0:00:02 > 0:00:04From the Highlands of Scotland
0:00:04 > 0:00:06to the coast of Cornwall,
0:00:06 > 0:00:11the great British countryside is spectacular.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14But we work and play in it...at our peril.
0:00:17 > 0:00:19And when things go wrong,
0:00:19 > 0:00:22the emergency services race to the rescue...
0:00:22 > 0:00:26This chap is having a heart attack and we need to get him in quickly.
0:00:28 > 0:00:30There's no police courses for this.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33..going hundreds of miles against the clock,
0:00:33 > 0:00:35battling the elements
0:00:35 > 0:00:36and braving the weather.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40HE GROANS
0:00:40 > 0:00:43From fields and forests
0:00:43 > 0:00:45to cliffs and country roads,
0:00:45 > 0:00:49we'll be right at the heart of the action,
0:00:49 > 0:00:51with police fighting crime...
0:00:51 > 0:00:53I could seize your dogs. I could seize your van.
0:00:53 > 0:00:55But I'm going to summons you all to court.
0:00:55 > 0:00:58..paramedics saving lives...
0:00:59 > 0:01:02..and wardens safeguarding our lakes.
0:01:02 > 0:01:04- Come out of the way. - BOAT TANNOY
0:01:04 > 0:01:08We're there as the emergency services pull together
0:01:08 > 0:01:11to pick up, patch up and protect the public.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15This is Countryside 999.
0:01:34 > 0:01:36Coming up...
0:01:36 > 0:01:39The Yorkshire Air Ambulance battle dense fog
0:01:39 > 0:01:41to reach a badly injured child.
0:01:46 > 0:01:49In County Durham, it's a challenging shift
0:01:49 > 0:01:51for countryside copper Terry...
0:01:51 > 0:01:52LA-2699.
0:01:53 > 0:01:56..as he searches for a vulnerable missing person.
0:01:56 > 0:01:59An elderly gentleman with dementia.
0:01:59 > 0:02:03He's gone missing. So there's some concerns for his welfare.
0:02:03 > 0:02:05And, in Penzance,
0:02:05 > 0:02:08an amateur fisherman catches more than he bargained for.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10I was very tempted to pull the thing out.
0:02:10 > 0:02:14We were probably about ten miles off Penzance, I suppose.
0:02:14 > 0:02:16I thought I'd better leave it to the experts.
0:02:23 > 0:02:26Beautiful, wild County Durham.
0:02:26 > 0:02:31Over 850 square miles of rolling moors and picturesque dales.
0:02:35 > 0:02:38Hill farms, remote villages
0:02:38 > 0:02:42and some 2,000 miles of what can only be described
0:02:42 > 0:02:43as treacherous country roads.
0:02:48 > 0:02:53They all make for a mixed beat for the rural bobbies based here.
0:02:53 > 0:02:55These are...for poaching.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57From agricultural theft...
0:02:57 > 0:03:00We suspect that they've been stolen.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02..to patrolling the highways...
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Good afternoon, sir. Are you in a rush?
0:03:07 > 0:03:10..the north-east of the region is policed by the force
0:03:10 > 0:03:11based in the town of Consett.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15As a countryside copper,
0:03:15 > 0:03:19every shift for PC Terry Archibald has a new challenge.
0:03:19 > 0:03:24LA-2699. Myself and 3692 are on our way, as well.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Today, he's on an emergency call.
0:03:28 > 0:03:32All that's, er, coming over the radio at the moment...
0:03:32 > 0:03:35is there's an elderly gentleman with dementia
0:03:35 > 0:03:39at...Stanley, which is a few miles from here.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42He's gone missing and hasn't been seen for a couple of hours.
0:03:42 > 0:03:45So there's some concerns for his welfare.
0:03:48 > 0:03:53The missing man is soon identified as 85-year-old Derrick.
0:03:53 > 0:03:55He's wandered off from his rural home,
0:03:55 > 0:03:58two miles outside the town of Stanley.
0:03:59 > 0:04:02Setting off from Consett, it will take Terry ten minutes
0:04:02 > 0:04:03on blue lights to reach the area.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10When we have any missing persons, it's, obviously,
0:04:10 > 0:04:12high-priority to get them found as quickly as we can.
0:04:12 > 0:04:15When you're dealing with somebody with vulnerabilities,
0:04:15 > 0:04:17such as the elderly person that we were...
0:04:17 > 0:04:18that we were going to be looking for,
0:04:18 > 0:04:22who as well as being...the age being a factor,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24erm, was suffering from dementia.
0:04:24 > 0:04:28So there's all sorts of concerns that we need to deal with, there.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31And try and find him as quickly as possible.
0:04:31 > 0:04:35There are 850,000 people in the UK with dementia.
0:04:35 > 0:04:39One in three people over 65 will die with it.
0:04:39 > 0:04:42As a sufferer, Derrick has memory loss and confusion.
0:04:45 > 0:04:50We're travelling to assist with an area search over there.
0:04:50 > 0:04:52We've got officers travelling to the house, as well
0:04:52 > 0:04:53to speak to the family,
0:04:53 > 0:04:56to try and get descriptions.
0:04:56 > 0:04:59Well, as you see, the weather's starting to turn as well now.
0:04:59 > 0:05:01It's started raining really heavily.
0:05:04 > 0:05:09If Derrick becomes cold and wet, hypothermia is a real danger.
0:05:10 > 0:05:12Concerns are rising.
0:05:12 > 0:05:14His home is in an isolated area.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18He could be lying somewhere, hurt.
0:05:20 > 0:05:23For any high-risk missing person,
0:05:23 > 0:05:26the... Basically, all available resources are deployed.
0:05:26 > 0:05:30There were local response officers.
0:05:30 > 0:05:33Officers from my team. There was a neighbourhood policing team.
0:05:33 > 0:05:35We had a dog unit arrive as well.
0:05:35 > 0:05:39The air support unit was also being asked to attend.
0:05:39 > 0:05:41So, it's intensive.
0:05:45 > 0:05:47The sergeant is, er...
0:05:48 > 0:05:51..directing things from...from the office.
0:05:51 > 0:05:52So, we are going to be...
0:05:54 > 0:05:56..doing road checks.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58Terry's been given a description.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Blue coat, fawn-coloured trousers we're looking for.
0:06:01 > 0:06:05We're going to start at this end, here. And head up the lane.
0:06:05 > 0:06:08The last information we have, he could potentially be on one of these
0:06:08 > 0:06:10lanes, somewhere.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Fingers crossed, we'll be able to pick him up.
0:06:12 > 0:06:13LA-2699.
0:06:13 > 0:06:17With no luck in the pub, Terry heads up the lane.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19Blue Bell's being checked, negative result.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22And descriptions passed to staff there.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27It's particularly concerning when you have elderly people...go missing.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32Or young people. Um...
0:06:32 > 0:06:34More often than not, they don't have a mobile phone.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38You've got no way of forming that link and communicating with them.
0:06:38 > 0:06:40Derrick doesn't have a mobile phone.
0:06:40 > 0:06:43But there is a different way of tracking him.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55The gentleman's Buddy system activated on this, er...
0:06:55 > 0:06:57on this lane.
0:06:57 > 0:07:00Basically, it's like the GPS tracker you would find in most smartphones,
0:07:00 > 0:07:03most modern telephones. And if he's not aware where he is,
0:07:03 > 0:07:08we can use that to pinpoint where he is and direct a search to that area.
0:07:08 > 0:07:10Just to advise, I've travelled the full-length of Coppy Lane
0:07:10 > 0:07:12and it's, er, negative.
0:07:16 > 0:07:18The lane ends at a local hotel.
0:07:20 > 0:07:22Terry meets up with Inspector Keith Wardle.
0:07:25 > 0:07:27Well, there's a few pathways.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30There's officers starting to walk those paths.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33But we're waiting to hear back from the helicopter
0:07:33 > 0:07:35about how long they're going to be.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38The search is stepping up.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42They get ready to start out on foot with dogs.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45But then, Inspector Wardle hears news over the radio
0:07:45 > 0:07:47from nearby Beamish Museum.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57There's been a possible sighting of Derrick.
0:07:57 > 0:08:00- 'Allegedly.'- Yes, yes. Can you just give us some directions
0:08:00 > 0:08:03from the farm, er...from the hotel, so we can get someone there?
0:08:03 > 0:08:07Terry heads off to the museum to find out if it's their missing man.
0:08:07 > 0:08:10SIREN WAILS
0:08:27 > 0:08:30Yorkshire's 5,500 square miles
0:08:30 > 0:08:34make it the UK's biggest county.
0:08:34 > 0:08:39It covers vast swathes of wild and spectacular countryside.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42From the drama of the Dales
0:08:42 > 0:08:44to the rugged beauty of the moors,
0:08:44 > 0:08:46to the rolling hills of the Wolds...
0:08:49 > 0:08:52..great areas of this rural county are isolated.
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Providing an emergency service to the five million people
0:08:57 > 0:09:01who live across this huge region, is the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
0:09:05 > 0:09:10Medical treatment can be on its way within minutes of a 999 call.
0:09:16 > 0:09:20It's late afternoon at the Emergency Operations Centre in Wakefield.
0:09:20 > 0:09:21A call's come in.
0:09:33 > 0:09:38The call is relayed to the air paramedics at their Topcliffe base.
0:09:38 > 0:09:41Paramedic Lee Davison is mobilised.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Two kiddies that have been knocked down,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45that have been walking together, so...
0:09:45 > 0:09:47We'll just get over there. It's quite a remote area,
0:09:47 > 0:09:51so difficult accessing for, you know, for land crews.
0:09:51 > 0:09:54So, we'll just get off as quick as we can.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02On board with him are fellow paramedic Darren Axe
0:10:02 > 0:10:04and pilot Chris Attrill.
0:10:04 > 0:10:06They're airborne in five minutes.
0:10:14 > 0:10:18Meanwhile, the emergency operator continues to instruct the caller.
0:10:38 > 0:10:41From their base, it's a 30-mile flight
0:10:41 > 0:10:45to where the two children have been hit by a car in Thixendale,
0:10:45 > 0:10:48a remote village in the middle of the Yorkshire Wolds.
0:10:48 > 0:10:52Where the Wolds are situated, erm, you can be a good hour, easily,
0:10:52 > 0:10:56driving with patients down to Hull or going up north to James Cook,
0:10:56 > 0:10:58to the trauma centres.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00So, trying to help out crews
0:11:00 > 0:11:02and trying to get patients to the nearest hospitals,
0:11:02 > 0:11:05er, is something that the air ambulance really helps with.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18Nearly 2,000 children were killed or seriously injured
0:11:18 > 0:11:20on Britain's roads in 2013.
0:11:22 > 0:11:23An average of five every day.
0:11:26 > 0:11:30Swift medical treatment can be the difference between life and death.
0:11:30 > 0:11:32But the team hit a problem.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34Fog.
0:11:42 > 0:11:44The chopper is still 12 minutes away
0:11:44 > 0:11:47when their visibility drastically deteriorates.
0:11:54 > 0:11:58The scene was...covered with a cloud layer,
0:11:58 > 0:11:59which was very, very low.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Chris is obviously a very, very experienced military pilot,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06flown in a lot of bad weather.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09We tried everything to get in to this job.
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Unable to see obstacles such as turbines,
0:12:17 > 0:12:20it's not safe to fly any further.
0:12:20 > 0:12:23The cloud was just sat over the top of the incident.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26We tried to go around it, we tried to get under it.
0:12:26 > 0:12:28We tried to attack it from all sides.
0:12:28 > 0:12:32But were unsuccessful. So we had to land quite some distance away.
0:12:44 > 0:12:48The nearest safe landing spot is seven miles from the accident.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Lee and Darren must improvise.
0:12:51 > 0:12:53I'm just going to try and commandeer a vehicle.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56And just go on up to this incident.
0:12:56 > 0:12:57They flag down a motorist.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07- OK.- Is that all right?
0:13:07 > 0:13:10We've just jumped in this car with Carol cos we were...obviously,
0:13:10 > 0:13:12aren't able to get to the incident.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15We've been up above it and not been able to see it.
0:13:15 > 0:13:17Er, just due to cloud.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20And we're just making our way now by car.
0:13:20 > 0:13:23These two young kids, obviously, are injured at the scene.
0:13:23 > 0:13:26But I need to know what the severity is, to see whether they need to go
0:13:26 > 0:13:28by helicopter or not.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30I don't know where she was really going.
0:13:30 > 0:13:35But she did pull over, let me get in and I told her what the situation was
0:13:35 > 0:13:37and she was really accommodating and took us right to the scene.
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Cheers.
0:13:39 > 0:13:44Two young boys have been knocked down in the village centre.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48The car that hit them was travelling at only 20mph.
0:13:50 > 0:13:52One boy is in the ambulance.
0:13:55 > 0:13:58But 12-year-old Finn is in a bad way.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01- Now then, this is Finn. - Hiya.- He is 12 years old.
0:14:01 > 0:14:04He's been hit by this car, but he's not been unconscious at any point
0:14:04 > 0:14:07- from what I can gather.- OK. - Erm, he's had ten of morphine.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09- Yeah.- On entonox.
0:14:10 > 0:14:12- We're struggling with moving him. - Keep him straight.
0:14:12 > 0:14:14Any sort of movement, he's just...
0:14:14 > 0:14:17We'll have to drive him to aircraft and then we'll fly him off to...
0:14:17 > 0:14:20- Yeah.- It's every parent's worst nightmare.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Finn's mum and dad can only stand by and watch
0:14:23 > 0:14:26as a local doctor and paramedics stabilise him.
0:14:28 > 0:14:29- All right, buddy?- Yeah.
0:14:29 > 0:14:32- OK, all right. - Get a listen to his chest.
0:14:32 > 0:14:35- FEMALE PARAMEDIC:- In the chest, initially OK, no pain or inflation.
0:14:35 > 0:14:38- OK, grand.- But I've not been able to get in properly.- OK, sound.
0:14:38 > 0:14:39Abdomen? Soft?
0:14:40 > 0:14:42Finn's leg is broken.
0:14:42 > 0:14:45And he has worrying head injuries.
0:14:45 > 0:14:49They must get him to a trauma unit...fast.
0:14:49 > 0:14:52But the fog is getting worse all the time.
0:15:01 > 0:15:06In County Durham, the police search for elderly missing man Derrick
0:15:06 > 0:15:08is about to intensify
0:15:08 > 0:15:10when news comes in over the radio.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18PC Terry is racing to nearby Beamish Museum
0:15:18 > 0:15:21to check out a possible sighting.
0:15:25 > 0:15:28En route, some good news comes in over his radio.
0:15:34 > 0:15:40Staff found 85-year-old Derrick on a bench outside the museum.
0:15:40 > 0:15:44With dementia, he's particularly vulnerable.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48As soon as you finish your coffee, we'll head back, OK? There's no rush.
0:15:48 > 0:15:50- OK?- I'll start rushing now.
0:15:50 > 0:15:52No, don't you worry, there's no rush. There's plenty of time.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56From what we can gather, he'd made his way
0:15:56 > 0:16:00up the lane from his home address to Beamish Museum, here.
0:16:00 > 0:16:03He's been found by staff. They've contacted us
0:16:03 > 0:16:06and we've been on scene within a couple of minutes.
0:16:06 > 0:16:09We found him fit and well, so it'll be a case of checking him out.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13Pop him back to his family and make sure he's OK.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16Yeah, it's a bit worrying for these cases.
0:16:16 > 0:16:18But always the most worrying are the missing people cases.
0:16:18 > 0:16:21And always nice to have a positive result.
0:16:21 > 0:16:25THEY CHAT
0:16:25 > 0:16:29- What's he been telling you? - He's just been working.- Working?
0:16:29 > 0:16:33Ian, a museum volunteer, spotted Derrick.
0:16:33 > 0:16:35Earlier this morning, the police stopped
0:16:35 > 0:16:37and said they were looking for this gentleman.
0:16:37 > 0:16:39Elderly with dementia.
0:16:39 > 0:16:41Are you ready to head down? To head back home? Yeah?
0:16:41 > 0:16:46And then about...20 minutes ago,
0:16:46 > 0:16:48I saw this gentleman, who fit the description, sat on a bench.
0:16:48 > 0:16:51So I just had a chat with him. We gave him a cup of coffee.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53Brought him indoors to keep warm and dry.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56And hopefully, he'll now be taken home.
0:16:57 > 0:16:59We'll give you a lift home, Derrick.
0:16:59 > 0:17:01I'm just in this car, here.
0:17:03 > 0:17:05Right, Derrick.
0:17:05 > 0:17:06We'll not be long.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11It's a short trip back to Derrick's home...and his worried wife.
0:17:13 > 0:17:16There we are, can you manage?
0:17:16 > 0:17:17Right, then.
0:17:17 > 0:17:20- Shall we go?- Yes.- You lead the way, then, Derrick.
0:17:20 > 0:17:23Do you want to... Are you all right?
0:17:23 > 0:17:26Friend Susan and her dog are there to welcome him home.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30- Hello.- Hello, Derrick. Here's monkey business.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33- It's monkey business. - It is monkey business.
0:17:33 > 0:17:35- Come to see you.- Hello.
0:17:36 > 0:17:37Come on in.
0:17:38 > 0:17:41Are you coming through, Derrick? Your wife's through here.
0:17:41 > 0:17:43- Are you all right? - I've just realised who you are.
0:17:43 > 0:17:45Of course you do. I know you.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49He's just realised who I am. I said, "I know." But he knows us.
0:17:49 > 0:17:50And your monkey business.
0:17:50 > 0:17:54- Are you tired? - You can say that again.
0:17:55 > 0:17:59It's been an anxious three hours since Olive last saw her husband.
0:18:02 > 0:18:03I know.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- We've been here before, haven't we? - Mm-hm.
0:18:10 > 0:18:12You all right?
0:18:12 > 0:18:13No?
0:18:20 > 0:18:24- Where've you been?- I got, erm...
0:18:24 > 0:18:27In the nicest way, I got picked up by the policeman.
0:18:34 > 0:18:36The relief is tremendous.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39You can't buy that sort of relief.
0:18:49 > 0:18:52We've got so many places. By the time I look,
0:18:52 > 0:18:55- we're not aware of where he is. - Mm-hm.
0:18:55 > 0:18:58And I'm just frightened that he hurts himself when he's out.
0:18:58 > 0:19:00As I say, you've got him home safe and sound.
0:19:00 > 0:19:03- Yeah, that's what counts.- You're all right, that's what counts.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05And thank you. You can't...I can't...
0:19:05 > 0:19:09Your group have been fantastic, all of them.
0:19:09 > 0:19:12You have the same fears as the family do.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14And to be able to...
0:19:14 > 0:19:17take somebody home...and...
0:19:17 > 0:19:19take them back safely to their family,
0:19:19 > 0:19:23you can't really describe it. It's an emotional experience.
0:19:23 > 0:19:28- Thank you.- The moment you see the relief on the family's face.
0:19:31 > 0:19:33But, it's...brilliant.
0:19:33 > 0:19:35Absolutely brilliant moment.
0:19:43 > 0:19:45Derrick's safely home.
0:19:45 > 0:19:48It's a great result for PC Terry.
0:19:48 > 0:19:51But his shift is far from over.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56An urgent call is coming in over the radio.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03Yeah, LA-2699, I'll break off to that.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05He's been called to a multiple car collision.
0:20:19 > 0:20:21Beautiful Cornwall -
0:20:21 > 0:20:24the far-flung south-western corner of the British Isles.
0:20:27 > 0:20:30With 80% of the county surrounded by water,
0:20:30 > 0:20:33you're never more than 16 miles from the sea.
0:20:35 > 0:20:39The picturesque fishing villages and harbour towns dotted along the coast
0:20:39 > 0:20:42attract thousands of holiday-makers every year...
0:20:48 > 0:20:51..keeping the region a busy place
0:20:51 > 0:20:55and ensuring West Cornwall Hospital in Penzance is never quiet.
0:20:55 > 0:20:58CHILD CRIES
0:20:58 > 0:21:00Another satisfied customer.
0:21:02 > 0:21:06The 24-hour Urgent Care Centre saw 18,000 patients last year.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10There we go. That's it back in place, all right?
0:21:10 > 0:21:13And whilst tourists boost the visitor numbers...
0:21:13 > 0:21:16I want you to bring the crutches towards me.
0:21:16 > 0:21:18And then hop. Hop!
0:21:18 > 0:21:21SHE LAUGHS That's great! Hop.
0:21:21 > 0:21:23..locals keep the unit busy, too.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26The doctor will have a look.
0:21:26 > 0:21:28Probably pop a local anaesthetic in there,
0:21:28 > 0:21:30see if we can get that out.
0:21:30 > 0:21:32Martin has been fishing for 40 years.
0:21:34 > 0:21:35I wouldn't play with it.
0:21:36 > 0:21:40This morning, out catching mackerel, he snagged his own finger.
0:21:40 > 0:21:42I'll pop you back out into the waiting room and then
0:21:42 > 0:21:45we'll call you through again as soon as we've got a cubicle free.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46- All right?- Thank you. Yeah, OK.
0:21:46 > 0:21:52I was out fishing about three, four miles out
0:21:52 > 0:21:56and accidentally ended up putting
0:21:56 > 0:21:59a fishing hook in my finger,
0:21:59 > 0:22:02which is a mackerel feather, by the way.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06Luckily, we managed to catch enough fish to keep everybody happy
0:22:06 > 0:22:08and we had to come back in.
0:22:08 > 0:22:11So, I'm waiting to go in to have the hook taken out.
0:22:11 > 0:22:16Hopefully, be home for Sunday roast in the pub.
0:22:16 > 0:22:20That's the first time I've done it. Hopefully, I won't be doing it again.
0:22:21 > 0:22:25The barbs on the end make fish hooks tricky to remove,
0:22:25 > 0:22:29but hospital staff have seen this injury many times before
0:22:29 > 0:22:31and they have a nifty technique.
0:22:31 > 0:22:34She's going to deaden it somehow or other,
0:22:34 > 0:22:39then turn it, push it so that it comes out the other side.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44And then cut the barb off and take the hook back out the other way.
0:22:45 > 0:22:48Should be fairly straightforward. Will it be painless?
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Putting the anaesthetic in will be a bit stingy,
0:22:51 > 0:22:52so do you think you're all right to sit down
0:22:52 > 0:22:54or would you like to go on the bed?
0:22:54 > 0:22:55- No, I'm all right.- Yeah?
0:22:55 > 0:22:57- As far as I know.- OK.
0:22:57 > 0:23:00Dr Daisy Peters is doing the honours today.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04Probably best if I shut my eyes rather than look.
0:23:04 > 0:23:06Don't want to end up keeling over.
0:23:06 > 0:23:07If you think you might keel over,
0:23:07 > 0:23:09we're better off putting you on the bed.
0:23:09 > 0:23:11Do think you would prefer to be on the bed?
0:23:11 > 0:23:13It'd be embarrassing if I do fall for, won't it?
0:23:13 > 0:23:14It's just you're a bit bigger than me
0:23:14 > 0:23:16and I'd have to pick you up off the ground.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18- It's probably best if I do. - I'll go and get you a sheet.
0:23:18 > 0:23:20Just in case, yeah.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24Right, there you go.
0:23:27 > 0:23:29OK, if you move your bottom back.
0:23:29 > 0:23:32- There we go. How's that? All right? - Yeah, that's good.
0:23:32 > 0:23:33Right, OK.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36I'm actually going to inject into this part of your finger.
0:23:36 > 0:23:37What I need you to try and do is...
0:23:39 > 0:23:41..put that over the edge of the bed, if you like,
0:23:41 > 0:23:43we'll try and keep your finger flat, OK?
0:23:43 > 0:23:47With Martin safely lying down, Dr Peters injects a local anaesthetic.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51Right, OK. This will sting a little bit.
0:23:52 > 0:23:54- OK?- Mm.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56OK, that takes a minute or so to take action,
0:23:56 > 0:23:59so I'm just going to leave you for a moment while that goes numb.
0:23:59 > 0:24:01- Yep, all right.- And I'll be back in a minute, OK?
0:24:01 > 0:24:03No problem. Thank you.
0:24:03 > 0:24:06Martin's beginning to get attached to his extra adornment.
0:24:06 > 0:24:08Beauty, isn't it?
0:24:09 > 0:24:12They said, "You'll have to go to hospital with that."
0:24:12 > 0:24:15I was very tempted to pull the thing out.
0:24:16 > 0:24:20We were probably about ten miles off Penzance, I suppose.
0:24:20 > 0:24:22But they said, "No, no, don't do that,
0:24:22 > 0:24:25"cos you might affect the tendons or something
0:24:25 > 0:24:28"and you might end up with all sorts of stuff."
0:24:28 > 0:24:31So...I thought I'd better leave it to the expert.
0:24:35 > 0:24:36A few minutes later...
0:24:36 > 0:24:38Feeling numb yet?
0:24:38 > 0:24:40..Dr Peters is back.
0:24:40 > 0:24:43- Yeah.- I'm going to start moving that.
0:24:43 > 0:24:45- Yeah, that is not quite so bad. - Not as bad as it was?- No.
0:24:45 > 0:24:48- Shall we go ahead and try? - OK, we'll have a go.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50- If it's too bad, I'll stop. - All right.
0:24:52 > 0:24:56Numbed up, Martin can't feel Dr Peters push the hook through,
0:24:56 > 0:24:57revealing the barb.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05Now, I'm going to cut this barb off and sometimes they fly a bit,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08- so just make sure your eyes are closed.- Shut your eyes. OK.
0:25:11 > 0:25:12A bolt cutter does the trick.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18- OK, fine. It was just a single barb, yeah?- Yeah.
0:25:18 > 0:25:20- There we go.- Great.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Simple when you know how.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25I'll just ask one of the nurses to come and put soak on that, OK?
0:25:25 > 0:25:27So, we'll just soak it and then we'll pop a dressing on.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29- All right, fine. - Lovely, thank you.- OK.
0:25:31 > 0:25:33That was good, wasn't it?
0:25:33 > 0:25:34Never felt a thing.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40As long as I can do that with a pint of beer, I'll be all right.
0:25:42 > 0:25:43Yeah, that'll be all right.
0:25:44 > 0:25:46It's what happens when you're an old seaman.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51My plan now is to go back and have a Sunday roast.
0:25:53 > 0:25:55Got to keep that on for a couple of days
0:25:55 > 0:25:58and then, hopefully, it'll be all right.
0:25:58 > 0:26:03No signs of any infection in there and live to fish another day.
0:26:18 > 0:26:20Deep in the fogbound Yorkshire Wolds,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23air ambulance paramedic Lee Davison
0:26:23 > 0:26:26is about to take over the battle to help an injured boy.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28OK. You're all right.
0:26:28 > 0:26:3112-year-old Finn was knocked over by a car
0:26:31 > 0:26:33driving at just 20mph.
0:26:33 > 0:26:36- What about his pelvis? - Not particularly been there yet.- No?
0:26:36 > 0:26:38- Just literally...- OK, all right.
0:26:38 > 0:26:41OK. Have you got a pelvic binder in?
0:26:41 > 0:26:44Because if he's been hit hard, we'll have to put a binder on him.
0:26:46 > 0:26:48His leg is badly broken.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50We're making phone calls from somewhere, aren't we?
0:26:50 > 0:26:52So they told me. Or have you got connections?
0:26:52 > 0:26:54There's a phone here. Yeah. There you go.
0:26:54 > 0:26:55- Cheers.- You can use that.
0:26:55 > 0:26:58So, a 12-year-old, just going to put a pelvic binder on him.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00He's not been knocked out.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03We'll get him sammed up as soon as we can and onto the vehicle and over.
0:27:03 > 0:27:05It'll take us ten minutes to drive to the aircraft.
0:27:07 > 0:27:09Last light is 21.01.
0:27:12 > 0:27:14Finn's mum and dad are in shock.
0:27:14 > 0:27:17They were at home, yards from the accident scene,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20and were by their son's side in seconds.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22- All right, buddy?- Yeah.- OK?
0:27:22 > 0:27:25All right. Is that better?
0:27:25 > 0:27:28He's all right. That's better. He's got some response there.
0:27:28 > 0:27:29OK, Finn.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Dr Nick Morton has been attending.
0:27:33 > 0:27:37Being a bit remote, obviously the helicopter is ideal for this.
0:27:37 > 0:27:39But the weather has been bad
0:27:39 > 0:27:41and this fog just coming in in the last couple of hours.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45Two swellings on Finn's forehead are worrying.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51Only hospital X-rays will determine if he has a serious head injury.
0:27:52 > 0:27:55We've got communication problems here cos of the radios and stuff,
0:27:55 > 0:27:57so Doc's just sorting this little kiddie out,
0:27:57 > 0:27:59then we'll get him onto the vehicle.
0:27:59 > 0:28:00The weather is closing in where we are,
0:28:00 > 0:28:03so we just need to get sorted and get him on his way.
0:28:04 > 0:28:07Before Finn can be transferred to the chopper,
0:28:07 > 0:28:09the team must straighten his broken leg.
0:28:10 > 0:28:14It's vital to ensure none of the nerves or blood vessels are trapped.
0:28:14 > 0:28:15FINN GROANS
0:28:15 > 0:28:17OK, what's he had, this little lad, now?
0:28:17 > 0:28:20WOMAN SPEAKS INAUDIBLY
0:28:20 > 0:28:23Ketamine, OK. All right. OK.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26They've given him pain relief.
0:28:26 > 0:28:27OK, so effectively,
0:28:27 > 0:28:30we're going to go into a straight position this way, yeah?
0:28:30 > 0:28:32Doc, I want you just to support him down that side
0:28:32 > 0:28:34cos as we straighten him, I don't want him to twist too much.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36All right, Finn.
0:28:36 > 0:28:39All right, buddy. You're doing well. On your call at the top.
0:28:41 > 0:28:43- Ready?- Move on three.
0:28:43 > 0:28:44One, two, three.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47- Well done.- That's cracking.
0:28:47 > 0:28:48I'll straighten it, if you want.
0:28:48 > 0:28:50Then you can pop it into place, yeah?
0:28:51 > 0:28:54- OK, buddy? OK? - Well done, sweetie pie.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57It'll feel a bit strange, all right?
0:28:57 > 0:28:58- FINN GROANS - Well done.
0:28:58 > 0:29:02We just need to roll him onto his back. Relax.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04Move this leg, sweetheart. Move that leg for him.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11Right, I want you to hold his pelvis, if you can. Yep.
0:29:11 > 0:29:13Well done.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16A corset-like splint will support Finn's pelvis.
0:29:18 > 0:29:19Velcro it down like that.
0:29:19 > 0:29:21So, now, sweetheart, we're going to go towards you
0:29:21 > 0:29:24and then we can get scooping, can't we? Yeah?
0:29:24 > 0:29:26OK, we're just going to go straight up, yeah?
0:29:26 > 0:29:28Don't twist, just go straight up. On your count.
0:29:29 > 0:29:30On three.
0:29:30 > 0:29:32One, two, three.
0:29:32 > 0:29:34That's better.
0:29:36 > 0:29:37All right, Finn.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41- OK?- Finn? - FINN WHIMPERS
0:29:41 > 0:29:44With his leg straight, he's placed on a supportive spinal board
0:29:44 > 0:29:46to transfer him to the helicopter.
0:29:47 > 0:29:48Is he on?
0:29:51 > 0:29:53- All right. - Have you clipped together?
0:29:54 > 0:29:57Pass us that green blanket, please, if you would. Thank you.
0:29:57 > 0:29:59That's great. Thanks.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01A few straps, if you've got a few. Yes.
0:30:03 > 0:30:06But as the minutes tick by, the fog worsens.
0:30:07 > 0:30:11We're just trying to get sorted here so we can get away with him,
0:30:11 > 0:30:13that's the thing.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15I don't know what it's like on top of the hill.
0:30:15 > 0:30:17If we get to the top of the hill and it's not right,
0:30:17 > 0:30:19then he'll just have to continue by road.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24OK, we're in the ambulance now, mate, OK?
0:30:29 > 0:30:31While the team load Finn into the ambulance,
0:30:31 > 0:30:35the chopper waits seven miles away at the top of the hill.
0:30:35 > 0:30:38Where we're going, we'd be pushing it to get to Hull and...
0:30:38 > 0:30:40MAN SPEAKS INAUDIBLY OVER RADIO
0:30:40 > 0:30:44As well as fog, paramedic Darren knows
0:30:44 > 0:30:46they're rapidly losing daylight.
0:30:46 > 0:30:48I've just been preparing aircraft ready for Lee
0:30:48 > 0:30:51and trying to liaise between hospitals and the desk
0:30:51 > 0:30:53to try and get everybody ready to take us.
0:30:54 > 0:30:5898 to desk. Give James Cook a heads-up, will you, please, mate?
0:30:58 > 0:31:01Because we can't be sort of messing around.
0:31:02 > 0:31:05Lee's en route in the ambulance.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08Yeah, Lee for Daz and Chris. We're just on our way up.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10We'll probably be about three or four minutes.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13Yeah, Roger. Just for your information,
0:31:13 > 0:31:16Hull Royal is not a paediatric trauma centre,
0:31:16 > 0:31:19so John has suggested that we transfer to James Cook,
0:31:19 > 0:31:21and we are time-pushed now.
0:31:22 > 0:31:26The nearest trauma centre for children is 40 miles north
0:31:26 > 0:31:30at the James Cook University Hospital in Middlesbrough.
0:31:30 > 0:31:33With the light failing, every minute counts.
0:31:33 > 0:31:36We're time pressured now, pal, so we've got to boogie along now.
0:31:43 > 0:31:44OK, buddy. All right.
0:31:44 > 0:31:49When we go to the aircraft, OK, we're going to go feet first.
0:31:49 > 0:31:52Everybody all right? On three. One, two, three.
0:31:52 > 0:31:54To me, to me, to me and then forward.
0:31:54 > 0:31:57- That's that. Keep coming. - Just bring him up to your chest.
0:31:57 > 0:31:58Bring him up to your chest, just steady.
0:31:58 > 0:32:01- I'm going to keep hold of that. - You drop out, Doc.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03- Yeah.- Right. Just keep swinging him around.
0:32:06 > 0:32:07There we go.
0:32:08 > 0:32:11All right, buddy. Thanks, guys.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15All right, mate. What do we call you?
0:32:15 > 0:32:16- Finn.- Finley.- Finley.
0:32:16 > 0:32:19We'll go. You just get ready, Chris, and we'll go, mate.
0:32:22 > 0:32:23Just get this door shut.
0:32:29 > 0:32:32The fog is now blanketing much of Yorkshire.
0:32:35 > 0:32:37At 150mph,
0:32:37 > 0:32:40the team need to beat the weather and the setting sun.
0:32:56 > 0:32:57It's a tense journey.
0:33:01 > 0:33:05But 20 minutes later and in the last moments of daylight...
0:33:07 > 0:33:11..the chopper delivers Finn to the waiting trauma team.
0:33:11 > 0:33:13- All right, Finn?- Yeah.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17OK, pal, we're here now at James Cook Hospital, Middlesbrough. OK?
0:33:17 > 0:33:20Finn will now get scans and X-rays
0:33:20 > 0:33:24to help rule out serious head injury and treat his broken leg.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28We're going to lift you off now, all right?
0:33:28 > 0:33:31OK, are you ready? One, two, three, slide.
0:33:31 > 0:33:32OK, everybody happy?
0:33:33 > 0:33:36Make sure you're together. Keep going.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46Finn now has every chance of a full recovery.
0:34:06 > 0:34:08From a road traffic accident in Yorkshire
0:34:08 > 0:34:12to a car collision in County Durham,
0:34:12 > 0:34:16PC Terry is racing to the scene of a multiple car crash.
0:34:16 > 0:34:22We've got...RTC over at Medomsley, three vehicles involved.
0:34:22 > 0:34:26And the only information we have so far
0:34:26 > 0:34:28is that people are trapped in their cars.
0:34:30 > 0:34:33So, we've got units travelling from Consett
0:34:33 > 0:34:37and a couple of traffic cars apparently being dispatched as well.
0:34:40 > 0:34:43From near Stanley, it's eight miles to the accident
0:34:43 > 0:34:44near the village of Medomsley.
0:34:49 > 0:34:51Hello, fella. I'm just on my way to an RTC.
0:34:53 > 0:34:56Terry and his colleagues attend a serious traffic collision
0:34:56 > 0:34:57almost every week.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02When travelling to a serious accident, you're worrying about
0:35:02 > 0:35:05the type of injuries that you're going to come across.
0:35:05 > 0:35:08You're worrying about making sure everybody's OK,
0:35:08 > 0:35:13protecting your colleagues, being able to work with medical services,
0:35:13 > 0:35:15the ambulance service, the fire service.
0:35:15 > 0:35:17All sorts of things for how are you going to deal with that
0:35:17 > 0:35:20and how are you going to help those people come through.
0:35:22 > 0:35:25Soon, he's following paramedics and other emergency services
0:35:25 > 0:35:27also blue lighting to the accident.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31Apparently, there's fire crews on scene.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34There's three people trapped in one vehicle.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38So, we've been asked to go and rendezvous with the air ambulance
0:35:38 > 0:35:42and see if we can speed their transition from wherever they land.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46Cos as you can see, there's no flat ground.
0:35:46 > 0:35:47It's quite wooded as well,
0:35:47 > 0:35:50so they may have had to land some distance away.
0:35:55 > 0:35:57Here it is.
0:35:57 > 0:36:01He spots one of the paramedics from the Great North Air Ambulance.
0:36:01 > 0:36:03- Jump in, mate.- It's just there, isn't it?
0:36:03 > 0:36:05- I don't know. - It's just around the corner.
0:36:05 > 0:36:06- Is it? Righto.- Thanks.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09But the accident is only 100 yards ahead.
0:36:09 > 0:36:11Well, that's a help, if it is.
0:36:11 > 0:36:12Yes, it is. Oh, brilliant.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22Two cars have crashed.
0:36:24 > 0:36:27One of the drivers is in the back of this ambulance here.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29She was in the white car.
0:36:29 > 0:36:33She's suffered minor injuries, from what we can gather so far.
0:36:33 > 0:36:35Her parents are here.
0:36:35 > 0:36:39Her dad, we're told so far, was following up behind her,
0:36:39 > 0:36:41has potentially witnessed what had happened.
0:36:42 > 0:36:45But three friends - Andrew, Dean and Gareth -
0:36:45 > 0:36:47are still trapped inside the black car.
0:36:49 > 0:36:51Gareth is in a serious condition.
0:36:51 > 0:36:53They were on their way to a rugby match.
0:36:57 > 0:36:59Yeah, the fire crew, as you're able to see,
0:36:59 > 0:37:01they're cutting the roof off the vehicle.
0:37:01 > 0:37:03It's gone into the trees.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07The medics that are stood to one side,
0:37:07 > 0:37:09they're preparing to put on neck braces
0:37:09 > 0:37:13and get in and stabilise people as quickly as possible.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16The fire crew will then go through the process of
0:37:16 > 0:37:19starting to extricate them out of the vehicle.
0:37:19 > 0:37:21It looks like organised chaos.
0:37:21 > 0:37:26From being involved with them, you know everything serves a purpose
0:37:26 > 0:37:29and you know what all the different organisations of people are doing.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34Hydraulic metal cutters slice through the roof.
0:37:34 > 0:37:37The crew can now begin to remove the passengers.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42But it's a painstaking process.
0:37:44 > 0:37:47The boys may have spinal injuries,
0:37:47 > 0:37:50so extracting them from the jagged car is difficult.
0:37:52 > 0:37:56The orange blankets, where the roof has been cut off,
0:37:56 > 0:37:59they're there to protect the ambulance crew, fire crew
0:37:59 > 0:38:02and the occupants when they're working around
0:38:02 > 0:38:04to get the occupants out of the vehicle.
0:38:07 > 0:38:11They slot spinal boards under the injured to gently ease them out.
0:38:15 > 0:38:17Fireman Craig Farrage leads the crew.
0:38:19 > 0:38:22We always have a two-pronged approach, we have an A and a B plan.
0:38:22 > 0:38:24B plan is if everything goes pear-shaped
0:38:24 > 0:38:26and we need people out in a hurry, we can get them out.
0:38:26 > 0:38:29As it is, the medics appear to be happy for a full extrication,
0:38:29 > 0:38:32so they've taken the roof off, maximum amount of space creation,
0:38:32 > 0:38:36withdraw them in line through the back on a long board.
0:38:36 > 0:38:37It would appear to be a corner to corner,
0:38:37 > 0:38:40like a front quarter to front quarter, or approach and a head-on.
0:38:42 > 0:38:45Two in the front seem fairly stable, fairly aware.
0:38:45 > 0:38:47Guy in the back is a little bit more of a concern.
0:38:54 > 0:38:58Terry helps transfer Dean and Andrew to waiting ambulances.
0:38:58 > 0:39:00There'll be a few little bumps now.
0:39:03 > 0:39:04They'll be taken by road
0:39:04 > 0:39:08to Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary.
0:39:08 > 0:39:10They'll want the wagon moved in a couple of minutes
0:39:10 > 0:39:11so they can get the ambulance out.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19But 20-year-old Gareth is still trapped.
0:39:19 > 0:39:20He's seriously injured.
0:39:25 > 0:39:29The passenger that the fire crew are trying to take out at the moment,
0:39:29 > 0:39:32I'm told he'll be going in the air ambulance,
0:39:32 > 0:39:36so it will be a case of trying to get him up to the helicopter,
0:39:36 > 0:39:39which is roughly 100 metres up the road and in a field.
0:39:47 > 0:39:49Finally freed from the wreckage,
0:39:49 > 0:39:52Gareth is anaesthetised to stabilise his breathing.
0:39:58 > 0:40:01Then he's carefully carried to the chopper.
0:40:01 > 0:40:04Could anybody else come up just in case anybody tires?
0:40:04 > 0:40:06Guys, just want to drop in the back of there,
0:40:06 > 0:40:09just in case we need a swap-over, please?
0:40:09 > 0:40:11Gareth's injuries are life-threatening,
0:40:11 > 0:40:14but going by helicopter means he'll be into intensive care
0:40:14 > 0:40:18at Newcastle's Royal Victoria Infirmary within 15 minutes.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20Just to make you aware,
0:40:20 > 0:40:23all casualties are now away from the scene of the RTC.
0:40:23 > 0:40:26Final one just about to take off in the air ambulance.
0:40:32 > 0:40:34Terry's shift is nearly over.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41One minute, you're searching for missing people and the next,
0:40:41 > 0:40:43we're dealing with quite a serious RTC.
0:40:45 > 0:40:49You never know what you're going to or what your day's going to bring.
0:40:49 > 0:40:53But I'd like to think that everything that we do deal with...
0:40:55 > 0:40:57..comes out positive.
0:41:05 > 0:41:09Three months after the accident, the lads are all home.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12Even Gareth, who spent ten hours on life support.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15The first thing I remember, really,
0:41:15 > 0:41:17was probably waking up in intensive care.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23Yeah, it would have been about ten hours I was in hospital
0:41:23 > 0:41:25before I woke and started remembering who I was
0:41:25 > 0:41:27and where I was.
0:41:28 > 0:41:32The result of the accident, I had two fractures to the pelvis,
0:41:32 > 0:41:34a collapsed lung, a crack to the vertebrae
0:41:34 > 0:41:36and quite a serious head injury.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41Some of the nurses were saying that I'm quite lucky to be alive.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46Gareth spent 11 days in hospital.
0:41:48 > 0:41:50I can remember, partially, talking to a fireman
0:41:50 > 0:41:52as they were cutting the roof off.
0:41:52 > 0:41:55I remember him standing behind my head and sort of talking to me.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59I think he was trying to reassure that everything would be OK.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01But I really have no recollection of the accident.
0:42:04 > 0:42:07Take every day as it comes. You never know what's around the corner.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10That was just a normal Saturday going to a game.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14You do look at life from a different perspective, you really do.
0:42:18 > 0:42:21You can't thank the emergency services enough.
0:42:21 > 0:42:23Like, you just can't. The things they do.
0:42:28 > 0:42:30If it wasn't for them, I probably wouldn't be here.
0:42:37 > 0:42:40It's been all go for the emergency services across rural Britain.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46Gareth is planning a sponsored three-peak walk next year
0:42:46 > 0:42:47to thank the emergency services.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54Finn's head injury wasn't serious, but he had broken his femur.
0:42:54 > 0:42:56After four months with a pin in his thigh,
0:42:56 > 0:42:58he's now back playing football with his friends.
0:43:00 > 0:43:02And after his Sunday lunch,
0:43:02 > 0:43:05it wasn't long before Martin was out fishing mackerel again.
0:43:09 > 0:43:11And who said it was quiet in the countryside?