0:00:02 > 0:00:04Today on Real Rescues.
0:00:04 > 0:00:07A joint rescue operation at sea to save a woman with
0:00:07 > 0:00:09life-threatening head injuries.
0:00:15 > 0:00:19A motorway accident leaves a young au pair lying on the hard shoulder.
0:00:19 > 0:00:22Right, I'd like you to keep very still. Whereabouts are you injured?
0:00:24 > 0:00:28And chest pains strike again for John.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31I've had a cardiac arrest, I've had two heart attacks,
0:00:31 > 0:00:32I've got six stents inside me.
0:00:32 > 0:00:35But this might not be quite what it seems.
0:00:53 > 0:00:57Hello and welcome to Real Rescues, where we go out to see the work
0:00:57 > 0:00:59of Britain's emergency services.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03It's places like this where calls are answered when people dial 999.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06Right, let's get started. We're about to witness a challenging
0:01:06 > 0:01:09rescue operation after a call comes in from a yacht in high seas.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12A woman has been very seriously hurt.
0:01:16 > 0:01:19Midsummer, Lee-on-Solent Air-Sea Rescue is preparing for takeoff.
0:01:19 > 0:01:24They're responding to an urgent Mayday call to Coastguard Control.
0:01:47 > 0:01:50It's a short flight from the airbase to the Isle of Wight.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52The RNLI lifeboat from Limington
0:01:52 > 0:01:56and the inshore rib from Yarmouth are also en route,
0:01:56 > 0:01:58but the coastguard needs more details.
0:01:58 > 0:02:02The man making the emergency call is distressed and struggling.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25The winchman on board the coastguard helicopter is also
0:02:25 > 0:02:27a trained paramedic.
0:02:27 > 0:02:30As they get closer, more details of the injury come through.
0:02:49 > 0:02:53The Limington RNLI rib is first to the yacht, Blue Boat.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56The boom is swinging free. The sea conditions are rough.
0:03:00 > 0:03:02First, RNLI crew Paul Harrison
0:03:02 > 0:03:06and Stuart Lane need to get on board to control the boat.
0:03:11 > 0:03:12The yacht's skipper, Laura,
0:03:12 > 0:03:16is drifting in and out of consciousness.
0:03:16 > 0:03:19Her partner, Steven, saw her thrown against the cabin.
0:03:19 > 0:03:22He was left struggling to control the boat, help her,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24and make the Mayday call.
0:03:25 > 0:03:27The boat's still in danger.
0:03:27 > 0:03:31Lifeboat crewman Paul grabs the tiller as Stuart secures the boom.
0:03:32 > 0:03:33Can you grab this? Yeah.
0:03:36 > 0:03:39But they need more help from the Yarmouth crew to carry out
0:03:39 > 0:03:41emergency first aid.
0:03:41 > 0:03:43The Limington crew bring their colleagues up-to-date.
0:04:02 > 0:04:05The RNLI first-aider can see that Laura has suffered
0:04:05 > 0:04:06a major head trauma.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09A sudden gust of wind sent the boat into a gybe
0:04:09 > 0:04:11and she was in the way of the boom.
0:04:11 > 0:04:14All the time her condition is deteriorating.
0:04:14 > 0:04:16Her consciousness levels are slipping.
0:04:25 > 0:04:27By now, air-sea rescue is overhead.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31It's too risky to follow the usual procedure.
0:04:31 > 0:04:34Laura is too poorly to cope with the transfer to the lifeboat
0:04:34 > 0:04:36and then an airlift.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39That leaves one option for the pilot.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54Immediately, they start preparing Laura for the airlift.
0:05:04 > 0:05:07They have to make the yacht as stable as possible
0:05:07 > 0:05:09before the winch can go ahead.
0:05:09 > 0:05:13The RNLI volunteer, Paul, needs to steer the boat into the wind,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16but he's struggling because of the way Laura has fallen.
0:05:16 > 0:05:18'I'm on the helm of the casualty vessel,
0:05:18 > 0:05:20'trying to keep the boat into sea.'
0:05:20 > 0:05:22The problem I had was Laura's leg was actually trapped
0:05:22 > 0:05:24just beneath the tiller for steering the boat.
0:05:24 > 0:05:26Now, it wasn't causing her any pain,
0:05:26 > 0:05:29but it meant that, sometimes, I was unable to get the boat around.
0:05:29 > 0:05:33It's going to be precarious winching around the mast
0:05:33 > 0:05:35onto the small, unstable yacht.
0:05:35 > 0:05:37Winchman and paramedic Nick Horst is being
0:05:37 > 0:05:40lowered onto the more stable platform
0:05:40 > 0:05:42of the larger Yarmouth lifeboat...
0:05:49 > 0:05:51..then transferred on the rib to Blue Boat.
0:05:57 > 0:06:00Now on board, Nick assesses Laura's condition.
0:06:00 > 0:06:02He needs to maintain her airways.
0:06:02 > 0:06:04'As soon as I got there, I could see that she had'
0:06:04 > 0:06:07quite a large wound on the right-hand side of her head.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11'My initial thoughts were'
0:06:11 > 0:06:14that she could well have spinal injuries.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17All the time, sea conditions are getting worse.
0:06:17 > 0:06:19'We were rolling and pitching'
0:06:19 > 0:06:22and there's waves being taken over the bow
0:06:22 > 0:06:24and we were getting sprayed quite frequently.
0:06:24 > 0:06:26'It was quite awkward to do,'
0:06:26 > 0:06:30but between myself and the lifeboatmen who managed to get
0:06:30 > 0:06:34a collar on and then place a Kendrick splint on her back,
0:06:34 > 0:06:36then basically she was ready for winching.
0:06:38 > 0:06:42But the helicopter pilot is worried the boat can't be held in position.
0:06:46 > 0:06:48He discusses the options with the Yarmouth lifeboat.
0:06:59 > 0:07:01Later, winchman Nick is forced to make a decision.
0:07:01 > 0:07:04They can't delay Laura's airlift to hospital any longer.
0:07:21 > 0:07:24Early evening on the M27 in Southampton.
0:07:24 > 0:07:28Rain and low sun are making driving conditions treacherous.
0:07:28 > 0:07:29SIRENS WAIL
0:07:32 > 0:07:35Emergency care practitioner Mark Ainsworth-Smith
0:07:35 > 0:07:38is heading to a crash. Two vehicles are involved.
0:07:38 > 0:07:41We have got a call to a car versus van,
0:07:41 > 0:07:42it's another accident
0:07:42 > 0:07:46on the motorway, unfortunately. It's a Sunday evening, so the traffic's
0:07:46 > 0:07:47likely to be fairly heavy and, of course,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49the road conditions are fairly wet,
0:07:49 > 0:07:52so this is quite a common call to get, unfortunately.
0:07:52 > 0:07:55We've got no information on the incident at all at this stage.
0:07:55 > 0:07:57I believe it's westbound,
0:07:57 > 0:08:00but could you just confirm, cos it may be eastbound, over.
0:08:00 > 0:08:03I've just seen the police going the opposite way,
0:08:03 > 0:08:06so I'll give you a sitrep as soon as I get there, over.
0:08:06 > 0:08:08The accident is on the opposite carriageway,
0:08:08 > 0:08:11somewhere in the gridlock caused by a previous incident.
0:08:14 > 0:08:16Oh, there we go.
0:08:19 > 0:08:21SAT NAV: You have arrived at your destination.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27The young woman is lying on the ground,
0:08:27 > 0:08:29surrounded by a concerned family.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Right, I'd like you to keep very still. My name is Mark.
0:08:34 > 0:08:36What's your name?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38OK. Whereabouts are you injured?
0:08:40 > 0:08:41Have you got pain anywhere?
0:08:42 > 0:08:44In your chest. How about your neck?
0:08:51 > 0:08:54Left ear. And that's all since the accident, is it?
0:08:54 > 0:08:57Mark finds out what's happening.
0:08:57 > 0:09:01You were in a different car to her? No, we were all in the same car.
0:09:01 > 0:09:04OK, and you're in a car. OK. How is she, normally? Is she normally well?
0:09:04 > 0:09:08Yes, she's normally well. Is she a family friend of yours?
0:09:08 > 0:09:11She's our au pair. Au pair, OK, fantastic.
0:09:11 > 0:09:13Where was she sitting in the car? In the seat by the driver.
0:09:13 > 0:09:16OK, all right. So, has she taken quite a bit...?
0:09:16 > 0:09:19The young woman got out of the car, but then collapsed.
0:09:19 > 0:09:22The vehicle she was in collided with the one in front,
0:09:22 > 0:09:24the impact setting off the airbags.
0:09:24 > 0:09:27I don't want you to move at all. OK?
0:09:28 > 0:09:30Yeah, keep very still.
0:09:30 > 0:09:32What we're going to do is... I'm in a car.
0:09:32 > 0:09:34We're going to get an ambulance as well
0:09:34 > 0:09:36so we can properly assess her in the back of the ambulance.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39I don't want to move her neck until I've got some extra help,
0:09:39 > 0:09:41so what I need to do is have a little look at your arm.
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Now, how precious is this coat?
0:09:43 > 0:09:47Normally, we'd cut it off you to do your blood pressure.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49No... No, you don't want us to do that. Take it off...
0:09:49 > 0:09:51Yeah, OK, we don't want to move your neck, though,
0:09:51 > 0:09:54don't let that compromise her neck, please. I understand...
0:09:54 > 0:09:57This is all routine. It's normal, we do this for everyone.
0:09:57 > 0:10:00Keep your head nice and still, that's it.
0:10:00 > 0:10:02How bad is the pain in your chest and stuff?
0:10:05 > 0:10:06OK.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11OK.
0:10:11 > 0:10:13Au pair Rosa has chest pain.
0:10:13 > 0:10:16Mark wants to check for any major injuries.
0:10:16 > 0:10:20Rosa, I'd like you to take some big breaths for me, please.
0:10:20 > 0:10:22Big breaths for me.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25OK, just try and take SOME breaths for me.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29Because of the combination of Rosa's symptoms - hearing loss
0:10:29 > 0:10:31and breathing difficulties - Mark wants to insert
0:10:31 > 0:10:35a line into her hand in case she needs drugs or fluids.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38I'm going to pop a little needle in your arm now, OK?
0:10:38 > 0:10:41I want you to try and keep still and not to jump.
0:10:41 > 0:10:42I'm treating her for the worst.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45The symptoms she's saying, I've got to treat...you know?
0:10:45 > 0:10:48She's quite cold. She's been lying here... It's not the easiest job.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Fortunately for Rosa, the backup ambulance has arrived.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Mark briefs the crew.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58She's got good airways, but she was complaining of difficulty breathing,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01says she can't breathe. Her oxygen saturations are 100%.
0:11:01 > 0:11:03I see she's got a good radial pulse,
0:11:03 > 0:11:05but she's got a blood pressure of 97 on 56,
0:11:05 > 0:11:07and I'm just putting in a precautionary cannula
0:11:07 > 0:11:09because of that.
0:11:09 > 0:11:13Rosa will be put on a rigid longboard to keep her neck secure.
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Once we get her rolled and on a scoop, then we'll stick
0:11:15 > 0:11:18a collar on when she's on her back. Is that all right with you?
0:11:18 > 0:11:20That seems like the easiest thing.
0:11:20 > 0:11:22A paramedic tells Rosa what's about to happen,
0:11:22 > 0:11:26but now it seems mum Olga is feeling unwell too.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Do you want us to get another ambulance here? What do you feel?
0:11:29 > 0:11:33No, no, I just would like to... Are you going to be going in with her?
0:11:33 > 0:11:36I don't know. So, if you are, you could get checked out in the...
0:11:38 > 0:11:41I'm going to concentrate on her for a minute, OK?
0:11:41 > 0:11:44Rosa, can you straighten your legs out just a little bit?
0:11:44 > 0:11:49Rosa is in an awkward position, not helped by prickly undergrowth.
0:11:49 > 0:11:53I've got a better idea. I'm going to use your quick-cuts...
0:11:53 > 0:11:56I'm going to do a bit of pruning, mate.
0:11:56 > 0:11:57Rosa is gently rolled onto her back,
0:11:57 > 0:12:00so they can slide the board underneath her.
0:12:02 > 0:12:04Nearly in, actually, that's brilliant.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Her head is then immobilised to protect her neck.
0:12:08 > 0:12:12Good. Secured safely to the board, Rosa is finally off the ground.
0:12:12 > 0:12:15Beautiful, well done. Yeah, we're going to get you
0:12:15 > 0:12:18in the warm now, all right, in the back of an ambulance?
0:12:18 > 0:12:20You'll be a lot warmer in there.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22Mark goes back to check how the others are doing.
0:12:23 > 0:12:25Right, if anyone's got any injuries,
0:12:25 > 0:12:29you need to travel in the ambulance and go to hospital.
0:12:29 > 0:12:31It looks like one of the children
0:12:31 > 0:12:33might now be feeling a bit poorly too.
0:12:33 > 0:12:36Jump in the ambulance, we'll check you over.
0:12:39 > 0:12:42Um, now Mum is saying she's got chest injuries,
0:12:42 > 0:12:44the same as the little one as well.
0:12:44 > 0:12:47So, are you happy to take a kid and one adult in the back?
0:12:47 > 0:12:51All three patients will now be thoroughly checked out at hospital,
0:12:51 > 0:12:54leaving Mark to get back on shift.
0:12:58 > 0:13:01As you can imagine, not all births are straightforward
0:13:01 > 0:13:04and that's true of births that happen at home as well as ones
0:13:04 > 0:13:05that happen in the hospital.
0:13:05 > 0:13:07So, the call-takers here have to deal with those too.
0:13:07 > 0:13:11If Leanne's not on a call, can we have a chat? Yeah.
0:13:11 > 0:13:14So, have you got an example of this recently? Tell us about this call.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Yeah, we had a call come in - a second call, actually -
0:13:16 > 0:13:18from the mother-in-law of a daughter.
0:13:18 > 0:13:23The daughter was on the floor in the pub and she was in labour...
0:13:23 > 0:13:24This was the landlady in labour?
0:13:24 > 0:13:28Yeah, they'd already called, but they were in quite a remote location.
0:13:28 > 0:13:31It took quite a while for us to get there, so, um, she...
0:13:31 > 0:13:34So, mother-in-law's having to midwife a little bit at that stage.
0:13:34 > 0:13:37Yeah. And what instructions are you giving in the early part?
0:13:37 > 0:13:39Presumably, you hope the ambulance will get there?
0:13:39 > 0:13:43We always hope they're going to get there, but you have to prepare them,
0:13:43 > 0:13:45so you tell them to get the towels out and get some water,
0:13:45 > 0:13:48make sure Mum's in a comfortable position cos she's on the floor
0:13:48 > 0:13:51in the pub, but you need to be as comfortable as you can and then
0:13:51 > 0:13:54you need to start talking through to the mother-in-law on
0:13:54 > 0:13:56how to deliver the baby there. At this stage, you now actually have
0:13:56 > 0:13:59a clinician, a paramedic who works in the room here.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02Yeah, if it's looking like the ambulance isn't going to come in time
0:14:02 > 0:14:05and you're going to have to be delivering the baby over the phone,
0:14:05 > 0:14:07then you need a clinician in to listen.
0:14:07 > 0:14:09It was at this point that it suddenly became more serious?
0:14:09 > 0:14:12Yeah. Obviously, over the phone it's difficult anyway,
0:14:12 > 0:14:14but at this point we then realised that the baby
0:14:14 > 0:14:17was in a breech position so it was coming out legs and rear first.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20OK, at which point, presumably, the clinician takes over.
0:14:20 > 0:14:23Yeah. They were already listening and it then gets difficult
0:14:23 > 0:14:25and then you just pass it over to the clinician on duty at the time
0:14:25 > 0:14:28to take over. Who's your clinician at the moment?
0:14:28 > 0:14:30Our clinician is Phil. Phil, so... Thank you very much.
0:14:30 > 0:14:33I'm going to have a word with Phil and see what happens at that point.
0:14:33 > 0:14:36So, I don't know if you overheard there, Phil.
0:14:36 > 0:14:38We were talking about the landlady who was giving birth
0:14:38 > 0:14:40on the floor of the pub and suddenly...
0:14:40 > 0:14:42How do you recognise that a birth is breech,
0:14:42 > 0:14:45because, when a bum starts to come through,
0:14:45 > 0:14:47it can look very much like a head.
0:14:47 > 0:14:48Yeah, exactly.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50I mean, the normal perception for any childbirth
0:14:50 > 0:14:52is the head comes out first,
0:14:52 > 0:14:55um, but on the odd occasion I've actually listened to a call
0:14:55 > 0:14:58where somebody's actually said, "The head's coming through, but
0:14:58 > 0:15:00"there's a massive, great, big crack in it."
0:15:00 > 0:15:02So, it's, "OK, let's calm the situation down.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04"That's actually his backside that's coming out."
0:15:04 > 0:15:08Um, and on that occasion it would be just to calm everything down, um,
0:15:08 > 0:15:12and just let it progress naturally and just do not touch the child.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Why not touch the child?
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Because if the body is being birthed, but the head hasn't yet,
0:15:17 > 0:15:19the temptation would be to try and pull the baby out, but
0:15:19 > 0:15:22that's not necessarily the right thing? No, you're right there.
0:15:22 > 0:15:25Normally, in a normal childbirth, when the head comes out
0:15:25 > 0:15:26and most of the body comes out,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29the baby will gasp for air with a bit of stimulation.
0:15:29 > 0:15:33Now, if you manhandle that child before the head's out,
0:15:33 > 0:15:36that stimulises that child, he will then try to breathe.
0:15:36 > 0:15:39And bearing in mind that the head is still inside the woman's pelvis...
0:15:39 > 0:15:42So, even if the body is out of the...in the birth,
0:15:42 > 0:15:47the head is still engaged, you would still not...not stimulate the child
0:15:47 > 0:15:50and you'd leave that hanging in that position for the ambulance...
0:15:50 > 0:15:54Yeah, yeah. Cos the child won't take a breath till it's completely out.
0:15:54 > 0:15:56Exactly. You need to support it,
0:15:56 > 0:16:01cos they tend to let the mum sort of dangle into space, basically,
0:16:01 > 0:16:05and let the child come out naturally. Invariably it will, and then,
0:16:05 > 0:16:07as long as the cord's not wrapped round the neck,
0:16:07 > 0:16:09everything should be fine.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12Which is the danger with a breech birth as well, where the cord is...
0:16:12 > 0:16:14On this occasion, everything was OK? Yeah, absolutely.
0:16:14 > 0:16:17So, mother-in-law managed to deliver a breech birth,
0:16:17 > 0:16:19something that's frightening even within hospital.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22Not a call you want to get every day, is it? No, not really.
0:16:22 > 0:16:24All right. Thank you very much. OK.
0:16:34 > 0:16:39In the Solent, five crew from the RNLI and an air-sea rescue paramedic
0:16:39 > 0:16:43are on board a small yacht preparing to airlift skipper Laura
0:16:43 > 0:16:45who's suffered a critical head injury.
0:16:45 > 0:16:48She needs urgent specialist care.
0:16:51 > 0:16:53The yacht is at the mercy of the rough seas,
0:16:53 > 0:16:55making an airlift difficult.
0:16:55 > 0:16:57The more stable Yarmouth lifeboat would make
0:16:57 > 0:17:00a better platform, but winchman Nick fears time is
0:17:00 > 0:17:02running out for his casualty.
0:17:10 > 0:17:13But even if Blue Boat is undertow,
0:17:13 > 0:17:16this will be precarious for the helicopter.
0:17:16 > 0:17:18The yacht's mast is a potential hazard.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30But they can't wait any longer.
0:17:30 > 0:17:33A decision is made to go ahead with the winch.
0:17:45 > 0:17:48They're going to use a high line - a wire that will allow
0:17:48 > 0:17:50the helicopter to fly to the side of the boat.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53Avoiding being directly over the mast,
0:17:53 > 0:17:57it needs a lot of expertise and specialist knowledge.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11We lower a line with weights on it
0:18:11 > 0:18:13to the yacht, they take the line in hand,
0:18:13 > 0:18:15and then they pull in the slack,
0:18:15 > 0:18:17and on the end of that is the hook.
0:18:21 > 0:18:26The line comes in without a hitch and is connected to Laura and Nick.
0:18:26 > 0:18:28This is the most critical time.
0:18:28 > 0:18:32The helicopter is now connected to the people on the boat.
0:18:32 > 0:18:36Any contact with the mast and everyone is in danger in the air
0:18:36 > 0:18:37and on the boat.
0:18:47 > 0:18:51The pilot needs immense precision to avoid the yacht mast,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54but if he's too far away, winchman Nick
0:18:54 > 0:18:56and Laura will swing violently off the boat.
0:18:56 > 0:18:58One forward...
0:19:00 > 0:19:02One only...
0:19:04 > 0:19:06Touch.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Right, one...
0:19:08 > 0:19:09Winch, you clear?
0:19:09 > 0:19:11Clear, clear, back and left.
0:19:11 > 0:19:13They swing, there's not a straight lift,
0:19:13 > 0:19:17the crew on the yacht would then stabilise the swing using this
0:19:17 > 0:19:21attached line and then we winch them to the aircraft.
0:19:23 > 0:19:24On target.
0:19:26 > 0:19:30As Laura is being lifted, winchman Nick tries to rouse her,
0:19:30 > 0:19:31but with no success.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37In the doorway.
0:19:39 > 0:19:40Bring her in.
0:19:46 > 0:19:47On board.
0:19:47 > 0:19:50I'm going to clear the high line and throw it overboard.
0:19:50 > 0:19:54As soon as she's in the helicopter, the crew work to stabilise her.
0:19:54 > 0:19:58Both of us maintained life support for the young lady,
0:19:58 > 0:20:03she looked quite bad. She looked very pale, unconscious.
0:20:03 > 0:20:05It was... It looked quite serious.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09We made the decision to take the casualty to Southampton,
0:20:09 > 0:20:13because that is the major trauma unit for this area
0:20:13 > 0:23:03and if there's any complications,
0:23:03 > 0:23:05All you need to do is take one deep breath
0:23:05 > 0:23:07and blow till I tell you to stop.
0:23:07 > 0:23:10Ready? And just blow. Keep going. Keep going. Keep going.
0:23:10 > 0:23:12Stop. That's perfect, thank you.
0:23:12 > 0:23:14I shall leave your souvenir in the car. They're both clear.
0:23:14 > 0:23:15That's a zero as well.
0:23:15 > 0:23:18The other chap's provided a negative breath test as well,
0:23:18 > 0:23:20so he hadn't had any alcohol, OK?
0:23:21 > 0:23:24And what is he to you, relation-wise?
0:23:24 > 0:23:27Right now, a friend of one of the drivers has arrived.
0:23:27 > 0:23:28Was you in the car with him or not?
0:23:28 > 0:23:31He didn't see anything and was not involved.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33So, you've come to help him? OK.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36Mat's going to interview both of the men at the hospital,
0:23:36 > 0:23:39but first he needs to gather all the evidence from the crash scene.
0:23:41 > 0:23:43What I'll do now is I'll take pictures of the scene
0:23:43 > 0:23:47and then I'll start building up an investigation into what's happened.
0:23:47 > 0:23:51It's turning into a very long day for recovery driver Alan.
0:23:51 > 0:23:55I'm dying to find out - what was your dinner?
0:23:55 > 0:23:56What was it?
0:24:00 > 0:24:01A salad?
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Oh, not a...not a roast dinner or anything like that?
0:24:10 > 0:24:12No, mate!
0:24:12 > 0:24:16And it's not over yet. Alan's proving too useful.
0:24:16 > 0:24:19To PC Water's relief, he agrees to recover one of the cars.
0:24:23 > 0:24:27No rest for the wicked. So, it's back to the day job for Alan.
0:24:27 > 0:24:30It's going to be a while before he sees that ready meal.
0:24:37 > 0:24:39One zero, can I have your own details, please?
0:24:39 > 0:24:41Time of call, time of arrival?
0:24:45 > 0:24:48The damage to the front of the car makes this slow work.
0:24:48 > 0:24:53Yes, yes, both vehicles are leaking coolant. It's just the debris that...
0:24:53 > 0:24:56It's just the coolant to remove from the road surface and, yes,
0:24:56 > 0:24:58Alan sees to that as well.
0:25:00 > 0:25:02Mate, so this stuff they're putting down is dry sand,
0:25:02 > 0:25:05which will absorb the... like, the oil and the coolant,
0:25:05 > 0:25:07to prevent it being slippery.
0:25:07 > 0:25:09Obviously, there's motorcyclists going over it
0:25:09 > 0:25:11and if it's not treated, it could be dangerous for them.
0:25:16 > 0:25:18At last, Alan's work is done.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22Thanks for your help. Traffic flowing again,
0:25:22 > 0:25:26Mat can get off to the hospital to continue his investigations.
0:25:33 > 0:25:34Coming up on Real Rescues.
0:25:36 > 0:25:39Why violent chest pains don't always signal
0:25:39 > 0:25:43heart failure for a patient with a serious cardiac history.
0:25:43 > 0:25:46They're saying I've got so many stents on one artery now that, over
0:25:46 > 0:25:50a period of time, they said it tries to reject and it goes into spasm.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55And Laura the yacht skipper rescued from her boat at sea
0:25:55 > 0:25:58faces a long road to recovery.
0:25:58 > 0:26:00Partner Steven recalls the moment it happened.
0:26:00 > 0:26:02It was quite horrific, really,
0:26:02 > 0:26:04cos she was over the other side of the cockpit.
0:26:04 > 0:26:07It just caught the back of her lifejacket and flicked her
0:26:07 > 0:26:10and she went across like a ragdoll and just dashed
0:26:10 > 0:26:14against the side of the cockpit, which was a horrible thing to see.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20This is Julie who's a clinician here at the hub and, indeed,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23a paramedic as well. That is correct.
0:26:23 > 0:26:26Tell us about this call that you had from a carer recently.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30We had a call from a carer come in to the 111,
0:26:30 > 0:26:32it was earlier this year.
0:26:32 > 0:26:35She actually looks after a 90-year-old lady and, um,
0:26:35 > 0:26:39she was very concerned this particular morning, the lady
0:26:39 > 0:26:43was quite cold, she felt cold to touch and she was somewhat confused.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47She just didn't seem to be herself, so the call was made.
0:26:47 > 0:26:49Um, and from the information,
0:26:49 > 0:26:53we were concerned and a clinician called her back
0:26:53 > 0:26:57to speak with her and from lots of questions
0:26:57 > 0:27:00about how the lady was and how she was presenting,
0:27:00 > 0:27:04and how she seemed, signs and symptoms, and, um...
0:27:06 > 0:27:09Although it was confusion, originally,
0:27:09 > 0:27:11that the carer was concerned about,
0:27:11 > 0:27:13confusion is a symptom of hypothermia.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16Oh, was that what it was - hypothermia? Yes, yes.
0:27:16 > 0:27:18So, what do you look for in a relative or somebody
0:27:18 > 0:27:21that you know that might be hypothermic?
0:27:21 > 0:27:24Well, there are three stages to hypothermia.
0:27:24 > 0:27:25There is mild hypothermia,
0:27:25 > 0:27:29the body's temperature's usually about 37 and, um,
0:27:29 > 0:27:33when it drops to 35, then it's starting to go into mild hypothermia.
0:27:33 > 0:27:36So, only a two-degree difference will take you into mild hypothermia?
0:27:36 > 0:27:37Two degrees, yes. Wow.
0:27:37 > 0:27:42The elderly and the very young are the ones most at risk
0:27:42 > 0:27:45and this is what we have to be aware of. And what are you looking for?
0:27:45 > 0:27:47What are those signs?
0:27:47 > 0:27:49Uh...
0:27:49 > 0:27:53Someone would be maybe cold to touch, they'd be tired, um,
0:27:53 > 0:27:55lethargic, um,
0:27:55 > 0:27:57maybe loss of appetite...
0:27:57 > 0:28:00It's easy to be confused with many things... Yes.
0:28:00 > 0:28:03Especially with the elderly, who might be feeling that way anyway.
0:28:03 > 0:28:05Well, by the time confusion comes in,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08we're well into moderate hypothermia where someone would then be
0:28:08 > 0:28:13starting to get a little colder and the symptoms would change.
0:28:13 > 0:28:15That's when the confusion would start to come in.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18They would still be shivering, they'd still be cold,
0:28:18 > 0:28:22they may be sleeping a great deal, but, um...
0:28:22 > 0:28:27When we take calls, when we consider anyone who we are
0:28:27 > 0:28:30concerned about, we also have to take the whole picture on board.
0:28:30 > 0:28:35It's not just the symptoms, it's where the person is.
0:28:35 > 0:28:38This particular lady was in a very cold house,
0:28:38 > 0:28:40because she didn't want to put the heating on
0:28:40 > 0:28:45and this is the concern that we all have about the elderly,
0:28:45 > 0:28:47when they don't want to put the heating on.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50So, it's not an unusual call here during the winter months?
0:28:50 > 0:28:51No, it's not, no. OK.
0:28:51 > 0:28:55How do you warm someone up or how do you help someone in that situation?
0:28:55 > 0:28:57Plainly, medical attention is a good idea
0:28:57 > 0:28:59when it's something serious like that, but should you warm them up,
0:28:59 > 0:29:01put a hot-water bottle on them,
0:29:01 > 0:29:03or give them a hot drink or something to...?
0:29:03 > 0:29:06Um, what we need to do is we need to warm them up slowly.
0:29:06 > 0:29:09Oh, slowly, not quickly. That is the main thing to do.
0:29:09 > 0:29:13Putting extra blankets on them, maybe a warm drink, um, not alcohol,
0:29:13 > 0:29:17not hot-water bottles, don't put them in front of the fire, you know,
0:29:17 > 0:29:20put the fire on and then snoodle them up right in front of the fire -
0:29:20 > 0:29:21we need to do it very slowly,
0:29:21 > 0:29:25the body temperature has to return slowly back to normal.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28So, warm drinks, you know, blankets, duvet covers,
0:29:28 > 0:29:33even, if you're very close to them, even giving them a good cuddle will
0:29:33 > 0:29:37help as well because the warmth from your body will help them.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40So, there you go - the message is cuddle a pensioner this winter
0:29:40 > 0:29:43and you can help people out. Important information, though.
0:29:43 > 0:29:45Thank you very much indeed. You're very welcome.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54In the Solent, a critically injured woman has been airlifted to
0:29:54 > 0:29:57safety from her yacht, the Blue Boat.
0:29:57 > 0:29:58Laura, the skipper of the boat,
0:29:58 > 0:30:02suffered a very severe head injury and has been taken to
0:30:02 > 0:30:05Southampton General Hospital, a six-minute flight away.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13She was slammed into the cabin by a rope on the main sail.
0:30:13 > 0:30:15Her partner, Steven, was left stranded,
0:30:15 > 0:30:20struggling with the boat at the same time as trying to help Laura.
0:30:20 > 0:30:23It's taken a coastguard helicopter and two RNLI crews to
0:30:23 > 0:30:26pull off the rescue in some of the most demanding conditions.
0:30:26 > 0:30:30All the time, Steven was fearing the worst.
0:30:30 > 0:30:35The conditions were so rough that I could sort of anticipate
0:30:35 > 0:30:38further things happening, but as soon as she got into that helicopter,
0:30:38 > 0:30:42I felt so relieved and I looked up at the helicopter and
0:30:42 > 0:30:46I remember one of the lifeboatmen put his hand on my shoulder
0:30:46 > 0:30:48and he said, "Are you OK?" And I said, "Yes.
0:30:48 > 0:30:50"I'm so glad that she's gone onto the helicopter now."
0:30:50 > 0:30:53And that was the point when I was relieved that she was in safe hands.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58But Steven and Blue Boat are not out of danger.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01As one crew escorts the yacht back to the Isle of Wight, their
0:31:01 > 0:31:07RNLI colleagues on board suddenly notice water pouring onto the deck.
0:31:07 > 0:31:10Because the sea was so rough, it was taking on water
0:31:10 > 0:31:12and we started sinking.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29But the pump's not working, the gasket's gone.
0:31:31 > 0:31:33I gave them a washing-up bowl, which they said was perfect,
0:31:33 > 0:31:35a big, square washing-up bowl
0:31:35 > 0:31:37and they were chucking the water over the side
0:31:37 > 0:31:40and they decided that there were too many people on board
0:31:40 > 0:31:43because the water was just coming in over the sides of the boat
0:31:43 > 0:31:47and over the back and it was filling up more than it was emptying.
0:31:51 > 0:31:53We were just paddling that out as quickly as we can
0:31:53 > 0:31:56and then we decided to take a couple of crew members off.
0:32:01 > 0:32:02Two hours after Laura's accident,
0:32:02 > 0:32:07yacht Blue Boat finally limps into Cowes on the Isle of Wight.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09It had all started so differently.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12Steven and Laura had set sail that morning with their dog
0:32:12 > 0:32:17in good weather, but, out at sea, conditions became rough and windy.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20Steven remembers vividly what happened next.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24The boom flicked right over and the main sheet that holds
0:32:24 > 0:32:30the boom down to the deck was caught on the back of Laura's lifejacket.
0:32:30 > 0:32:32It was quite horrific, really,
0:32:32 > 0:32:34because she was over the other side of the cockpit
0:32:34 > 0:32:38and it just caught behind the back of her lifejacket and flicked her
0:32:38 > 0:32:40and she went across like a ragdoll and just dashed
0:32:40 > 0:32:45against the side of the cockpit, which was a horrible thing to see.
0:32:45 > 0:32:47I could sense that her head was hurting,
0:32:47 > 0:32:53cos she put her hand up to shield her head and she turned and faced me
0:32:53 > 0:32:56and she was just completely different, she wasn't really there.
0:32:56 > 0:32:58Her eyes were completely black.
0:33:01 > 0:33:04It was so scary. I just thought she wasn't there any more.
0:33:04 > 0:33:06It was very, very frightening.
0:33:07 > 0:33:09After Laura's accident,
0:33:09 > 0:33:13Steven finds her in the Trauma Unit at Southampton General Hospital.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17They didn't sort of give me any false hopes and they didn't scare me
0:33:17 > 0:33:18to death either.
0:33:18 > 0:33:20Laura's head had been badly fractured
0:33:20 > 0:33:23and there were fears she had a bleed on her brain.
0:33:23 > 0:33:25They'd said that, from the CT scan,
0:33:25 > 0:33:30liquid inside her skull had probably come from the fracture
0:33:30 > 0:33:31inside her skull,
0:33:31 > 0:33:35which wasn't as concerning as what it would have been
0:33:35 > 0:33:38if it had been from the brain, which was quite a relief, really,
0:33:38 > 0:33:41and they said that she was going to be OK.
0:33:43 > 0:33:47Later, Laura faces a long recovery to full health.
0:33:56 > 0:33:58Bournemouth, mid-morning,
0:33:58 > 0:34:02a 999 call has come into South-western Ambulance Control
0:34:02 > 0:34:04from a GP's surgery.
0:34:04 > 0:34:07A doctor fears one of his patients is having a heart attack.
0:34:07 > 0:34:11He needs to be taken to hospital by the fastest possible means.
0:34:11 > 0:34:16Ambulance crew Phil Barrett and Karen Wright need to wire him up
0:34:16 > 0:34:19to an ECG so they can monitor him on the journey.
0:34:19 > 0:34:21It might seem a silly question, John -
0:34:21 > 0:34:24zero, no pain, ten, the worst pain you ever had.
0:34:24 > 0:34:27What number would you give it at the moment? It's about eight. Eight, OK.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30Can you give me something for it? Yeah, I'm going to sort that out.
0:34:30 > 0:34:3360-year-old John is suffering from severe chest pains.
0:34:33 > 0:34:36'They came on last night, but died down again.
0:34:36 > 0:34:39'This morning they're back with a vengeance.'
0:34:39 > 0:34:43When did you last have a squirt of GTN?
0:34:43 > 0:34:47When I was in the reception, I... Oh, God... OK.
0:34:53 > 0:34:54So, how long ago roughly
0:34:54 > 0:34:58did all of this episode sort of occur, previously?
0:34:58 > 0:35:00I was in hospital back in May. May, was it? OK, right.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03I'm just going to look underneath your tongue, then.
0:35:03 > 0:35:07The GTN spray dilates his arteries and eases the pain.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11The crew also want to minimise the risk of a clot forming.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15If we can, we'll take your top off, if that's all right.
0:35:20 > 0:35:25Aspirin in some water for you there, John. All right? So, if you...
0:35:25 > 0:35:26can drink that for me.
0:35:29 > 0:35:32'The ECG will tell Phil if John is having,
0:35:32 > 0:35:35'or about to have, a heart attack.'
0:35:36 > 0:35:39This patient has a long history of serious heart problems
0:35:39 > 0:35:41and cardiac surgery.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44I've had a cardiac arrest, I've had two heart attacks,
0:35:44 > 0:35:47I've got six stents inside me.
0:35:47 > 0:35:51Stents are minute wire mesh tubes inserted into arteries after
0:35:51 > 0:35:54they've been cleared of any blockage.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57OK, there doesn't appear to be anything new or acute
0:35:57 > 0:36:01showing on the ECG there, John, all right? That's good.
0:36:01 > 0:36:05That's a huge relief. There would be clear signs of another heart attack.
0:36:07 > 0:36:10But John's still in great pain.
0:36:10 > 0:36:12Although the spray has taken the edge off it,
0:36:12 > 0:36:13he needs more powerful painkillers.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16A sharp scratch to the back of your hand, all right? Yeah.
0:36:17 > 0:36:22Paramedics are going to give him the strongest painkiller they carry.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25All right, so you've had some morphine before? Yeah.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27So, you know, it might make you feel
0:36:27 > 0:36:30a little bit woozy and light-headed. OK.
0:36:30 > 0:36:34Like, maybe, you've had a few of your favourite tipple, if you enjoy one.
0:36:34 > 0:36:38It seems the problem might be caused by the body reacting to
0:36:38 > 0:36:40the stents, trying to reject the foreign bodies.
0:36:40 > 0:36:44It's the second time this has happened in three months.
0:36:44 > 0:36:46After going through so much,
0:36:46 > 0:36:49John has a good understanding of his heart problems.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53Did they say last time anything sort of about the arteries just
0:36:53 > 0:36:58sort of, you know, almost consistently spasming at all? Or...?
0:36:58 > 0:37:01Because a part of my heart's died... Yeah.
0:37:01 > 0:37:05..and I've got a blocked artery, which they...
0:37:05 > 0:37:08they have tried to drill out...
0:37:08 > 0:37:09but it's very small.
0:37:11 > 0:37:15Um...I've had more stents put in my other artery.
0:37:15 > 0:37:16Yeah. Um...
0:37:16 > 0:37:20and they're saying I've got so many stents on one artery now that,
0:37:20 > 0:37:24over a period of time, it tries to reject and it goes into spasm.
0:37:26 > 0:37:31It sounds a similar sort of episode to... Something's not right. No.
0:37:31 > 0:37:36It's possible the coronary artery is going into spasm as the body
0:37:36 > 0:37:38tries to reject the stents.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41If that continues, it could cause another heart attack.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44Feeling anything yet?
0:37:44 > 0:37:47A little bit more relaxed...? Yeah.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54OK. Right, we'll see how that goes. Yeah.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56All right, what sort of number would you give it at the moment
0:37:56 > 0:37:58between zero and ten?
0:37:58 > 0:38:01About four or five now. It's about four or five. It's come down now.
0:38:01 > 0:38:05John's had a rough time, but, for now, the morphine is doing its job.
0:38:05 > 0:38:06Pain under control,
0:38:06 > 0:38:09John's stable enough to start the journey to hospital.
0:38:09 > 0:38:14Phil stays by his side, continually monitoring the ECG to make sure
0:38:14 > 0:38:16there are no signs of a heart attack.
0:38:16 > 0:38:20With John's history, they can't take any chances.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23Everything's checking out all right, John. OK?
0:38:23 > 0:38:26All your observations are stable, which are good
0:38:26 > 0:38:30and there's no changes on the ECG at all. All right? That's good.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40At hospital, John will be taken to the cardiology unit,
0:38:40 > 0:38:44where his chest pains will be fully investigated.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56The au pair who collapsed by the roadside after
0:38:56 > 0:39:00a shunt on the M27 motorway was checked over at hospital.
0:39:00 > 0:39:02Have you got pain anywhere?
0:39:02 > 0:39:04In my chest. In your chest? How about your neck?
0:39:04 > 0:39:07Rosa suffered serious bruising from the seatbelt
0:39:07 > 0:39:10and was sent home to rest with painkillers.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12Right, if anyone's got any injuries,
0:39:12 > 0:39:15you need to travel in the ambulance and go to hospital.
0:39:15 > 0:39:20Both Olga and her son, Alec, also suffered minor bruising,
0:39:20 > 0:39:22but are now fully recovered.
0:39:23 > 0:39:27At hospital, the driver of the car that went into the crash barrier
0:39:27 > 0:39:31was found to have a broken rib and fractured bones in his feet.
0:39:31 > 0:39:33No charges were brought against him
0:39:33 > 0:39:37or the other driver, who was treated for whiplash.
0:39:37 > 0:39:40As for Alan, the recovery driver who stopped to help,
0:39:40 > 0:39:43he didn't make it home until the early hours of the morning.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45Too late for dinner.
0:39:46 > 0:39:50John, the heart patient taken into hospital with severe
0:39:50 > 0:39:51chest pains, was kept in for a week.
0:39:51 > 0:39:55During that time, his anti-rejection medication was adjusted.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58He's now back home and feeling much better.
0:40:03 > 0:40:06It's three months since Laura's accident on Blue Boat.
0:40:06 > 0:40:09She was left with multiple fractures to her skull.
0:40:09 > 0:40:12Although she was discharged from hospital after a week,
0:40:12 > 0:40:14she may still have to undergo surgery,
0:40:14 > 0:40:18but doctors want to wait for the injuries to settle.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21What I understand is that I had a fracture in my skull here
0:40:21 > 0:40:26and that fractured the eye socket on the right side.
0:40:26 > 0:40:29They had to shave my head and put stitches under here
0:40:29 > 0:40:33and I have had something that feels like a concave kind of crater,
0:40:33 > 0:40:35I called it a crater, here,
0:40:35 > 0:40:38but even that is becoming more and more normal.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42It's fantastic, actually. I'm incredibly lucky.
0:40:43 > 0:40:46One of the most disabling effects of a head injury is coping
0:40:46 > 0:40:51with double vision, which makes everyday tasks much more difficult.
0:40:51 > 0:40:54My two eyes are working quite differently
0:40:54 > 0:40:57and it's too much for my brain to pull it together.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59In hospital, they were trying to encourage me
0:40:59 > 0:41:02to do things independently and pour a glass of water, and I couldn't.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04I couldn't see where the glass was
0:41:04 > 0:41:06and I'd be pouring it all over the table,
0:41:06 > 0:41:08but just walking about, it's amazed me
0:41:08 > 0:41:11how much you count on your eyes to see if the ground's uneven
0:41:11 > 0:41:12or if there are steps
0:41:12 > 0:41:15and I've become someone who thinks there should be
0:41:15 > 0:41:17a yellow strip on every step now.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21Life is now continually interrupted by medical appointments, but Laura
0:41:21 > 0:41:26has been reassured that, in time, her sight will return to normal.
0:41:26 > 0:41:27Every morning as I wake up and look,
0:41:27 > 0:41:29"Have I got double vision this morning?"
0:41:29 > 0:41:33Um, unfortunately, I always have so far, but I am hopeful that
0:41:33 > 0:41:37it's going to correct itself and will sort itself out.
0:41:37 > 0:41:39Laura can't remember anything about the accident
0:41:39 > 0:41:44and it has not put her or her partner, Steven, off sailing.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47I think Laura has always had sailing in her blood,
0:41:47 > 0:41:50she's always been sailing, she's always done something on boats.
0:41:50 > 0:41:55She's drawn to that lifestyle and those activities.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59She's a very positive person. She's always upbeat about everything.
0:41:59 > 0:42:01She always sees the bright side of things
0:42:01 > 0:42:05and I think it's that ambition and that drive that keeps her going and
0:42:05 > 0:42:09I think we will start to sail again, maybe after Christmas
0:42:09 > 0:42:11and maybe next season.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16The rescue operation saved Laura's life.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20The difficult weather conditions requiring all the experience
0:42:20 > 0:42:23and expertise of the coastguard, air-sea rescue
0:42:23 > 0:42:26and two RNLI crews.
0:42:26 > 0:42:29Oh, it was a superb team effort.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33I don't think we could have got the casualty out from
0:42:33 > 0:42:36where she was without the effort of the RNLI.
0:42:36 > 0:42:37Um, they were very good.
0:42:37 > 0:42:43There's three of them on the yacht all doing different jobs and, uh...
0:42:43 > 0:42:45they all acted extremely well.
0:42:45 > 0:42:46It was a good shout for us.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49It was where we all worked together, it's where the training kicked in.
0:42:49 > 0:42:52It was the first time I had done a high line with the winchman.
0:42:52 > 0:42:53So, again we knew the theory,
0:42:53 > 0:42:56but it was nice to put some of that theory into practice
0:42:56 > 0:42:58and it's nice to hear that, obviously,
0:42:58 > 0:43:01Laura's making a recovery and we were able to help her that day.
0:43:07 > 0:43:08It never fails to amaze me -
0:43:08 > 0:43:12the skill, dedication and selflessness of the helicopter crews
0:43:12 > 0:43:17and RNLI who are out there helping those in need around our coastline.
0:43:17 > 0:43:19That's it for today's Real Rescues. See you next time.
0:43:23 > 0:43:26Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd