 9.20am – Claire Brown.
An early morning RTC in Wolverhampton saw ambulance staff and firefighters work seamlessly together to release a man who ended up trapped in a van for two hours.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Old Health Road in Wolverhampton at around 2.15am this morning (Thursday). Two ambulances, a paramedic area support officer, a community paramedic and a MERIT trauma doctor attended the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “The van had ended up in a precarious position on its side leaning against metal railings. The impact had caused significant damage to one side which meant the passenger, a 27-year-old man, was trapped inside.
“Ambulance staff weren’t able to reach the man initially due to the vehicles position but could see that his legs and arm were trapped and he was fully conscious. Whilst the fire service worked to right the vehicle back onto its four wheels, ambulance staff talked to the man to reassure him whilst carefully monitoring his condition as well as the progress of the work being undertaken around him.
“Once back on its four wheels, a more detailed assessment by ambulance staff found the man had sustained a suspected head injury and a fractured arm. He was given pain relief before the team of emergency staff were in a position to finally start cutting him out of the van and lifting him onto a spinal board.
“After more than two hours, the man was finally released from the wreckage and taken by land ambulance on blue lights to New Cross Hospital for further assessment and treatment.
“The driver of the van, a man thought to be in his 20s, had miraculously managed to get out of the van. He was assessed on scene and sustained a minor head injury. He too was taken to New Cross Hospital.
“This was a protracted case for the emergency services but excellent teamwork ensured the patient received the very best care.”
ENDS