A man who suffered horrific burns to his body after touching live electricity cables in 2020 has been reunited with the ambulance staff who helped to save his life.
On the 24th November 2020, Darren Harris was electrocuted in an abandoned building in Wolverhampton and sustained significant burns to his face, arms, chest and abdomen. He spent several months receiving specialist treatment at Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham. Four years on, he recently visited Stoke Ambulance Hub to meet the ambulance crew and MERIT trauma doctor who responded to the 999 call that day.
Recounting what happened, Darren, from Manchester, said: “During lockdown I was struggling for funds and I went to get illegal scrap metal from buildings that were getting demolished. Unfortunately, I put my left arm into an 11KV switchboard which completely melted my forearms down to the bone. I ran in front of the ambulance on its way to me to flag it down and both faces of the paramedics were as white as a ghost.”
Stoke-based Paramedic, Gary Williams, said: “Matt and I both looked at each other and said where do we start. Darren’s arms had completely exploded.”
The crew worked to administer pain relief whilst trying to stabilise Darren’s injuries which, given the level of blood loss, was a challenging situation.
Crewmate, Paramedic Matt Walker, added: “I was on the radio saying to control send me everything as back up, and other resources quickly came to assist us.”
Dr Richard Fawcett was part of the Trust’s MERIT team who, along with a critical care paramedic, responded to Darren that day. He said: “Anything where you get this massive surge of electrical current going through the body?? causing such extensive tissue injury, the likelihood is you’re probably not going to leave hospital. So to see Darren a few years later doing so fantastically well is unbelievable.”
Reflecting on his ordeal and meeting the paramedics and doctor again, Darren said: “Miraculously somehow, I’m still here today, shining and trying to rebuild my life the best I can, all thanks to the two paramedics and the rest of the NHS team that saved me that night. It’s a very special moment for me meeting them again and it means a hell of a lot. Without these guys I genuinely wouldn’t be here today. They will always have a special place in my heart.”
Pictured left to right: Darren Harris with WMAS Stoke Paramedics Gary Williams, Matt Walker and MERIT Trauma Doctor Richard Fawcett.