Month: August 2022

Murray MacGregor – Tuesday 30^th August 2022 – 4.50pm.

A student paramedic who has just become a father for the third time has had the bike that he gets to work on, and which holds great sentimental value, stolen from Stoke Ambulance Hub.

The thieves entered the Hub, broke the lock on the bike and then rode off as an ambulance left the hub.

The incident happened at around 4.50pm on Bank Holiday Monday as Liam Ticehurst was out responding to patients on an emergency ambulance.

Looking at the CCTV, the thieves had clearly planned the theft as they went straight for the bike, a Merida Reacto 5000, which has an Ultegra group set, disk breaks and Fulcrum wheels with 25mm tyres and is worth around £2,500.

Senior Operations Manager, Nic Gunn, said: “The thieves were clearly targeting the bike as they went straight to it.  They were spotted by a member of staff who gave chase, but they cycled down Forge Lane, down onto the canal and were last seen near the Royal Mail depot.  They were wearing hoodies and had surgical masks on to cover their identity.

“I’d appeal for anyone who was driving in the area at the time and might have dash cam footage that would be useful to please contact Staffordshire Police.

“It does beggar belief that someone would stoop so low.  Stoke Hub is clearly an ambulance station, and everyone knows what our staff do and how hard they work to try and save lives, yet these people repay that hard work by stealing Liam’s bike.  It couldn’t have come at a worse time for him and his partner too.”

Liam added: “I use the bike to ride in from Leek for each shift to save a bit of cash given the rising cost of living and the arrival of my new baby daughter, who was born at the end of July. 

“The bike also holds real sentimental value to me as I bought it from money left to me by my grandmother, who passed away suddenly a couple of years ago.  As a keen cyclist, I think my nan would have liked the idea of me getting the bike and especially how I was using it to get to work.  It really is devastating that both the bike and the link to my nan have gone.”

Anyone with any information about the whereabouts of the bike or knows who might have been involved in its theft is asked to contact Staffordshire Police on 101 stating Log 540 of the 29^thAugust.  The bike serial number is WC8201099R.

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Jamie Arrowsmith – Tuesday 30^th August 2022 – 8.30am.

Two men have died and four other patients were taken to hospital following a two-car road traffic collision in Wolverhampton yesterday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident on the B4176 Long Common, Claverley, at 3.58pm and sent three ambulances, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor, the Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival crews discovered two men in a critical condition, both from the same car. Sadly, it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save them and they were confirmed dead at the scene.

“Two adults and two children, from the second car, were all treated for injuries not believed to be serious before being taken to Russell’s Hall Hospital and Birmingham Children’s Hospital respectively. All four patients were taken to hospital by land ambulance.

“A further adult was assessed at the scene but able to be discharged.”

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Jamie Arrowsmith – Friday 26^th August 2022 – 2.05pm.

A man has died after the fixed wing light aircraft he was flying in came down at Shobdon Airfield this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the incident at 10.07am and sent one ambulance, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival we discovered a fixed wing light aircraft that had come down at the airfield.

“There was one male patient still within the aircraft. Sadly, it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save him and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

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Jamie Arrowsmith – Friday 26^th August 2022 – 1.45pm.

A man has died after his car became submerged in water following a two-car collision in Pershore this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to Eckington Bridge, Pershore, at 4.43am and sent two ambulances, two paramedic officers, our Hazardous Area Response Team and a MERIT trauma doctor to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “Crews arrived to discover a car submerged in the water following a two-car collision and a total of three patients.

“The driver of the car in the water, a man, was rescued from his vehicle by colleagues from the fire service. Ambulance staff found the man in a critical condition and immediately began administering advanced life support. However, despite their best efforts it sadly became apparent nothing could be done to save him, and he was confirmed dead at the scene.

“The front seat passenger from the same car, also a man, managed to get himself out of the vehicle and to safety. Following assessment at the scene he was taken to Worcester Royal Hospital as a precaution.

“The driver of the second car, a man, was treated for injuries not believed to be serious before being taken to Hereford County Hospital.”

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Claire Brown – Wednesday 24^th August 2022 – 8.50am.

A woman has been injured following a road traffic collision in Coventry last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received numerous 999 calls at around 7.40pm (Tuesday) reporting a collision involving a pedestrian and a car on Barras Green, Coventry. An ambulance, paramedic officer and a critical care car from the Air Ambulance Service attended.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When crews arrived, they found a pedestrian, a woman, who had reportedly been involved in a collision with a car. The woman was being cared for by the public and upon assessment, ambulance staff found she had sustained potentially serious injuries. She was treated on scene before being conveyed on blue lights to University Hospital Coventry and Warwickshire for further emergency care.”

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Claire Brown – Tuesday 23^rd August 2022 – 9.45am.

A man received trauma care from the ambulance service following a collision with a car in Walsall yesterday evening.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 9.04pm last night (Monday) to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car and a motorcycle at the junction of Wednesbury Road and Glebe Street, Walsall. An ambulance, paramedic officer, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Ambulance crews arrived to find a man who had come off his motorbike following a collision with a car. Upon assessment, the man was found with serious injuries and was given trauma care by the team of medics on scene. Once stabilised, the man was conveyed on blue lights to Walsall Manor Hospital for further care.”

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Shaunna Farley – Monday 22^nd August 2022 – 11.30am.

A man has sustained serious injuries following a road traffic collision involving a pushbike and a car in Birmingham yesterday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 9.32pm to reports of a road traffic collision on Chester Road in Erdington. One ambulance, two paramedic officers, a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic and the West Midlands CARE Team attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find a cyclist, a man, with serious injuries following a collision with a car.

“He received treatment from ambulance staff at the scene before being conveyed to Queen Elizabeth Hospital for further treatment.”

“The driver of the car did not require treatment.”

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Claire Brown – Thursday 18^th August 2022 – 11.05am.

A man has sadly died following a single vehicle RTC in Rugby in the early hours of today.

The incident happened on the A428 Rugby Road, Church Lawford, Rugby at 3.29am (Thursday). Two ambulances, a critical care car with medics on board from the Air Ambulance Service and two paramedic officers attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When emergency services arrived, they found an overturned car. The driver, a man, was trapped inside. Upon rapid assessment by medics, it sadly became apparent that nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased on scene.”

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Claire Brown – Thursday 18^th August 2022 – 10.15am.

A motorcyclist has sadly died in a road traffic collision in Shropshire overnight.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received several 999 calls reporting a collision involving a motorcyclist and a lamppost on the A49 Shrewsbury Road in Craven Arms at 11.34pm (Wednesday). Two ambulances and a paramedic officer were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived on scene, they found an off-duty police officer and two off duty nurses performing CPR and using a defibrillator on a man who had come off his motorcycle.

“Crews quickly took over treatment but sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone at the scene, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed dead a short time later.”

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Claire Brown – Thursday 18^th August 2022 – 9.40am.

A man has died following a road traffic collision involving a motorbike and a car in Coventry overnight.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 11.27pm (Wednesday) by an off-duty paramedic reporting a serious RTC near St Thomas Church on Longford Road, Coventry. A paramedic officer, two ambulances and a critical care car with a team of medics on board from The Air Ambulance Service attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Crews arrived to find a motorcyclist, a man, in a critical condition following a collision with a car being cared for by an off-duty paramedic and bystanders.

“The team of ambulance staff worked together to provide advanced life support to the man on scene. Sadly, despite the best efforts of everyone, nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased a short time later.”

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Claire Brown – Friday 12^th August 2022 – 4.00pm.

A road traffic collision involving a van and a lorry has left two men injured, one seriously in Ludlow this afternoon.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 1.13pm earlier today to reports of a two vehicle RTC on the A49, Woofferton, Ludlow. Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “The driver of the van, a man, was out of the vehicle when crews arrived and was found to have sustained serious injuries.  He was given treatment on scene before being conveyed by land ambulance on blue lights to Royal Shrewsbury Hospital for further trauma care.

“The lorry driver, a man, was treated on scene for less serious injuries and was taken to Hereford Hospital for further checks.”

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Claire Brown – Friday 12^th August 2022 – 11.00am.

A collision involving a car and a motorcyclist has left a man seriously injured in Bromsgrove this morning.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to the junction of School Lane and Birmingham Road, Licky End, Bromsgrove at 8.06am earlier today (Friday). Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic attended.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance crews arrived they found a motorcyclist who had been involved in a collision with a car and was being cared for by an off duty nurse and bystanders.

“Upon assessment by ambulance staff the motorcyclist, a man, was found to have sustained serious injuries. He was given trauma care on scene to stabilise his condition before being conveyed by land ambulance on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham for further emergency care.”

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Claire Brown – Friday 12^th August 2022 – 8.45am.

A motorcyclist has sadly died following a road traffic collision near to the English and Welsh border in Monmouth last night.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called by the police to reports of a single motorcycle RTC on the A40 in Monmouth, near to the Welsh border, at 10.09pm yesterday (Thursday). A local community first responder, a paramedic officer, an ambulance, two critical care paramedics together with Wales Air Ambulance from Cardiff were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance crews arrived they found a motorcyclist, a man, in a critical condition. Police officers were already on scene providing CPR to the man. When ambulance crews commenced emergency treatment, it sadly became apparent that nothing could be done to save the man and he was confirmed deceased a short time later.”

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Shaunna Farley – Wednesday 10th August – 08.45am.

One person has died and another has sustained life threatening injuries following a road traffic collision in Telford yesterday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called at 7.24pm to reports of a road traffic collision involving a motorbike and a car that had collided at the junction of Dawley Green Way and Old Park Roundabout in Telford. Two ambulances, two paramedic officers and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Upon arrival crews found three patients.

“The first was a man who was the driver of the motorbike. He had sustained life threatening injuries and was in a critical condition.

“He received advanced life support at the scene but unfortunately, despite the best efforts it became clear that nothing more could be done to save him and he was confirmed deceased.

“The second, a woman who was a passenger on the motorbike. She had sustained life threatening injuries.

She received treatment at the scene before being conveyed to Royal Stoke University Hospital via air ambulance.”

“The driver of the car did not require treatment.”

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Murray MacGregor – Tuesday 9^th August 2022 – 12.10pm.

And with one final roar from Birmingham’s Raging Bull, it was all over, but what an amazing 11 days it has been.

A spectacular closing ceremony at the Alexander Stadium brought the curtain down on Birmingham 2022, the 22^nd Commonwealth Games.  It was the biggest ever with around 1.5 million spectators, getting to see some spectacular sport.

For West Midlands Ambulance Service, it was the biggest sporting event that we have ever had to provide medical cover for, working with the medical teams put in place by the Organising Committee. 

In total, we scheduled over 23,000 hours of ambulance time including 1,766 shifts made up of 770 on ambulances and 226 commander shifts. They were supported by 160 shifts in our control room, 60 vehicle preparation operative shifts preparing up to 60 ambulances and 27 cars each day and 40 shifts in the National Ambulance Resilience Unit.

For the ambulance service, we were only called on to help 166 patients of which just 83 were taken to hospital.

Trust Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “This has been a hugely successful event that has placed Birmingham and the wider West Midlands in the spotlight for all of the right reasons.  My congratulations to the Organising Committee for putting on such a well run event.

“I want to pay tribute to the hundreds of staff who gave up their time off with their families to come and work during the Games.  You have done an amazing job helping to keep the huge crowds safe.

“I am immensely proud of everything you have done to show what a wonderful city Birmingham is and indeed the wider West Midlands and what it has to offer. 

“You have interacted with the public and the Games family on a daily basis and shown what a fantastic career the ambulance service has to offer and for that I am immensely grateful.”

A gallery of pictures taken by staff at the Games can be found at https://wmas.nhs.uk/birmingham-2022/

Head of Emergency Planning and Commonwealth Games Lead for the Trust, James Williams, added: “What an incredible couple of weeks it’s been for the region. I want to say a huge ‘thank you’, to everyone in the Trust who has been involved for making the Games as successful as it has been.  It’s been wonderful to see the whole Trust getting behind the event and helping colleagues out wherever they can.

“It’s been a real morale booster for staff, not just the crews out at venues but all the backroom staff as well.  Can I also say thank you to the planning team – we started this journey as soon as Birmingham was awarded the Games in December 2017 and that really stepped up a gear in early 2021.  It has been quite a journey but so worth it.  All that effort has delivered a magnificent event, one which we can all be proud of.”

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Murray MacGregor – Tuesday 9^th August 2022 – 9.00am.

Two people have died and five others have been injured after a two car crash just to the north of Leek in Staffordshire.

The collision happened at about 4.30pm on Monday afternoon, just to the north of Leek on the A53 Buxton Road.

Four ambulances, a paramedic officers, a BASICS Emergency Doctor and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Staffordshire were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival crews found a very serious crash.  Sadly, the two drivers, both men, were confirmed dead at the scene.

“A woman had to be extricated from one car.  She had suffered potentially serious injuries and was taken on blue lights to the major trauma centre at Royal Stoke University Hospital.

“A boy from the same car was also taken Royal Stoke to the same hospital, again with potentially serious injuries.

“A man was airlifted to the same hospital with serious injuries after receiving advanced trauma care at the scene.

“A man and a woman, who had both suffered less serious injuries, were also taken to Royal Stoke by ambulance for further assessment.”

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Murray MacGregor – Monday 8^th August 2022 – 10.35am.

Four men have been taken to hospital after a two car crash on Birmingham New Road in the Ettingshall area of Wolverhampton.

It happened at about 9.00pm on Sunday night at the junction of Crabtree Close.

Three ambulances, two paramedic officers and a Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance staff found two cars, one of which was badly damaged with debris spread over a wide area.

“There were five men in the car that was badly damaged. Four of them were treated by ambulance crews at the scene, with two taken to Walsall Manor Hospital and two to Sandwell.  The fifth travelled with one of the patients to Walsall.

“The driver of the other car had minor injuries but did not require hospital treatment.”

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A motorcyclist has been airlifted to a major trauma centre after a collision with a tractor.

The incident happened on Worcester Parkway, Pershore Road in Worcester, just to the south of the station at about 6.45pm on Sunday evening.

An ambulance, a paramedic officer, the Midlands Air Ambulance from Strensham and a Midlands Air Ambulance Critical Care Car were sent to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival, ambulance staff found off duty colleagues already assisting the rider.

“The man had suffered significant injuries.  After being provided with considerable care at the scene, he was airlifted to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham where medics were on standby to receive him.

“There were no other patients.”

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Murray MacGregor – Monday 8^th August 2022 – 8.30am.

The eyes of the world will be on Birmingham for one more day as the Commonwealth Games comes to a close tonight.

While the focus has rightly been on the athletes and the fantastic crowds who have made this a most memorable event, it is only right to note the remarkable job that the organisers and the emergency services have made in order for the event to take place.

Early on Saturday morning, representatives of the police, fire and ambulance services came together to mark that work with a photo underneath the most iconic symbol of the Game.

The staff and vehicles were photographed in front of the ‘Raging Bull’, the 10m high sculpture that is drawing huge crowds to Centenary Square in Birmingham and which was such a memorable part of the opening ceremony.

WMAS Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh, said: “It seemed only right to bring the three services together in front of the symbol of the Games.

“The amount of planning and co-operation that has gone into making these games such a success cannot be underestimated.

“Together with the Organising Committee the three blue light services have ensured this has been one of the best Games ever.

“Everyone has done an amazing job and I hope all of the staff involved, who have come from every corner of our Region, have enjoyed the experience as much as the millions of fans and spectators around the world have.” 

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Jamie Arrowsmith – Wednesday 3^rd August 2022 – 10.10am.

A lorry driver has died in one of two multi-vehicle collisions to occur on the M5 in the early hours of this morning.

We received a call to reports of a multi-vehicle collision involving a number of lorries on the northbound carriageway of the M5, between junctions 8 and 7, at 4.31am and sent two ambulances, three paramedic officers, our Hazardous Area Response Team and a MERIT trauma doctor to the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival we discovered a lorry driver who had suffered serious injuries in the collision. Sadly, it quickly became apparent nothing could be done to save them and they were confirmed dead at the scene.

“Ambulance crews worked closely with fire and police colleagues to carefully cut a second lorry driver, a man, free from his vehicle, a process which took approximately 90 minutes.

“Following treatment at the scene for potentially serious injuries, he was transported to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham for further treatment.”

Prior to that, we had been called to a collision between a car and a lorry also on the northbound carriage of the M5 between junctions 8 and 7 at 2.50am. Three ambulances and two paramedic officers attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman said: “On arrival we discovered six patients from the car.

“A man, who was a rear seat passenger, was treated for potentially serious injuries and taken to Worcester Royal Hospital.

“The driver and a second rear seat passenger, both men, were treated for injuries not believed to be serious before being taken to Hereford County Hospital on the same ambulance.

“Three further patients were discharged at the scene.”

Road closures will remain place on the M5 for some time and drivers are advised to find alternative routes.

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Claire Brown – Monday 1^st August 2022 – 10.40am.

A car driver was airlifted to a major trauma centre after sustaining serious injuries in an RTC near Newport yesterday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service received several 999 calls reporting a collision involving a car and a lorry on the A41 Chester Road, Chetwynd at 3.54pm (Sunday). Three ambulances, two paramedic officers and the Midlands Air Ambulance from Cosford with a doctor and paramedic on board attended the scene.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When crews arrived they found an off duty nurse and other bystanders caring for two occupants in the car. The driver, a man, was found with serious injuries. The team of ambulance staff worked closely with fire colleagues to release the man from the car whilst administering trauma care to stabilise his serious condition. The man was airlifted to Royal Stoke University Hospital to receive further specialist trauma care.

“The passenger of the car, a woman, was given treatment on scene for less serious injuries before being conveyed by land ambulance to the same hospital for further checks.”

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Claire Brown – Monday 1^st August 2022 – 10.15am.

A motorcyclist received advanced trauma care by the ambulance service yesterday in Alvechurch.

West Midlands Ambulance Service was called to reports of a road traffic collision involving a car and a motorcycle on the A441 Birmingham Road, near the Redditch Road turning, Alvechurch at 4.51pm (Sunday). Two ambulances, a paramedic officer and a MERIT trauma doctor and critical care paramedic (CCP) attended.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “When ambulance staff arrived on scene, they found bystanders caring for a motorcyclist, a man, who had been seriously injured.

“The team of ambulance staff worked together to administer advanced trauma care to the man to stabilise his condition on scene before conveying him on blue lights to Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. The MERIT doctor and CCP travelled with the ambulance crew to continue treatment and monitoring on route to hospital where, upon arrival in A&E, the man was said to be in a critical condition.”

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