HIGHWAY HEROES

Injured paramedics escaped their written-off ambulances to help others in 10-vehicle pile-up on the A19

TWO injured paramedics involved in separate 999 mercy dash crashes escaped their crushed ambulances to help others.

Despite their own injuries, the two performed roadside first aid to stricken motorists following a freak sequence of events which ultimately involved:

■ 10 vehicles

■ in three separate crashes, which

■ closed all four lanes of one of the region’s busiest roads.

And last night, as the full extent of the injured paramedics’ heroism was emerging, their manager told how she was “extremely proud” of her colleagues.

The two men, who work for the North East Ambulance Service, were on their way to an emergency in separate response vehicles yesterday shortly before 8am when the drama suddenly unfolded.

While travelling northbound near to the Moor Farm Roundabout in North Tyneside, the first vehicle skidded on ice and the ambulance overturned onto its side in a roadside ditch.

The second following Hazardous Area Response Team ambulance then careered into a car before ploughing into the central barrier of the A19.

But despite suffering injuries from the serious collisions, both paramedics ignored their wounds and sprang into action when a six-vehicle smash happened on the southbound side of the road opposite moments later.

Donna Hay, clinical operations manager at NEAS, arrived shortly afterwards at the scene and took control as commander.

She said: “It was a road traffic collision which involved two of our hazardous area response paramedics travelling in separate vehicles at the time. “Both were involved in the collision with a member of the public. “They skidded on some ice on a really bad stretch of the road. “That caused one of the vehicles to leave the road and overturned into a ditch on its side.

“The other vehicle has hit another car and then crashed into the central reservation.

“On the other side of the carriageway there had been another collision involving a number of cars. “Both of our paramedics were injured, however they were both able to get themselves out of their vehicles, see what was going on at the other side of the road, and give treatment despite the injuries they had themselves.”

The rest of the Hazardous Area Response Team arrived along with the Great North Air Ambulance helicopter, and the paramedics were able to pass on the care of the people they had been looking after. They were then taken to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital in

Both our paramedics were injured...they gave treatment despite the injuries they had themselves

Cramlington where they were checked over for their injuries.

Operations Manager Ms Hay added: “When we heard two of our paramedics were possibly injured it was quite an anxious time.

“When I arrived on scene both paramedics were visibly injured but they continued to help and assist.

“I felt extremely proud of them, extremely proud.”

Ms Hay said she had noted “how well they had worked together” and said “a big well done to everybody involved”.

The A19 was closed between Moor Farm and Holystone roundabouts for around three hours and eventually reopened just before 11am.

A North East Ambulance Service spokesperson said: “We were called at 7.57am on Sunday to reports of a multiple road traffic collision on the northbound carriageway of the A19 at the junction with the A1056.

“Two of the vehicles involved were from our Hazardous Area Response Team, who had been travelling to an emergency

“Whilst dealing with this incident, a second road traffic collision occurred on the southbound carriageway.

“In total we dispatched six resources to the scene and requested support from Great North Air Ambulance.

“We transported four patients to Northumbria Specialist Emergency Care Hospital, all believed to have minor injuries.”