South Western Ambulance Service carries out water rescue in Bridgwater
Friday, 28 February, 2014
Paramedics from South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) rescued a woman who had become stuck in the canal close to the Morrisons store in Bridgwater on Thursday 27 February 2014.
SWASFT received reports of a female in the water at 9pm yesterday evening. The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) responded with paramedics who are specially trained to work in water.
The HART team arrived at the scene in three minutes and used their specialist equipment and training to carry out a swift water rescue of the 51-year-old casualty who had been in the water for approximately 20 minutes.
The patient was treated for hypothermia and taken to Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton, for further treatment.
The Exeter-based HART unit has been operating from Bridgwater and Martock over the past six weeks in order to provide an urgent response to medical emergencies in the flooded areas of Somerset.
Within SWASFT there are two HART units covering the South West. Paramedics within HART are trained to respond to hazardous incidents, including those involving chemicals and hazardous materials and where ballistic protection is required. HART paramedics are also trained to work at heights, in confined spaces and in water.
