Trio of Welsh Ambulance Service paramedics commended after saving woman’s life
Thursday, 29 June, 2017
A TRIO of Welsh Ambulance Service paramedics have been recognised after saving a woman’s life.
Paramedics Julie Ward Smith, Ian Binnington and John Jones, all based in Wrexham, have received a commendation alongside Sergeant Geraint Richards and Detective Inspector Billy Jones from North Wales Police.
Their award came after Julie spotted a woman sitting on the wrong side of the railings on a bridge over the A483 in Wrexham while driving her rapid response car one evening.
She alerted the control rooms of both emergency services, and was supported shortly after by her colleagues Ian and John in an emergency ambulance.
Sgt Richards took command of the scene and quickly arranged for the road to be closed off, while DI Jones was dispatched in his capacity as a negotiator.
Julie said: “As I came onto the roundabout on Mold Road I saw her climbing over the railings so I called control and told them what was happening.
“I stopped, asked for police to come and shut the A483, shouted for another crew and started talking to her.”
Enquires in the police control room discovered that a vulnerable woman had been reported missing by staff at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, and she was identified as being the person sitting on the bridge.
The patient refused to speak to the police officers on the scene, however DI Jones was able to negotiate with her through Julie and Ian, while John positioned the ambulance under the bridge in case she fell.
Julie said: “Ian and John arrived along with the police, but she wouldn’t speak to the police, only to us. As soon as she looked at me she recognised me so we had a bit of trust there.
“We managed to keep her talking and she was sitting on a ledge that was only half a foot wide.
“When we saw she was about to fall we just grabbed hold of her and the four of us pulled her back over the railings.”
After being lifted to safety by the paramedics and police, the woman was provided with treatment before being taken to Wrexham Maelor Hospital by ambulance.
The two emergency service teams who saved her life during the incident on 1 June 2016 have now been recognised with a commendation from North Wales Police Chief Constable Mark Polin.
Speaking after the presentation at the Kinmel Manor Hotel in Abergele on Tuesday (26 June), Ian, who is also a Clinical Team Leader, said: “It was a really good occasion and I think we are some of the only ambulance service staff to have been recognised with the award.
“We found out that we’d been nominated by the police negotiator who attended. It was really nice to be recognised and it means a lot.”
Julie added: “The Chief Constable praised how we worked as a team and said how grateful he was. We have a great rapport with the police in Wrexham and work very well together.”
Chief Constable Polin said: “I would like congratulate all those who have been commended.
“During the ceremony we heard several examples of actions that go beyond the call of duty. I am acutely aware that each and every day, members of our own organisation as well as our partner agencies work in the knowledge that anything can happen, anywhere in North Wales and at any given moment.
“I also congratulate our Welsh Ambulance Service colleagues – who, without doubt, helped save the life of a vulnerable woman in the Wrexham area.
“We are extremely fortunate to have such dedicated ambulance crews who do a difficult job and we owe them a tremendous debt of thanks.”
Wayne Davies, the Trust’s Locality Manager for Wrexham and Flintshire, said: “We are extremely proud of Julie, Ian and John, who came to this woman’s aid in her hour of need, and together with DI Jones and Sgt Richards saved her life through their compassion and quick thinking.
“We would also like to thank all our partners at North Wales Police for supporting our staff day in, day out as we work together to help people across the region.”
