0:00:02 > 0:00:06From the Highlands of Scotland to the coast of Cornwall,
0:00:06 > 0:00:09the 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 > 0:00:24This chap is having a heart attack and we need to get him
0:00:24 > 0:00:25in quickly.
0:00:25 > 0:00:28SIREN WAILS
0:00:28 > 0:00:30There's no police courses for this.
0:00:30 > 0:00:33Going hundreds of miles against the clock.
0:00:34 > 0:00:37Battling the elements and braving the weather.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43From fields and forests
0:00:43 > 0:00:45to cliffs and country roads,
0:00:45 > 0:00:48we'll be right at the heart of the action.
0:00:49 > 0:00:51With police fighting crime...
0:00:51 > 0:00:53Could seize the dogs, could seize the van,
0:00:53 > 0:00:55but I'm going to summon the order to court.
0:00:55 > 0:00:57..paramedics saving lives...
0:00:57 > 0:00:59BABY CRIES
0:00:59 > 0:01:02..and wardens safeguarding our lakes.
0:01:02 > 0:01:03Come out of the way!
0:01:04 > 0:01:08We're there as the emergency services pull together
0:01:08 > 0:01:12to pick up, patch up and protect the public.
0:01:13 > 0:01:15This is Countryside 999.
0:01:33 > 0:01:35Coming up,
0:01:35 > 0:01:38a call to a casualty with a time-critical condition turns
0:01:38 > 0:01:42into a search and rescue mission for the Cornwall Air Ambulance.
0:01:46 > 0:01:48In Shropshire, the rugged terrain
0:01:48 > 0:01:52at a motocross race challenges the riders and paramedics.
0:01:57 > 0:02:00And when a traveller horse fair springs up,
0:02:00 > 0:02:03it means emergency measures for the County Durham cops.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06The watchword here really is about engagement.
0:02:06 > 0:02:08There has been some community fear on the lead-up to this.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21Cornwall, famous for its sun, sea, surf
0:02:21 > 0:02:24and miles upon miles of stunning coastline.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31Inland from the beaches lie 1,300 square miles of wild
0:02:31 > 0:02:34moorland and remote rural farms.
0:02:38 > 0:02:41Crisscrossing this rolling countryside
0:02:41 > 0:02:44is a network of single-track roads that make life challenging
0:02:44 > 0:02:46for the emergency services.
0:02:52 > 0:02:54Right, sir, we need to get you onto the helicopter.
0:02:54 > 0:02:58For paramedics in Cornwall, the air ambulance is a vital
0:02:58 > 0:03:01way of transporting the injured and sick to hospital.
0:03:01 > 0:03:05How bad is the pain? Give it a number out of ten.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08- It's about four at the moment. - About four, OK.
0:03:08 > 0:03:10Air paramedic Stu Croft
0:03:10 > 0:03:14has spent half his working life on the ground with the land crews.
0:03:14 > 0:03:17He sees first-hand the difference a helicopter makes.
0:03:18 > 0:03:22Working in this area as an ambulance clinician is very rewarding.
0:03:22 > 0:03:25And being on a helicopter is just, you know, to me,
0:03:25 > 0:03:26the best job in the world.
0:03:26 > 0:03:28It's being able to help people, to be able to get them
0:03:28 > 0:03:31to hospital quickly in areas that can be very frustrating.
0:03:35 > 0:03:38Actually, the helicopter can come and move your patient quickly.
0:03:38 > 0:03:40It can make all the difference.
0:03:43 > 0:03:45At their base in Newquay...
0:03:45 > 0:03:47That's fine. How old is this patient, sorry?
0:03:47 > 0:03:49..Stu's taking an emergency call.
0:03:49 > 0:03:52Yeah, that's brill, thank you. Cheers. Bye-bye.
0:03:53 > 0:03:56Somebody's collapsed in the woods unconscious
0:03:56 > 0:03:58and she's got a history of having strokes in the past,
0:03:58 > 0:04:00so we've got no more details on that.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04In just five minutes, they're airborne.
0:04:04 > 0:04:06OK, let's go between the bowser and the mast.
0:04:07 > 0:04:10In the chopper, Stu and his colleagues aren't just medics,
0:04:10 > 0:04:13they're a vital part of the flight crew.
0:04:13 > 0:04:15Up front, Stu's navigating.
0:04:16 > 0:04:18Eyes in the back - paramedic Mark Fuszard.
0:04:19 > 0:04:22This time we've been tasked to an incident in Lostwithiel.
0:04:22 > 0:04:26We've got reports of a 59 year old with a history of strokes
0:04:26 > 0:04:28has collapsed in a wooded area,
0:04:28 > 0:04:30and that's pretty much all we know at the minute.
0:04:33 > 0:04:36Lostwithiel is 20 miles away from their base.
0:04:36 > 0:04:40A rapid response vehicle has also been dispatched from Liskeard.
0:04:40 > 0:04:43The air crew will take just eight minutes to get there.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48But they then have to find the patient in over 30 acres
0:04:48 > 0:04:50of woodland.
0:04:56 > 0:04:58Pretty much we make it up as we go along with
0:04:58 > 0:05:01this sort of incident because... A, we don't know exactly what we're
0:05:01 > 0:05:05going to, and we don't know exactly where we're going to,
0:05:05 > 0:05:08so we're kind of having to second-guess, look at maps,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11look at wooded areas around the rough grid reference
0:05:11 > 0:05:14that we've been given, and look at access and egress at 8:30.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17And we may or may not be able to land anywhere near the patient.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18We won't know until we get there.
0:05:31 > 0:05:35Locating the collapsed patient could lose valuable minutes.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38Minutes that a patient with a suspected stroke can't spare.
0:05:39 > 0:05:43Comparing it to a heart attack, where there's a part of the heart
0:05:43 > 0:05:46starved of oxygen, then you could call this a bit of a brain attack,
0:05:46 > 0:05:49where a little bit of brain tissue is starved of oxygen.
0:05:49 > 0:05:51We've got five miles to run.
0:05:51 > 0:05:55Every minute that that tissue in the brain is starved without oxygen,
0:05:55 > 0:06:00then that's more tissue lost that's never going to be fully recovered.
0:06:00 > 0:06:03So, you could say, time is tissue.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Pilot Sam Tompkins alerts the crew they're close.
0:06:20 > 0:06:21Yeah, all right. OK.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25The clock's ticking on this job. Everyone's eyes are vital.
0:06:26 > 0:06:29We don't have any thermal imaging or magnifying cameras,
0:06:29 > 0:06:31or anything like that at all, it's really just locating the patient
0:06:31 > 0:06:32as best as you can.
0:06:41 > 0:06:43We were looking on the ground, just trying to get glimpses
0:06:43 > 0:06:45of anybody trying to attract our attention
0:06:45 > 0:06:47or anything that looks like it could be a patient.
0:06:48 > 0:06:51To make matters worse, the weather's closing in.
0:06:58 > 0:07:01They spot the rapid response vehicle on the ground,
0:07:01 > 0:07:02struggling to get near.
0:07:07 > 0:07:10But there's still no sign of the casualty.
0:07:22 > 0:07:25With the clock ticking, there's relief all round
0:07:25 > 0:07:27when Stu spots something.
0:07:35 > 0:07:37It's not a good landing site.
0:07:42 > 0:07:45But, with no vehicle access for the response car,
0:07:45 > 0:07:47the helicopter has little choice.
0:07:58 > 0:08:00They head for the top of the hill.
0:08:02 > 0:08:04- I'll make an approach to the big field.- Yeah.
0:08:04 > 0:08:05Then we'll see what they can do.
0:08:05 > 0:08:09I'll pop across and just have a gander, if you like.
0:08:09 > 0:08:11- Yeah, that sounds like a plan.- OK.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13- BEEPING - '100 feet.'
0:08:13 > 0:08:15The tail is now clear of the trees that were behind us.
0:08:15 > 0:08:17OK, brilliant, ta.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21It's only on landing that they actually spot the casualty,
0:08:21 > 0:08:22luckily, right beside them.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38- Is that good, Sam?- OK, gents, yeah, clear out.- Fantastic.
0:08:39 > 0:08:41Despite the extensive search,
0:08:41 > 0:08:44they've landed just 17 minutes after being scrambled.
0:08:48 > 0:08:50Hello there. You all right? You OK?
0:08:50 > 0:08:54Stu races over and discovers the casualty's an older woman
0:08:54 > 0:08:55called Lynne.
0:08:55 > 0:08:58- Were you with the lady?- Well, I was.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01I was in the other field and I found her like this.
0:09:01 > 0:09:05So, we don't actually know how long she's been here.
0:09:05 > 0:09:08It must be about 30 minutes since I found her.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10I was only in the next field there.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14Her dog came over. I said, "Come on, we'll go and find Mum."
0:09:14 > 0:09:15She could have been on the floor
0:09:15 > 0:09:17- five, ten minutes before I got here. - OK.
0:09:20 > 0:09:23Lynne's already been lying here for over half an hour
0:09:23 > 0:09:26and she's barely responding to Stu.
0:09:26 > 0:09:27He must work fast.
0:09:42 > 0:09:44Tranquil meadows
0:09:44 > 0:09:47and gentle, rolling hills -
0:09:47 > 0:09:50the quiet, rural idle of Shropshire.
0:09:52 > 0:09:54A peaceful paradise, you might think.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58Well, think again.
0:10:01 > 0:10:04Just kicked off - one of the UK's most dangerous
0:10:04 > 0:10:06and physically demanding motor sports,
0:10:06 > 0:10:08revving up for a weekend
0:10:08 > 0:10:10of action-packed, adrenaline-fuelled racing.
0:10:12 > 0:10:14The location?
0:10:14 > 0:10:16Hazeley Grange, near Kidderminster.
0:10:20 > 0:10:21Motocross.
0:10:21 > 0:10:25160 riders ripping up a mile-long track of sharp bends
0:10:25 > 0:10:27and thrill-seeking jumps.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35The more mud and ruts, the better.
0:10:39 > 0:10:42With these speeds and conditions, injuries are inevitable.
0:10:44 > 0:10:48Drafting in a team of highly trained medical professionals is essential.
0:10:51 > 0:10:54In his fifth year of attending these competitions,
0:10:54 > 0:10:56paramedic Terry Purslow is an old hand.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00Motocross events such as today,
0:11:00 > 0:11:04we'll be expecting possibly fractures, long bone fractures,
0:11:04 > 0:11:08fractured wrists, legs, dislocated shoulders, head injuries,
0:11:08 > 0:11:09spinal injuries.
0:11:09 > 0:11:12Hopefully, we'll get none of it, but some days we get it all.
0:11:15 > 0:11:19Coming off your bike isn't in itself too dangerous.
0:11:19 > 0:11:22Obviously the heavier you fall, the more chance of an injury.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26But today, it's a very, very soft track, lots of mud.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29The biggest danger today will be from other bikes -
0:11:29 > 0:11:33if a rider falls, the bikes following, hopefully,
0:11:33 > 0:11:36won't collide with the fallen rider, but it does happen.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41Today, Terry's joined on site by two other technicians
0:11:41 > 0:11:44and newly qualified paramedic Emily Harris.
0:11:44 > 0:11:49We are going to a spot that we can see because the track is so big,
0:11:49 > 0:11:53we can't... If we stay up there, we can't see this part.
0:11:54 > 0:11:5713 miles from the nearest hospital,
0:11:57 > 0:11:59an ambulance is permanently on scene.
0:11:59 > 0:12:03But moving casualties around the hilly site on rough ground
0:12:03 > 0:12:06means a four-wheel drive response car's essential.
0:12:07 > 0:12:09The nastiest bend here is there.
0:12:09 > 0:12:14So, it's where they'll all sort of come off, and the one at the top.
0:12:19 > 0:12:22But one of the biggest problems can be getting the injured
0:12:22 > 0:12:25to stop racing long enough for treatment.
0:12:25 > 0:12:28The thing is with motocrossers, they are so used to this.
0:12:28 > 0:12:29They're on the floor and they're up.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32They just want to get back on the bike, they want to finish the race.
0:12:32 > 0:12:34They're not really bothered.
0:12:34 > 0:12:37The amount of times we have people come up to the ambulance after
0:12:37 > 0:12:39and say, "I think I've done something to my leg."
0:12:44 > 0:12:46But there're quite brave, really.
0:12:47 > 0:12:48I wouldn't do it.
0:12:50 > 0:12:53We're looking out for yellow flags.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56Yellow flag is an indication there's an obstruction on the track,
0:12:56 > 0:12:59which can be a broken motorcycle, it could be a faller.
0:13:00 > 0:13:03We watch that yellow flag intently.
0:13:03 > 0:13:07If it changes to a red or a white flag,
0:13:07 > 0:13:08that means they require first aid.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12We don't move anywhere until we've seen the first aid flag.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20And with the racing going surprisingly smoothly...
0:13:22 > 0:13:26..the morning turns into a waiting game.
0:13:26 > 0:13:28HE YAWNS Don't catch me yawning.
0:13:30 > 0:13:33For Emily, it's useful studying time.
0:13:33 > 0:13:35I've just qualified as a paramedic,
0:13:35 > 0:13:41so now I've got to do my LGV theory to drive an ambulance.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44Cos it's a bigger vehicle than my car,
0:13:44 > 0:13:47so I've got to do my theory test and then go and do my C1 exam.
0:13:47 > 0:13:51So I'm just revising for that really so that I can get on the road.
0:13:56 > 0:13:59But before they get too comfortable...
0:14:01 > 0:14:03..a call comes in.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05CRACKLED SPEECH ON RADIO
0:14:05 > 0:14:07To what?
0:14:13 > 0:14:14Roger that.
0:14:19 > 0:14:21Somebody is down around the other side
0:14:21 > 0:14:23and the first aid flag has gone up.
0:14:26 > 0:14:28Emily has reached the fallen rider first.
0:15:33 > 0:15:37Bruised biker Dan will no doubt be back for the next race.
0:15:38 > 0:15:41But the difficult terrain is taking its toll.
0:16:14 > 0:16:16With their only means of transporting casualties
0:16:16 > 0:16:18seriously hampered...
0:16:19 > 0:16:22..and with five hours of racing to go...
0:16:22 > 0:16:23Ooh! BLEEP.
0:16:23 > 0:16:27..the day is about to get a lot more challenging...
0:16:27 > 0:16:29Got a patient with an injury, mate.
0:16:29 > 0:16:31..for everyone.
0:16:31 > 0:16:33- HE GROANS - Don't. Please, don't.- OK.
0:16:40 > 0:16:42In Cornwall, after an intensive search,
0:16:42 > 0:16:45the helicopter has just landed by a casualty,
0:16:45 > 0:16:49collapsed at the edge of a remote wood near Lostwithiel.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52Hello there. You all right? OK?
0:16:52 > 0:16:54The paramedics have limited information,
0:16:54 > 0:16:58but they do know the patient, Lynne, may have suffered a stroke.
0:16:58 > 0:17:01You're fine, it's absolutely fine. What's your name?
0:17:01 > 0:17:03- It's Lynne.- OK, Lynne, I'm Stuart.
0:17:04 > 0:17:07I'm a paramedic from the helicopter, OK?
0:17:07 > 0:17:10I'm going to pop you down to the hospital to get you checked over.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13Stu swiftly follows the check list for a stroke.
0:17:14 > 0:17:17Can you squeeze my hands?
0:17:17 > 0:17:20Squeeze my hands for me. Both of them.
0:17:20 > 0:17:21Both of them.
0:17:22 > 0:17:25We talk about a patient being FAST positive.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28F is for face - if anybody has got a sudden facial droop.
0:17:28 > 0:17:29Can you speak to me?
0:17:31 > 0:17:34Arms - the inability to raise arms.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37Can you squeeze my fingers with your left hand?
0:17:39 > 0:17:42Speech - any sort of slurring of words or difficulty speaking.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45How about the right hand? Can you move your right hand?
0:17:47 > 0:17:49SHE WHIMPERS It's OK.
0:17:49 > 0:17:52The T then is for time. It's time to act.
0:17:52 > 0:17:55We don't actually know how long she's been here.
0:17:55 > 0:17:5759-year-old Lynne had been out in the woods
0:17:57 > 0:17:59with her friend Kath.
0:17:59 > 0:18:02It must be about 30 minutes since I found her.
0:18:02 > 0:18:04I was only in the next field there.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07- Yes.- Cos we were blackberry picking and we were wandering around.
0:18:07 > 0:18:08She could have been on the floor
0:18:08 > 0:18:10- five, ten minutes before I got here. - OK.
0:18:11 > 0:18:14Come on, open your mouth. Open your mouth.
0:18:14 > 0:18:15Open your mouth for me. Come on.
0:18:17 > 0:18:21It was quite... Obviously, she was having difficulty speaking.
0:18:21 > 0:18:24Deep breaths. Well done, well done.
0:18:24 > 0:18:29Her arms are very weak and these are signs of a possible stroke.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33So we just got her as quick as we could off the wet floor.
0:18:33 > 0:18:36OK, I'm just going to lift you onto our stretcher onto the dry...
0:18:36 > 0:18:38There we go. We're on the driest ground now.
0:18:40 > 0:18:42And into the helicopter just to make sure
0:18:42 > 0:18:45we could do a good assessment in the warmth and get some more observations
0:18:45 > 0:18:48and a better picture, a better history of what was going on.
0:18:48 > 0:18:50Searching for better blackberries,
0:18:50 > 0:18:52Lynne had wandered out of sight of Kath.
0:18:54 > 0:18:57We were up here blackberry picking and walking the dogs.
0:18:57 > 0:19:00And then the next minute, her dog came over to me
0:19:00 > 0:19:02and I thought, "Oh, that's not like him."
0:19:02 > 0:19:06So I followed the dogs back and I found her on the floor.
0:19:06 > 0:19:11And I thought, well, I can't leave her, but I've got to get help.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14In we go.
0:19:14 > 0:19:15All right?
0:19:17 > 0:19:18She came to a little bit.
0:19:18 > 0:19:21I told her dog to stay with her.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25I covered her in my coat and I ran to the nearest house.
0:19:25 > 0:19:27Lynne, can you open your eyes for me, Lynne?
0:19:27 > 0:19:29Lynne, can you open your eyes?
0:19:31 > 0:19:34It's looking like this lady's had some sort of neurological event,
0:19:34 > 0:19:35possibly another stroke.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38We need to warm her up, observe her on the way down,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41take her temperature and just get her to hospital really quickly.
0:19:41 > 0:19:42We're going to take this lady to Treliske.
0:19:42 > 0:19:44They can deal with strokes very well,
0:19:44 > 0:19:47and we're a lot closer to Treliske than we are to Derriford.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50Stu gets as much information as he can from Kath
0:19:50 > 0:19:52about Lynne's medical history.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56Do you know when she had her last stroke?
0:19:56 > 0:20:01It must be two...maybe three years ago now.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03- OK. And...- She had a full stroke.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07She didn't have the use of her right arm, I think it was.
0:20:07 > 0:20:10She's got that back and she's had several TIAs
0:20:10 > 0:20:13since then, which she gets on quite a regular occurrence,
0:20:13 > 0:20:16- but she deals with those.- Yeah.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20TIAs are like mini-strokes,
0:20:20 > 0:20:24but Stu has no way of knowing the severity of Lynne's symptoms.
0:20:24 > 0:20:28It's impossible to say at that stage what it is.
0:20:28 > 0:20:31She's got a history of stroke, she's got signs and symptoms of a stroke,
0:20:31 > 0:20:33she'll get treated as a stroke and, for her,
0:20:33 > 0:20:37that treatment is waiting in the hospital 30 miles away,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39and she needs to be in there as fast as she can
0:20:39 > 0:20:43for a scan just to ascertain what they're going to do.
0:20:44 > 0:20:46Message to PD.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48All right, Claire? It's Stuart from helicopter.
0:20:48 > 0:20:52She's collapsed in the woods in the last half-hour,
0:20:52 > 0:20:58she's FAST positive on difficulty speaking, facial droop.
0:20:58 > 0:21:01OK. So we're just about to lift from the field.
0:21:02 > 0:21:05We're only going to be ten minutes.
0:21:06 > 0:21:09Lynne will soon be on her way to hospital,
0:21:09 > 0:21:12while her anxious dog, Giz, stays with Kath.
0:21:13 > 0:21:14He's as good as gold, he is.
0:21:14 > 0:21:16He won't leave her if something's wrong.
0:21:18 > 0:21:21She'll be fine, sweetheart. She'll be fine. You'll be down my house.
0:21:22 > 0:21:24Beautiful. Lovely stuff. Rock and roll.
0:21:26 > 0:21:30Lynne's symptoms could deteriorate rapidly.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34The nearest hospital in Truro is ten minutes away by helicopter.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Job's like that, it's certainly... In these remote locations,
0:21:38 > 0:21:42it's absolutely essential if you're talking for a couple of hours,
0:21:42 > 0:21:44if everything had to be done by road.
0:21:45 > 0:21:49But with the weather closing in, time is of the essence.
0:22:02 > 0:22:06Northern England boasts some of the most dramatic countryside in the UK.
0:22:07 > 0:22:11Far from major cities, this wild landscape
0:22:11 > 0:22:14can have as few as a 160 people per square mile.
0:22:16 > 0:22:19But tucked away communities and remote villages
0:22:19 > 0:22:21don't always think they're safer out in the country.
0:22:24 > 0:22:28It's an issue Police Inspector Kevin Tuck, based at Barnard Castle,
0:22:28 > 0:22:29deals with on his patch.
0:22:31 > 0:22:35Yeah, well, I've got 500 square miles of rural County Durham.
0:22:36 > 0:22:39There's less crime per thousand population in a rural area,
0:22:39 > 0:22:42but sometimes that doesn't equate to the way people feel,
0:22:42 > 0:22:45and sometimes you can have more fear in a rural area even though
0:22:45 > 0:22:46the occurrence of crime is lower.
0:22:50 > 0:22:52As neighbourhood inspector,
0:22:52 > 0:22:56part of Kevin's job is to reassure local residents, particularly
0:22:56 > 0:23:00during the summer months when the region gets flooded with visitors.
0:23:02 > 0:23:05Today, Kevin's on his way to the village of Sedgefield
0:23:05 > 0:23:09where around 100 travellers have turned up to hold the horse fair.
0:23:10 > 0:23:14The fair had taken place over ten or 12 years in the east of the county,
0:23:14 > 0:23:16and there'd been pressure for it not to happen there.
0:23:16 > 0:23:18I think the local authority had done their best to try
0:23:18 > 0:23:21and find some land where the thing could take place
0:23:21 > 0:23:22with some legitimacy.
0:23:22 > 0:23:24That couldn't be organised in time
0:23:24 > 0:23:26and, at short notice, it appeared in the Sedgefield area.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31These horse fairs are nothing new.
0:23:31 > 0:23:34Dating back to the 17th century,
0:23:34 > 0:23:36they're a chance for travellers to trade horses
0:23:36 > 0:23:39and for this scattered community to get together.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43Organised fairs like Appleby in Cumbria
0:23:43 > 0:23:46and Stow Fair in the Cotswolds are regulars in the calendar.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53But smaller, unofficial gatherings, such as Sedgefield's,
0:23:53 > 0:23:57can pop up at a moment's notice, leaving locals nervous.
0:23:58 > 0:24:00When there's an unauthorised encounter,
0:24:00 > 0:24:03I think people's concerns can grow quite quickly.
0:24:03 > 0:24:05There can be a concern about trespassing,
0:24:05 > 0:24:11there can be a concern about mess being left behind, crime, disorder.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14We've got to try and get some balance.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16We've got to be there to police everybody
0:24:16 > 0:24:19and be there for everybody's support.
0:24:19 > 0:24:22When you get a bit of speed like this, then come talk to us.
0:24:24 > 0:24:27Travellers like Thomas believe nearby communities
0:24:27 > 0:24:29get all worked up about nothing.
0:24:31 > 0:24:33We're not troublemakers, we're not a gang of people
0:24:33 > 0:24:37that's going to go around and cause damage.
0:24:37 > 0:24:40We're just friendly people who will... We'll talk to anybody.
0:24:40 > 0:24:41Anybody that wants to come and have a crack,
0:24:41 > 0:24:43we'll have a crack with them.
0:24:44 > 0:24:47We're not cheeky, we don't abuse the place.
0:24:47 > 0:24:48We look after the village,
0:24:48 > 0:24:51plus we bring a lot of money into the village
0:24:51 > 0:24:53cos we've obviously got to buy food and drink.
0:24:55 > 0:24:58Today, 28 caravans and numerous horses
0:24:58 > 0:25:01have set up on the derelict site of an old hospital.
0:25:02 > 0:25:05It's not just the police who've responded quickly.
0:25:05 > 0:25:08We look at these things... And these things are not just for the police.
0:25:08 > 0:25:11The local authority have got a big part today.
0:25:11 > 0:25:14They've looked at things like toilet provision on the unauthorised site
0:25:14 > 0:25:17to reduce environmental matters.
0:25:17 > 0:25:20And the RSPCA have come along to make sure that there's no
0:25:20 > 0:25:22horse...animal welfare issues.
0:25:22 > 0:25:25And they're very experienced at this sort of thing.
0:25:25 > 0:25:27And we link in with them for other horse fairs
0:25:27 > 0:25:28across the north of England.
0:25:30 > 0:25:35RSPCA Inspector Ian Smith is a regular at horse fairs.
0:25:36 > 0:25:40The sort of things we're looking out for are injuries,
0:25:40 > 0:25:44sores to the sides and the legs from the traps,
0:25:44 > 0:25:48and anything that causes a problem to the animal's welfare.
0:25:49 > 0:25:53He's also there to keep an eye on the traditional six-mile trot
0:25:53 > 0:25:54that will take place at noon.
0:25:56 > 0:25:59There's a circuit. From here, they'll go left out the gate
0:25:59 > 0:26:02up to Fishburn and on a circuit.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06It's a chance for the travellers to show off their horses
0:26:06 > 0:26:09before some buying and selling in the afternoon.
0:26:09 > 0:26:14It's meant to be a leisurely affair, but it can turn into a race.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18The worry is that the roads are open - they're still public roads -
0:26:18 > 0:26:22and there is the potential for an accident.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26The trot is also a concern for the police.
0:26:26 > 0:26:28Some in the community think that there has to be
0:26:28 > 0:26:29some sort of special order.
0:26:29 > 0:26:31And whilst it might present some dangers
0:26:31 > 0:26:33because you have a long procession of horse and carts,
0:26:33 > 0:26:36there's an ancient right of passage on horseback,
0:26:36 > 0:26:37so nobody is committing any offences
0:26:37 > 0:26:39by being out on a horse and cart today.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41And what we want to do is make sure that it
0:26:41 > 0:26:44goes round the six- to seven-mile route, that there's no
0:26:44 > 0:26:48major congestion, that there's no necessary accidents but,
0:26:48 > 0:26:50if there is any pinch points or flare-ups,
0:26:50 > 0:26:53we're there or thereabouts to defuse things and keep everybody happy.
0:26:56 > 0:26:58Two hours before the trot takes place,
0:26:58 > 0:27:00the police meet at their base for a briefing.
0:27:02 > 0:27:03All right. Good morning, everybody.
0:27:03 > 0:27:08We're here today to police Operation Sola, which is our response to
0:27:08 > 0:27:11the traveller horse fair which has sprung up here in Sedgefield
0:27:11 > 0:27:13over the last few days.
0:27:13 > 0:27:18The idea today basically is to have a hassle-free, trouble-free trot.
0:27:18 > 0:27:22The main thing for me is that they know that there's no road closure,
0:27:22 > 0:27:25and they have to give way, and they have to follow the rules
0:27:25 > 0:27:27as if they were out normally on the highway.
0:27:27 > 0:27:29The watchword here really is about engagement
0:27:29 > 0:27:32and it's about how we talk to people.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35There has been some community fear on the lead up to this.
0:27:35 > 0:27:40And we did some updates on Facebook on Saturday morning because
0:27:40 > 0:27:43there was comments about robberies and about crime.
0:27:43 > 0:27:44The word was rocketing.
0:27:44 > 0:27:46Well, I can tell you, there have been no robberies,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49crime has not rocketed and it's actually one of the quietest
0:27:49 > 0:27:51weekends in Sedgefield and Fishburn for recorded crime,
0:27:51 > 0:27:53I would suggest, for some time.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59At midday, the horses and traps start their procession.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05Ian is already in position.
0:28:06 > 0:28:09This is them. They are just coming round that top corner now.
0:28:09 > 0:28:14And they actually are overtaking on the carriageway
0:28:14 > 0:28:17down this street, so they should behave in a normal manner
0:28:17 > 0:28:19like any piece of road traffic.
0:28:19 > 0:28:21They're still governed to the same rules.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25And we're just really quite concerned
0:28:25 > 0:28:26that there might be an accident.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31All 44 riders pass along the most dangerous
0:28:31 > 0:28:33section of the trot safely.
0:28:34 > 0:28:37One or two have sort of overtaken down the road,
0:28:37 > 0:28:38but the road was quiet.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45Yeah, it went all right, really, yeah. No concerns, really.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48One or two of them sweating up, a few fat horses,
0:28:48 > 0:28:49but, yeah, it went fine.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55Happy the horses are safe, if a little chubby, Ian's job is done.
0:28:56 > 0:29:00But for the travellers, next stop - the village green...
0:29:00 > 0:29:02HORSE NEIGHS
0:29:02 > 0:29:05..where, despite misgivings, everyone's getting on fine.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10We're a very welcoming village.
0:29:10 > 0:29:12HE LAUGHS
0:29:12 > 0:29:14I was a bit apprehensive about it at first,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17but I feel it's gone quite well and I think a lot of the people
0:29:17 > 0:29:21in the village have taken to them and there hasn't been any damage.
0:29:22 > 0:29:26Well, we only knew it by local hearsay, if you like,
0:29:26 > 0:29:31and when we spotted the camping out down at Fishburn,
0:29:31 > 0:29:33we were just wondering what it was all about.
0:29:33 > 0:29:36It just seems to be a kind of surprise to everybody, you know.
0:29:36 > 0:29:38That's the whole thing.
0:29:38 > 0:29:41And, to be fair, from what people have told me,
0:29:41 > 0:29:43the people can see they're all very good.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46There's been no trouble with them reported ever, you know.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50As I say, quite often, their reputation seems to precede them.
0:29:50 > 0:29:53Even though the event was unexpected,
0:29:53 > 0:29:55locals have taken it in their stride.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58- I think it's good for Sedgefield. - Something different.
0:29:58 > 0:30:01Yeah, it's good for Sedgefield, isn't it? It's a good village.
0:30:01 > 0:30:02Look at it here,
0:30:02 > 0:30:04that's all of your damage you could manage to the green.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07But you get the medieval fair, you get the Ball Game,
0:30:07 > 0:30:09you get Sedgefield Show, so what's...
0:30:09 > 0:30:12- There's other events can put a couple of ruts on the green.- Of course.
0:30:14 > 0:30:18With his first job complete, Kevin's now onto number two.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23You know, we've had one or two people complain about horse mess
0:30:23 > 0:30:24on the road.
0:30:24 > 0:30:26And it's just one of those things, I'm afraid.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28And I would say to the people of Sedgefield,
0:30:28 > 0:30:30"If you grow roses, why not get out with a bucket and spade?
0:30:30 > 0:30:33"You might be able to enhance the situation." Thank you.
0:30:44 > 0:30:48200 miles away in Shropshire, as the afternoon races kick off
0:30:48 > 0:30:52at the motocross track, Terry's been joined by fellow paramedic
0:30:52 > 0:30:53Mark Renton.
0:30:54 > 0:30:57They're on guard for injuries and fallen riders,
0:30:57 > 0:31:00but with a flat tyre, the 4x4 response car
0:31:00 > 0:31:02is struggling on the rough ground.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08Reaching and transporting casualties will have to be done
0:31:08 > 0:31:11with the damaged wheel until a spare arrives.
0:31:13 > 0:31:14But then...
0:31:15 > 0:31:17..a call comes in.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20Got a patient with an injury, mate.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23- Sorry?- Got a patient with an injury over by the race control.
0:31:23 > 0:31:24All right.
0:32:00 > 0:32:04They spot the casualty, Tobias, in a blue T-shirt.
0:32:04 > 0:32:07After a nasty fall, he's seriously damaged his leg.
0:32:09 > 0:32:11But, in true motocross spirit,
0:32:11 > 0:32:12he refuses a stretcher.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36There we go.
0:32:36 > 0:32:40Brave Tobias also turns down pain medication
0:32:40 > 0:32:43but getting into the car is torture.
0:32:44 > 0:32:45Yeah.
0:32:51 > 0:32:53No, no, don't touch it!
0:33:00 > 0:33:01With this terrain...
0:33:05 > 0:33:08..and knowing his casualty's in agony,
0:33:08 > 0:33:10Terry tries to take the hill gently.
0:33:13 > 0:33:14Oh, down!
0:33:16 > 0:33:18But it's not easy with a flat tyre.
0:33:30 > 0:33:32With the track cleared...
0:33:36 > 0:33:38..the next race starts.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47An ambulance positioned on site acts as a first aid centre.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49- Which one is it, mate? That one?- Left, yeah.
0:33:49 > 0:33:52Tobias can get properly assessed here...
0:33:54 > 0:33:56..if he can get out of the car.
0:33:56 > 0:33:57Gently slide your bum off.
0:34:07 > 0:34:09With his pain now really kicking in...
0:34:11 > 0:34:15..gas and air - a mix of nitrous oxide and oxygen -
0:34:15 > 0:34:16brings some relief.
0:34:17 > 0:34:21Despite his knee injury, he insisted on standing and walking.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29And I think, more than anything, it was adrenaline
0:34:29 > 0:34:32and a bit of bravado that made him think that he could walk.
0:34:32 > 0:34:35He was offered a stretcher, but he declined that.
0:34:35 > 0:34:38Again, the old machismo - "I can walk."
0:34:38 > 0:34:40Managed to get him into the ambulance,
0:34:40 > 0:34:42where he was promptly treated.
0:34:48 > 0:34:51Do you want some Entonox now? Because...
0:34:51 > 0:34:54That's it. Lie back. Nice deep breaths.
0:35:00 > 0:35:04It was the rutted track that caused Tobias to come of his bike.
0:35:29 > 0:35:31After a shot of morphine....
0:35:35 > 0:35:37..Mark checks for broken bones.
0:36:07 > 0:36:09You keep sucking that stuff, son, you're all right.
0:36:28 > 0:36:32This ambulance has to stay on site. Another one's been called.
0:36:34 > 0:36:39Tobias waits in agony while Dad, Paul, tries to help.
0:36:39 > 0:36:40Just say when.
0:36:41 > 0:36:42Righto.
0:36:44 > 0:36:45Dad, don't take them away.
0:36:47 > 0:36:48Is that any better?
0:36:48 > 0:36:51- You need to put them underneath... - Yes, I know, son.
0:36:51 > 0:36:52..to stop it. No, no, Dad.
0:36:52 > 0:36:54Dad, the way you're doing it... Put it down.
0:36:54 > 0:36:57Do you want it moving at all?
0:37:00 > 0:37:01Excuse me, mate.
0:37:01 > 0:37:04Oh, you look to be in more trouble now.
0:37:04 > 0:37:07I don't know, but can you put all of it under my ankle?
0:37:07 > 0:37:08Under your ankle?
0:37:09 > 0:37:11He'll be all right, he's a survivor.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Tobias is carefully transferred into the ambulance
0:37:19 > 0:37:21when it arrives 20 minutes later.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26- Argh! Please, don't.- OK, OK.
0:37:28 > 0:37:30No, no, no, no.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32No, no, no. You can't.
0:37:39 > 0:37:41Safely on his way to Worcestershire Royal A&E,
0:37:41 > 0:37:44Tobias won't be racing again for a while.
0:37:51 > 0:37:53And, for the paramedic team,
0:37:53 > 0:37:56there's still one casualty left to attend to.
0:37:56 > 0:37:58- What use is that? - It was already off.
0:37:58 > 0:38:01- Yeah, look what he's doing. - Let me have a look.
0:38:02 > 0:38:03It's heavy.
0:38:03 > 0:38:05The spare has finally arrived.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08It does look a bit bigger than the other one, you know.
0:38:11 > 0:38:12I'm sure there's a joke here
0:38:12 > 0:38:15about how many ambulance men does it take to change a wheel.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35225 five miles south in Cornwall, bad weather is closing in.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41After collapsing in the woods from a suspected stroke,
0:38:41 > 0:38:43the team know they need to get 59-year-old Lynne
0:38:43 > 0:38:46to hospital as fast as possible.
0:38:46 > 0:38:49A stroke is a time-critical illness.
0:38:49 > 0:38:51As time goes on, the patient will get worse,
0:38:51 > 0:38:54so they need treatment really quickly.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00Paramedics Stu and Mark observe her all the way,
0:39:00 > 0:39:02thankfully keeping ahead of the bad weather.
0:39:03 > 0:39:06They reach the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro within
0:39:06 > 0:39:10ten minutes, where they hand Lynne over to the medical team.
0:39:10 > 0:39:14We managed to get mobile, take the call, fly, find the scene,
0:39:14 > 0:39:18find the patient, land, assess them, package them,
0:39:18 > 0:39:21take them off to hospital and get them into the scanner
0:39:21 > 0:39:25within 48 minutes, which is pretty good going.
0:39:26 > 0:39:30Strokes are the third-largest cause of death in the UK.
0:39:30 > 0:39:33Getting Lynne to treatment quickly was vital.
0:39:33 > 0:39:35With every second counting...
0:39:36 > 0:39:38..everyone had a role to play.
0:39:38 > 0:39:42OK, Lynne, I'm Stuart, paramedic from the helicopter. OK?
0:39:42 > 0:39:45It must be about 30 minutes since I found her.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48I was only in the next field there.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50But collapsing out of sight of her friend,
0:39:50 > 0:39:53it was Giz who raised the alarm.
0:39:53 > 0:39:57We were up here blackberry picking and walking the dogs.
0:39:57 > 0:40:00And then, the next minute, her dog came over to me.
0:40:00 > 0:40:02I thought, "Oh, that's not like him."
0:40:02 > 0:40:05So I followed the dogs back and I found her on the floor.
0:40:07 > 0:40:11She came to a little bit. I told her dog to stay with her.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15I covered her in my coat and I ran to the nearest house.
0:40:15 > 0:40:17He won't leave her if something's wrong.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23Kiss. Get your ball. Keep up. Here, see. Kiss.
0:40:23 > 0:40:25Good boy!
0:40:25 > 0:40:26A month later...
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Go on. What's this? Good boy.
0:40:31 > 0:40:35..Lynne is recovering well at home with her special hero.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40Well, Giz, he was just amazing.
0:40:40 > 0:40:42He was constantly barking
0:40:42 > 0:40:46and running backwards and forwards, backwards and forwards
0:40:46 > 0:40:52to make sure that Kath was aware that she had to follow him.
0:40:52 > 0:40:55And I'm just amazed at the fact that he actually
0:40:55 > 0:40:59instinctively knew to go and get help.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01Sit. Wait.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04Ready?
0:41:04 > 0:41:08And Giz laid down at the side of me, you know,
0:41:08 > 0:41:12while we were waiting for the air ambulance to arrive.
0:41:12 > 0:41:15And he really didn't want to leave me at all.
0:41:18 > 0:41:21His role that day was vital,
0:41:21 > 0:41:24um...because, without him,
0:41:24 > 0:41:27Kath would never have known there was something wrong with me.
0:41:29 > 0:41:32I'm just so grateful to him.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35I think he's pretty amazing, really,
0:41:35 > 0:41:38and he's a very special dog.
0:41:40 > 0:41:42Lynne spent just one night in hospital
0:41:42 > 0:41:44away from her faithful friend.
0:41:44 > 0:41:46But she knows she wouldn't be home as quickly without
0:41:46 > 0:41:49the skill of the emergency services too.
0:41:50 > 0:41:52Ready, set, lift.
0:41:52 > 0:41:59Without the air ambulance, they'd have had to carry me for half a mile
0:41:59 > 0:42:02before they could have even got me to the nearest road.
0:42:08 > 0:42:12Landing a helicopter in a field is no easy job.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16And I would just...
0:42:16 > 0:42:20If I could say anything,
0:42:20 > 0:42:22it would be thank you.
0:42:34 > 0:42:38It's been all go for the emergency services across rural Britain.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Two days after the horse fair in Sedgefield, all the travellers
0:42:44 > 0:42:45had left the site...
0:42:45 > 0:42:47tidier than it had been before.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52Tobias was released from hospital the same day
0:42:52 > 0:42:54but three weeks later, still in pain,
0:42:54 > 0:42:57was re-admitted and diagnosed with a broken tibia.
0:42:59 > 0:43:02And, whilst Lynne waits for test results
0:43:02 > 0:43:03to get to the bottom of her collapse,
0:43:03 > 0:43:06she's enjoying time at home, spoiling Giz.
0:43:09 > 0:43:12And who said it was quiet in the countryside?