Pennod 2 999: Ambiwlans Awyr Cymru

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-With the majority

-of the Welsh landscape rural...

-..it's not easy for the emergency

-services to reach everywhere.

-In these areas, Wales Air Ambulance

-helicopters make a difference.

-For the past three months, our

-cameras have followed the crews...

-..as they fly across Wales

-rescuing lives.

-On tonight's programme, a football

-match ends early for one player.

-It sounded serious. I hope he's OK.

-A family tragedy transforms

-the life of a Swansea Valley girl.

-I'm proud to be part

-of a large team in Wales...

-..which raises money

-to help save lives.

-A couple's first date becomes

-a nightmare on Porthcawl beach.

-I was at the bottom looking up.

-All of a sudden,

-I could see him falling.

-In Wales, almost 250,000 people

-have heart disease.

-When someone has a heart attack...

-..it's crucial for them

-to reach hospital within the hour...

-..for the best chance of recovery.

-This is known as the golden hour.

-A man's life hangs in the balance

-in Llan Ffestiniog.

-His heart has stopped beating.

-The air ambulance is dispatched.

-A 67-year-old man

-has had a cardiac arrest.

-He's collapsed but two crews

-have managed to revive him.

-He has a good output so we're

-on our way to get him to hospital.

-Paul Ramsden, Sam Williams

-and Carl Hudson are on duty.

-Often, the crew is called

-to assist an ambulance crew.

-Today, the patient needs

-to be taken to hospital urgently.

-More often than not,

-we assist ambulance crews.

-They require our assistance

-to transfer patients to hospital.

-We're one service -

-we work as one team.

-Helimed 61, we're just

-coming up to the scene now.

-Are you any closer?

-Have you got a running time?

-The helicopter reaches

-Llan Ffestiniog within 15 minutes.

-The ambulance crew brings

-the patient to meet the helicopter.

-Helimed 61 lands...

-..but the patient's heart is having

-trouble beating unassisted.

-He's got output now.

-Any respiratory effort?

-He's got no respiratory effort.

-To get the heart beating properly...

-..the ambulance crew have given

-the patient an electric shock.

-They've done so 14 times already.

-Suddenly, they have

-to administer another one.

-All clear.

-Clear?

-Clear?

-

-Clear.

-He is seriously ill.

-Both paramedics monitor him closely

-on the way to Ysbyty Gwynedd.

-He'd already been given 15 shocks.

-He might've needed more on the way.

-You're constantly watching

-the ECG monitor for any changes...

-..if his rhythm goes into another

-VF, a ventricular fibrillation.

-Carl uses the breathing mask

-to help the man breathe.

-This patient may need another shock

-before the helicopter lands.

-It's a very good system.

-If there's a chance

-to revive a patient...

-..we use the shock

-and administer medication.

-Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor.

-The patient is in a stable condition

-and the situation is more hopeful.

-At the moment, he's breathing

-and his heart is beating.

-It's not quite

-to the required rate...

-..but he's hanging on in there

-and it's good news.

-An ordinary ambulance wouldn't

-even be halfway to Bangor by now.

-In a helicopter...

-..the patient receives

-specialist treatment within an hour.

-Administering the best treatment

-is crucial within the first hour...

-..especially for patients who have

-had a cardiac arrest or a stroke.

-The first hour is crucial.

-From Blaenau Ffestiniog?

-From Blaenau Ffestiniog?

-

-Llan Ffestiniog, yeah.

-The patient is transferred to

-the hospital's emergency department.

-The trauma team is standing by.

-Split it if you want, yeah?

-Ready to move when you are.

-On three - two, three.

-The doctors need a complete

-breakdown from the crew...

-..to decide

-the best course of action.

-The last shot was just before

-we left, about 25 minutes ago.

-The last adrenalin you gave?

-They gave it,

-and he said about half-nine.

-Carl and Sam have done everything

-they can for the patient.

-His care is now transferred

-to the hospital.

-It's hard to know

-what the end result will be.

-Since we were able to transport

-the patient so quickly...

-..I hope the conclusion

-is favourable.

-Here, at the back of the helicopter,

-the specialist medical equipment...

-..is crucial for saving lives.

-The challenge

-for the paramedics and the pilot...

-..is to reach the location

-as quickly as possible...

-..to treat the patient.

-To maintain the service,

-the charity must raise 5m a year.

-The charity's shops are

-an important part of the campaign.

-Shops workers appreciate

-the work of the red helicopters.

-Each staff member

-has a story to share.

-Did Santa Claus come and bring

-you toys? What did he bring you?

-Rhian Lewis has been running

-the Swansea shop for the past year.

-People visit the shops

-to thank the crews for their work.

-I enjoy seeing people

-calling in to ask questions.

-I hear many stories.

-Some are happy stories,

-some are sad.

-They visit the shop

-to express their feelings.

-They talk to us and tell us how

-grateful they are to the charity.

-Rhian has her own story to share.

-Rhian comes from Ystalyfera

-in the Swansea Valley.

-She lives near her sister, Samantha.

-Two years ago, Samantha gave birth

-to her second child, Mason.

-One morning, Mason wasn't breathing.

-My sister rang 999.

-The air ambulance came out

-and landed on the street...

-..to allow the paramedics

-to run up to the house.

-They picked the baby up

-and flew him to Morriston Hospital.

-That morning, Rhian was at work.

-She rushed home when she heard

-that Mason wasn't breathing.

-I remember everyone in a panic.

-Everyone in the family

-rushed down to the hospital.

-By the time they reached

-Morriston Hospital...

-..the news wasn't good.

-At eight weeks old, Mason had died.

-It was a tragic day

-but we were all so grateful...

-..to the air ambulance crew

-for trying to save Mason's life.

-Over the following months...

-..the two sisters raised money

-for Wales Air Ambulance.

-Rhian organized a talent show

-in Ystalyfera.

-To say thank you,

-we wanted to raise money...

-..and help in any way we could.

-We wanted to let everyone know

-what air ambulance crews do.

-Rhian carried out voluntary work

-in the charity shops' warehouse.

-In April 2011, she became manager

-of the shop in Swansea.

-I love working in the shop.

-The customers are amazing.

-The women who work there give up

-their time to help us raise money.

-Everyone is so generous.

-Rhian was a cleaner

-before her nephew died suddenly.

-The tragedy has transformed

-her life.

-I'm proud to be part

-of a huge team in Wales.

-We raise money to help the crews do

-an important job which saves lives.

-In the second half, we'll be

-on board the Swansea helicopter...

-..as they airlift a footballer

-who's broken his leg.

-In Porthcawl, a race against

-the tide to rescue a fallen climber.

-They said it was the highest tide

-of the year. We had 15 minutes.

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-This helicopter in Swansea...

-..is launched within three minutes

-of an emergency call.

-It can reach anywhere in South Wales

-within 20 minutes.

-The crew are heading

-to a football pitch in Llanelli.

-One of the players

-has a serious leg injury.

-It's January.

-The patient has been lying

-on the pitch for 45 minutes.

-Paramedics Jason and Chris are aware

-of the dangers of hypothermia.

-57, we're about a minute away

-from the location, over.

-Have made the people on the ground

-aware that you're en route.

-The vehicle's about 20 minutes away,

-over.

-Pilot Tom Marcus

-lands on the centre circle.

-The patient is in pain.

-He may well have broken his leg

-in two places.

-..swelling on this side

-of your leg...

-The paramedics give the footballer

-gas and air to help ease the pain.

-Give you some gas and air firstly.

-Just a simple dash which you inhale.

-Makes you feel

-a little light-headed and funny.

-Max was playing as a striker for

-Pwll in the Carmarthenshire league.

-He was through on goal

-and the goalie came out.

-It was a 50/50 ball.

-It was a fair challenge,

-but the striker came off the worst.

-Max needs some specialist treatment

-before being moved.

-The referee has called the match off

-after 67 minutes.

-How old are you, mate?

-How old are you, mate?

-

-24.

-I was on the touchline

-and it sounded quite nasty.

-I hope he'll be OK.

-Max will need an X-ray

-and possible surgery.

-The crew prepare him

-for his journey to hospital.

-It's an obvious fracture

-to his lower leg.

-We've put a needle in his hand -

-a cannula.

-We'll give him some IV analgesia,

-some morphine...

-..and anti-sickness for the flight.

-As night draws in,

-pilot Tom is rather concerned.

-The air ambulance can only land

-on a lit helipad at night.

-The air ambulance must leave

-in daylight or stay here overnight.

-With the sun about to set,

-they take off.

-Alright, Max.

-Have a look out the window, Max.

-Have a look out the window.

-It's a short journey to Morriston.

-Soon, Swansea's lights come into

-view as they approach the hospital.

-Do you feel OK with the morphine?

-D'you feel alright, Max? Yeah?

-How's your leg?

-Uh... still hurts a bit.

-We've just landed at Morriston.

-It was a nice flight

-for him as well.

-It made his day having a little

-flight after breaking his leg.

-Max was in hospital for three days.

-He's now home in Mynydd-y-Garreg.

-He's broken the two largest bones

-in his leg - the tibia and fibula.

-I was in so much pain.

-I was so glad to see

-the helicopter landing.

-Max will be in plaster

-for another month...

-..but he hopes to be back

-on his feet by the end of April.

-I hope to be back walking

-in time for my sister's wedding...

-..in May this year.

-I'd like to thank the air ambulance

-for their prompt response.

-Wales has some of the best locations

-to enjoy outdoor activities...

-..but some of the sports

-come with an element of risk.

-Steve Merry and Rebecca Jones....

-..know the rocks

-of Porthcawl's Rest Bay very well.

-In November 2010, Rebecca and Steve

-were here on their first date.

-It's a popular area for climbers.

-Steve is a climbing instructor

-so Rebecca was in safe hands.

-We'd climbed six times that day.

-The last climb was to be

-the final climb of the day.

-The couple were climbing the largest

-cliff of the day in Box Bay.

-They only had time for one final

-abseil before the tide came in.

-I abseiled down before him.

-Steve had secured three hooks

-in the rock to hold the ropes.

-If one came loose,

-another one would hold the ropes...

-..but something went wrong.

-I was at the bottom, looking up.

-All of a sudden,

-I could see him falling.

-I heard this huge crack

-when he hit the ground.

-Steve fell 20 feet

-and landed on his back.

-He tried to get up.

-I told him to wait.

-He needed emergency help.

-Without a phone,

-Rebecca had to search for help.

-I was screaming for someone

-to phone the ambulance.

-Time was running out.

-The tide was coming in.

-Luckily, the air ambulance

-was close to Porthcawl.

-Paramedic Aneurin Heath

-was on board.

-We flew down along the beach

-but we couldn't see anything.

-The pilot flew lower and lower.

-I was sitting in the back

-of the helicopter looking back.

-As we flew along the beach,

-I spotted him.

-Steve needed medical assistance

-but the tide was coming in.

-The crew knew they could be in

-danger if they landed on the beach.

-Pilot Grant Elgar decided to land.

-We decided to put the aircraft on

-the beach before the tide came in...

-..to keep the rotors running...

-..and for Aneurin to leave

-the aircraft and attend the patient.

-I got out of the helicopter.

-The tide was coming in quickly.

-Grant had to take off

-and land on the cliff top.

-Steve had some serious injuries.

-80% of his bones were broken.

-He'd broken his pelvis,

-both his legs...

-..and I knew he had a back injury.

-Pilot Grant Elgar and paramedic

-Phil Thomas were on the cliff top.

-They were liaising

-with the coastguard.

-Time was fast running out.

-It was the highest tide of the year.

-We only had 15 minutes.

-Luckily, a helicopter

-from the Chivenor RAF base...

-..was training nearby.

-Within minutes, Squadron 169

-were sending down their winch man...

-..to help Aneurin.

-The dramatic events

-were filmed on a mobile phone.

-Between the winch man and myself,

-we lifted him out of the water...

-..and found a safer place

-to rescue him from drowning.

-Steve was placed on a hard board

-before the Sea King returned.

-We were waiting

-and waiting and waiting.

-The tide was coming further in.

-By the end, we were up

-to our shoulders in water...

-..trying to hold Steve out of

-the water and make sure he was OK.

-The Sea King lifts Steve

-and the winch man to the cliff top.

-He's transferred immediately

-to the air ambulance.

-He was in a serious condition and

-needed immediate medical attention.

-Steve was also suffering

-from hypothermia.

-Hypothermia can actually help

-the body repair itself.

-Steve needed medical attention

-to stop any internal bleeding.

-He'd broken most of the bones

-in his body, including his spine.

-He was in a coma for three weeks.

-Steve stayed in Morriston Hospital

-for three months...

-..but he's now on the road

-to recovery.

-Fifteen months later, Rebecca

-and Steve are back in Rest Bay.

-Steve suffers daily pain...

-..but he's determined to recover.

-The doctors say

-he's moved on quickly.

-For him,

-he's not recovering quickly enough.

-Steve will need many more

-operations, but this couple know...

-..that the heroic effort of

-the crews that day saved his life.

-I think he'll be fine, eventually.

-It's just going to take some time.

-In November, the Helimed 57 team

-visited the House of Lords...

-..for the Ambulance Service

-awards ceremony.

-I'd like to welcome you to this,

-our awards ceremony.

-Along with the Sea King, Helimed 57

-won the Team of the Year award...

-..for rescuing Steve Merry

-from the sea.

-The first team

-is the Welsh Air Ambulance...

-..consisting

-of Captain Grant Elgar...

-..Paramedic Phil Thomas

-and Paramedic Aneurin Heath.

-It's nice to receive

-some recognition.

-The three of us

-and the boys from the RAF.

-Gaining this recognition is

-important for Wales Air Ambulance.

-It lets people know that

-their money is being spent wisely.

-We need to shock again.

-All clear.

-Clear.

-David Levers's heart

-stopped working in January.

-The ambulance crews

-gave him 15 shocks.

-We filmed the events as the

-helicopter flew to Ysbyty Gwynedd.

-Today, David Levers

-is home in Llan Ffestiniog.

-He stayed in the intensive care unit

-for almost two months.

-I'm recovering

-but I'm not back to where I was...

-..before the recent heart attacks.

-That will take months

-and months and months.

-He'd had a heart attack before.

-When his heart stopped working

-this time...

-..the family feared the worst.

-When our son arrived,

-the ambulance was outside.

-It broke his heart.

-We weren't holding out much hope.

-It's a 75-minute road journey

-from Llan Ffestiniog to Bangor.

-David knows how crucial the air

-ambulance involvement was that day.

-You have 60 minutes -

-the golden hour.

-After that, whatever damage the

-heart attack has done, that's it.

-If the air ambulance

-hadn't been here on the third...

-..I wouldn't be here now.

-On next week's programme...

-..the man who lost his leg

-when a gas canister exploded.

-Concerns for the builder

-who fell from scaffolding.

-When you fall from a height...

-..the worst injury is

-breaking your back or brain damage.

-S4C Subtitles by Adnod Cyf.

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