LAS crews walk the talk

Ambulance staff who supported a survivor of the 7 July bombings during a 200-mile walk from Leeds to London were in Trafalgar Square as she completed her challenge.

The paramedics and emergency medical technicians from Islington ambulance station volunteered to accompany Gill Hicks, who lost both her legs in the explosion between King's Cross and Russell Square, on the month-long WALKTALK from Leeds.

Staff took it in turns to make up the two-person crew that accompanied Gill and her husband Joe Kerr, travelling in a spare back-up rapid response car.

Emergency Medical Technician Tracy Russell, who was one of the first ambulance staff to treat Gill on 7 July and has helped coordinate the Service's involvement in WALKTALK, said, "It has been a really inspirational event to be involved in, and we have been made to feel very welcome by everyone we've met. We've all got a lot out of taking part in WALKTALK, and are really pleased that it has been such a success."

Speaking in Trafalgar Square, Gill said of day one of the walk, "It was the green London Ambulance Service uniform that did something to me that I wasn't quite expecting, and that was that I wanted to be their success. I wanted them to feel proud of every single step I took, because I will never stop saying thank you to them and everyone who helped save my life."