Sunday 8th November 2015 – 5.30pm – Claire Brown.
A train isn’t our usual mode of transport but when ambulance staff were called to help an injured man on a railway line, they used their initiative to speed up his journey to hospital.
West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Ludlow Railway Station in Station Drive, Ludlow, Shropshire at 10.15am this morning (Sunday). An ambulance, a paramedic area support officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham with two critical care paramedics on board and our Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) paramedics were sent to the scene.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “The man had reportedly jumped down onto the tracks at the end of a tunnel, significantly underestimating the length of the drop, and consequently injured himself.
“The air ambulance landed on the cricket pitch and the paramedics walked about ½ mile to the station. In order to reach the patient, ambulance staff then walked about 200 metres down the track and through a tunnel where, at the other end, they found the patient.
“Upon assessment, it was clear that the 28-year-old man had a serious chest injury but was conscious, breathing and talking and had suffered no other apparent injuries despite the six metre drop. Ambulance staff gave the man pain relief and fluids before the team carefully immobilised him using HART’s specialised MIBS stretcher; a multi integrated body-splint stretcher which is made of tough fabric and has carry handles for easy use.
“Due to their location and the difficult terrain, staff decided to use a train to safely transport the patient back to the station. The team then carried the man to the land ambulance which then drove him to the helicopter. Once on board the air ambulance, the man was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, a major trauma centre, for further emergency care.
“This was a protracted and complex case due to its location, but the patient received seamless treatment thanks to excellent team work between different ambulance teams and the station staff.”
ENDS
Notes to editor:
PICTURED: The team at work on the railway track, aerial view of cricket ground where air ambulance landed and helicopter ready to lift off with patient on board. Please credit West Midlands Ambulance Service. Special thanks to @scoobysteve999 and the Area Support Officer for providing photos.
