0:00:02 > 0:00:06Today on Real Rescues: firefighters spend three days tackling
0:00:06 > 0:00:08the West Midlands' biggest ever fire.
0:00:08 > 0:00:10The height of the flames, and the smoke plume,
0:00:10 > 0:00:13we had a smoke plume 6,000 feet up in the air
0:00:13 > 0:00:15which is a staggering height.
0:00:15 > 0:00:18The cause - a Chinese lantern.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21A 999 call from a sports club.
0:00:25 > 0:00:29A father collapses in front of his son on the badminton court.
0:00:29 > 0:00:32He should've died that night but he was fighting all the way through
0:00:32 > 0:00:36and when I saw him come back, when he finally regained consciousness,
0:00:36 > 0:00:40it was the most wonderful feeling I've ever had in my life.
0:00:40 > 0:00:42A dolphin weak and stranded in the River Dee
0:00:42 > 0:00:45starts chatting as soon as help arrives.
0:00:45 > 0:00:47CLICKING AND SQUIRTING
0:01:07 > 0:01:08Welcome to Real Rescues,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11going behind the scenes with all of our emergency services.
0:01:11 > 0:01:12Every day of the year,
0:01:12 > 0:01:15around 85,000 people in need of desperate help
0:01:15 > 0:01:18dial 999 in Britain.
0:01:18 > 0:01:21Those calls are routed into state-of-the-art centres like this.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24The staff in here know that when lives may be at stake,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26it's vital no time is lost.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33The UK and Irish coastlines are dotted with lifeboat stations,
0:01:33 > 0:01:36their powerful boats ready to be launched the moment
0:01:36 > 0:01:38anyone is in danger out at sea.
0:01:39 > 0:01:41They're usually saving people
0:01:41 > 0:01:44but sometimes they're called in to help wildlife in danger.
0:01:45 > 0:01:50Flint RNLI are heading to the River Dee at Saltney Ferry.
0:01:50 > 0:01:52A dolphin has swum miles inland.
0:01:52 > 0:01:56Experts have been waiting for it to swim free
0:01:56 > 0:01:59but four days have passed - it needs help now.
0:02:01 > 0:02:03The crew find a dolphin by the shore.
0:02:03 > 0:02:06It is moving, but appears weak.
0:02:06 > 0:02:07We got alongside the dolphin
0:02:07 > 0:02:10and it was obvious that it was struggling,
0:02:10 > 0:02:13it was on the side, it was on its side.
0:02:17 > 0:02:21The dolphin allows lifeboat volunteer Rob to get up close
0:02:21 > 0:02:22and stroke her.
0:02:25 > 0:02:27Excellent.
0:02:29 > 0:02:33And then really, when we got right up close next to it
0:02:33 > 0:02:36and put our hands on it, it just seemed to calm down and settle down.
0:02:36 > 0:02:40It just seemed to sort of accept that it needed help.
0:02:40 > 0:02:42Within a few minutes, the dolphin starts chattering,
0:02:42 > 0:02:44communicating with him.
0:02:44 > 0:02:46CLICKING AND SQUIRTING
0:02:50 > 0:02:52The crew need to get it out to deep water.
0:02:52 > 0:02:55They're going to put it in their ambulance pouch.
0:02:55 > 0:02:57This works as a stretcher
0:02:57 > 0:03:00but they have no experience at fitting it around a dolphin.
0:03:00 > 0:03:03It just stopped flapping around and allowed us
0:03:03 > 0:03:05to do what we were going to do with it,
0:03:05 > 0:03:08which was put the ambulance pouch underneath it
0:03:08 > 0:03:11and float it into a bit deeper water.
0:03:13 > 0:03:15The dolphin struggles as they work.
0:03:15 > 0:03:18The experts believe the mammal swam up the river
0:03:18 > 0:03:20during a high spring tide.
0:03:20 > 0:03:23It's an extremely rare sight in this part of the UK.
0:03:25 > 0:03:29We pulled it alongside next to the lifeboat in the ambulance bag,
0:03:29 > 0:03:33kept it in the water for about five minutes to see
0:03:33 > 0:03:37if it was going to make any effort to swim off or anything,
0:03:37 > 0:03:41which it didn't, it just sort of carried on lying there.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44ON RADIO: 'Flint Lifeboat, this is Flint Mobile.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46'Flint Mobile receiving, over.'
0:03:46 > 0:03:48The crew update control.
0:03:48 > 0:03:51When we came alongside the dolphin, it was on its side
0:03:51 > 0:03:55and floundering on the English side of the river.
0:03:55 > 0:03:57We put two crewmen in the water, we've got it
0:03:57 > 0:04:03and we're alongside it now in our ambulance pouch.
0:04:03 > 0:04:05Just wondering for advice, over.
0:04:06 > 0:04:09The decision is taken to lift the dolphin into the RNLI rib.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12'Flint Lifeboat, this is Flint Mobile. For your information,
0:04:12 > 0:04:15'we're now making our way towards your position, over.'
0:04:15 > 0:04:18We made a decision to put it into the lifeboat.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22It was quite heavy, it was probably about as tall as me,
0:04:22 > 0:04:24it filled the lifeboat from bow to stern,
0:04:24 > 0:04:27not something I was expecting it to do.
0:04:27 > 0:04:29They're going to meet the all-weather Rhyl Lifeboat
0:04:29 > 0:04:32and release the mammal three miles out in the open sea
0:04:32 > 0:04:36but helming a boat with a six-foot dolphin on board is challenging.
0:04:36 > 0:04:39She kept sliding backwards because of her weight, so we had to keep
0:04:39 > 0:04:43stopping on the way out to sea to slide her forward to give me a bit
0:04:43 > 0:04:47of room to enable us to keep driving because I was next to her tail.
0:04:47 > 0:04:49On three. One, two, three...
0:04:56 > 0:04:59It's a female dolphin. The crew tries to keep her
0:04:59 > 0:05:02as relaxed as possible, dousing her with water.
0:05:06 > 0:05:08A couple of crew were talking to her,
0:05:08 > 0:05:11she was talking back in dolphin noises and clicks.
0:05:11 > 0:05:14Erm, she was quite chatty, really.
0:05:14 > 0:05:17They rendezvous with the Rhyl Lifeboat.
0:05:17 > 0:05:21They will tie up alongside. On board are marine wildlife experts
0:05:21 > 0:05:23who will help with the final release.
0:05:36 > 0:05:40The dolphin is so weak, two crew get in the sea to support her.
0:05:42 > 0:05:46It's been a team effort, but now it's all down to her.
0:05:46 > 0:05:47They're doing all they can to help her,
0:05:47 > 0:05:51making sure she's in the best possible position to start swimming.
0:06:08 > 0:06:12It seems like an age, but after five minutes and a flap of the tail,
0:06:12 > 0:06:13she's off.
0:06:22 > 0:06:25It was a lovely feeling after the effort we'd put in all day
0:06:25 > 0:06:29to see her in the water and then settle down a little bit
0:06:29 > 0:06:31and then flap, and off she went, and she swam.
0:06:31 > 0:06:33And as she swam, you could see her
0:06:33 > 0:06:36sort of diving out of the water, really.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39A couple of dives and off she went.
0:06:39 > 0:06:43It's been a new experience for the crew and one of the most rewarding.
0:06:43 > 0:06:45Everyone felt really good at the end of the day,
0:06:45 > 0:06:49like we'd achieved something really special and she's out there
0:06:49 > 0:06:53and she's enjoying the life that we gave her, really.
0:07:05 > 0:07:09On duty in Bournemouth, emergency care practitioner Ray Thane.
0:07:09 > 0:07:12He's a qualified nurse and paramedic.
0:07:12 > 0:07:15He has a range of specialist skills and aims to keep patients
0:07:15 > 0:07:19out of hospital, but he also deals with more serious emergencies.
0:07:22 > 0:07:23It's a hot summer's day
0:07:23 > 0:07:27and Ray's heading inland to a town just north of Bournemouth.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30A woman is in severe pain after a fall.
0:07:30 > 0:07:31Hello. Hello, there.
0:07:31 > 0:07:34The emergency is all happening in a front garden.
0:07:36 > 0:07:38What can we call you? Brenda.
0:07:38 > 0:07:39Brenda, I'm Ray.
0:07:39 > 0:07:42Brenda's neighbours found her in great distress.
0:07:42 > 0:07:44So, where's the pain?
0:07:44 > 0:07:47It feels funny down... Oh, it feels funny down here.
0:07:47 > 0:07:50Feels funny down there? Yeah.
0:07:50 > 0:07:53It's as though I'm lying on something - it's going like that...
0:07:53 > 0:07:55You've got no pain in your neck or anything?
0:07:55 > 0:07:57No. I could see that because...
0:07:57 > 0:08:00Have you got any pain anywhere else? No, just me leg.
0:08:00 > 0:08:05Have you got any pins and needles in your legs at all? No, no. OK.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08How attached are you to these trousers?
0:08:08 > 0:08:11Oh, no, it don't matter, take 'em off, I don't care.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Take 'em off.
0:08:13 > 0:08:14You loose one, you.
0:08:14 > 0:08:17Just take your trousers off! God, I don't know.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21Ray suspects that Brenda has suffered a significant injury
0:08:21 > 0:08:24but he needs to move her to a better position
0:08:24 > 0:08:27before he can confirm his suspicion.
0:08:27 > 0:08:30It's very difficult to assess you like this.
0:08:30 > 0:08:33What do you want me to do? Can I help in any way?
0:08:33 > 0:08:36Ideally, we need to get you onto your back, really.
0:08:36 > 0:08:40Neighbour Alexandrina is thankful she heard Brenda's cries
0:08:40 > 0:08:42and sent her husband to investigate.
0:08:42 > 0:08:44We were actually sitting in the garden
0:08:44 > 0:08:46and we heard somebody shouting "help"
0:08:46 > 0:08:49but I just assumed it was the little boy next door climbing the tree.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51And my husband said,
0:08:51 > 0:08:53"Hang on a minute, I'll get the key and come round to you,"
0:08:53 > 0:08:55and he disappeared and he didn't come back
0:08:55 > 0:08:57so I thought that something's happened.
0:08:57 > 0:09:00So I followed him, found my way to Brenda's
0:09:00 > 0:09:02and he's on the phone, ringing 999.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05Brenda's legs seemed to be different lengths
0:09:05 > 0:09:08and that indicates something serious could have happened.
0:09:08 > 0:09:10BRENDA GROANS So, where's the pain?
0:09:10 > 0:09:13It's all over 'ere. All over there.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15Oh, it's where that muscle was before.
0:09:15 > 0:09:17OK, all right.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19Can you lift this leg at all?
0:09:19 > 0:09:23Oh, no. No, I can't. OK.
0:09:23 > 0:09:25Ray updates Control, his fears are confirmed -
0:09:25 > 0:09:27Brenda needs to get to hospital.
0:09:29 > 0:09:33Uh, a bit of backup, please. MACHINE BEEPS
0:09:33 > 0:09:35CONTROL: 'See what we can sort for you, Ray.'
0:09:35 > 0:09:38This is a possible NOF.
0:09:38 > 0:09:44An NOF is short-hand for a fractured neck of femur, or broken hip.
0:09:44 > 0:09:47That leg is a lot shorter than this leg.
0:09:47 > 0:09:49Now, it's not obviously rotated,
0:09:49 > 0:09:52but it may do, because this is stopping it,
0:09:52 > 0:09:55and that's a clinical sign of a broken hip.
0:09:55 > 0:09:58How much pain are you in? Not a lot.
0:09:58 > 0:09:59Yeah, I can put up with it.
0:09:59 > 0:10:02No, you're not here to put up with things. I know, I'm OK.
0:10:02 > 0:10:04It's only when I try to move my legs that it hurts.
0:10:04 > 0:10:08Well, don't move your legs then. I won't, I promise.
0:10:08 > 0:10:10Oh, dear. Now...
0:10:10 > 0:10:13If I said nought was no pain, ten was the worst pain on this planet,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16can you give me a number between nought and ten? About five.
0:10:16 > 0:10:21Brenda is remaining stoical, this is an extremely painful injury,
0:10:21 > 0:10:22but she seems to be coping well.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25I'm just going to give Brenda some morphine,
0:10:25 > 0:10:29cos the pain is quite considerable - 5/10.
0:10:30 > 0:10:32The pain score is quite considerable.
0:10:35 > 0:10:37The morphine quickly takes effect
0:10:37 > 0:10:40and when the ambulance crew arrive and make their introductions,
0:10:40 > 0:10:42Brenda's in good spirits.
0:10:42 > 0:10:45Hello, you're looking cool there with your shades on.
0:10:45 > 0:10:48Oh, dear, I just tried to water me garden and look how I've ended up.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Aw, sorry you've hurt yourself. My name's Andy.
0:10:51 > 0:10:53Hello, Andy. Hello. I'm Brenda.
0:10:53 > 0:10:55Hello, Brenda. Nice to meet you.
0:10:55 > 0:10:58I've given a titrate of five of morphine,
0:10:58 > 0:11:01so we've got a line in here, and that's helped, hasn't it?
0:11:01 > 0:11:02Yes, it has helped.
0:11:02 > 0:11:07With such a traumatic injury she needs to go to a specialist unit.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10What I'm thinking is, you're quite out in the sticks,
0:11:10 > 0:11:13without being rude. Yeah. So, we can either go to Salisbury...
0:11:13 > 0:11:15Oh, no. Bournemouth. No, you can't get up.
0:11:15 > 0:11:18The reason you can't go to Bournemouth is because...
0:11:18 > 0:11:22They're full up. Yeah, everywhere is full up.
0:11:22 > 0:11:24It's because you've had a traumatic injury,
0:11:24 > 0:11:26only Poole specialise in hip fractures.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Poole. So, you'd prefer Poole? I'd rather go there.
0:11:29 > 0:11:31The garden is on different levels.
0:11:31 > 0:11:33They clear the area as best they can.
0:11:33 > 0:11:36They need to handle Brenda as carefully as possible.
0:11:36 > 0:11:39It's going to take all hands.
0:11:39 > 0:11:43Ready, set, slide. Ooh. That's good.
0:11:43 > 0:11:47All right, Dave, a little bit more, so the lady's central.
0:11:47 > 0:11:50Everybody ready? Ready, set, slide.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Because we've got to move from there to there,
0:11:52 > 0:11:55let's just put some straps around.
0:11:55 > 0:11:58Twisting you a little bit. OK. Everybody ready? Yes.
0:11:58 > 0:12:00Ready, set, lift.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Oh, Christ Almighty! Oh, my God, aren't they big and strong?
0:12:03 > 0:12:04There we go.
0:12:04 > 0:12:08Kath? Yes? I'll have my handbag and my key in it.
0:12:08 > 0:12:11All right? There. This can come off now.
0:12:11 > 0:12:14It's vital that they keep on top of the pain
0:12:14 > 0:12:17so Brenda is comfortable on the journey to hospital.
0:12:17 > 0:12:19Ray prepares some more morphine
0:12:19 > 0:12:21before they wheel her to the ambulance.
0:12:23 > 0:12:26The pain relief works immediately.
0:12:26 > 0:12:29Brenda is now in the hands of the ambulance crew.
0:12:29 > 0:12:32Ray's role in her rescue is over.
0:12:32 > 0:12:35OK, Brenda, you take care now. Yes, thank you ever so much.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37Look after yourself. Yes, I will, I'll try.
0:12:37 > 0:12:40I won't water the garden again. No, get somebody else to do it.
0:12:42 > 0:12:44You take care. Thank you. Thanks, guys.
0:12:48 > 0:12:51Brenda will undergo X-rays at hospital.
0:12:51 > 0:12:52We'll catch up with her progress.
0:12:54 > 0:12:59Later, Ray has just the gadget to get Henry off the ground.
0:12:59 > 0:13:00Isn't it clever?
0:13:04 > 0:13:06We're about to see just how difficult rescues can get
0:13:06 > 0:13:08for Britain's Fire and Rescue Service.
0:13:08 > 0:13:12The blaze they're tackling is sending smoke 6,000ft into the air.
0:13:12 > 0:13:14200 firefighters are needed, and it's
0:13:14 > 0:13:17so tough some of the crew are treated in hospital for exhaustion.
0:13:19 > 0:13:23CCTV at a recycling plant in the Midlands is about to capture
0:13:23 > 0:13:25the cause of an inferno.
0:13:25 > 0:13:28A tiny ball of light can be seen at the top of the screen.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30It's a Chinese lantern
0:13:30 > 0:13:34and it's this flame that starts a devastating fire.
0:13:38 > 0:13:40Two hours later, this is the scene
0:13:40 > 0:13:43at the plastics recycling plant at Smethwick.
0:13:43 > 0:13:47It's the largest fire ever in the West Midlands -
0:13:47 > 0:13:5010,000 tones of plastic waste is burning out of control.
0:13:52 > 0:13:55Assistant Chief Fire Officer Phil Hales recalls
0:13:55 > 0:13:58the sight as he made his way to the scene.
0:13:58 > 0:14:02The fire itself covered a vast area, and I think that was one thing,
0:14:02 > 0:14:04but it was also the height of the flames and the smoke plume.
0:14:04 > 0:14:09We had a plume 6,000ft up in the air, which is a staggering height to see.
0:14:09 > 0:14:11Bearing in mind it was dark,
0:14:11 > 0:14:14I could still see the smoke plume as I got on the M6 at Walsall
0:14:14 > 0:14:16from several miles away, so that gave me
0:14:16 > 0:14:19an indication immediately that this was no ordinary fire.
0:14:21 > 0:14:25Daryl Humpage was one of 200 frontline firefighters who responded
0:14:25 > 0:14:27to the emergency 999 call.
0:14:27 > 0:14:29The closer we got to the incident,
0:14:29 > 0:14:33the flames were many metres high.
0:14:35 > 0:14:37Pulsing smoke and it was getting larger
0:14:37 > 0:14:40and larger as it was getting closer.
0:14:40 > 0:14:43The recycling plant is on an industrial estate and it is
0:14:43 > 0:14:48close to midnight so there's no-one on site and no lives are at risk.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50But the battle is on to stop it spreading
0:14:50 > 0:14:52and destroying everything in its wake.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56There were 10,000 tonnes of material on fire and this was very
0:14:56 > 0:15:00densely baled plastic and paper materials, which burn very rapidly.
0:15:00 > 0:15:04We had 50mph winds that night in some places
0:15:04 > 0:15:05so there was very strong winds going on
0:15:05 > 0:15:08and it made it a very difficult, intense fire to deal with.
0:15:12 > 0:15:15Fire crews are being called in from across the West Midlands.
0:15:15 > 0:15:18The fire's so vast they need to attack it from all sides.
0:15:19 > 0:15:22We had to work quickly to get the water on.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26We were always making sure we were looking out for each other.
0:15:26 > 0:15:30It was Phil Hale's job to work out a plan to tackle the massive blaze.
0:15:30 > 0:15:31It was quite clear to me
0:15:31 > 0:15:33we hadn't enough resources to put the fire out.
0:15:33 > 0:15:34The fire was going to require
0:15:34 > 0:15:36a massive amount of water to extinguish it.
0:15:36 > 0:15:40So the initial plan was very much to protect the surrounding premises.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42They're taking water from the Birmingham canal
0:15:42 > 0:15:46as well as from the water main, but it's still not enough.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49Maximum amount of water we had going on the fire at any one time
0:15:49 > 0:15:52was 20,000 litres of water per minute
0:15:52 > 0:15:55and there was no more water we could get for the fire ground.
0:15:55 > 0:15:58Everything is against the firefighters.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00The waste is tinder-dry after weeks of hot weather
0:16:00 > 0:16:04and the flames are being fanned by the strong wind.
0:16:04 > 0:16:07The plume of smoke is hundreds of metres high
0:16:07 > 0:16:10and it seemed to be growing and growing every minute.
0:16:10 > 0:16:13You could see the smoke going higher and higher
0:16:13 > 0:16:15and drifting off miles.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19The night wears on and they're no nearer to putting out the fire.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22They're concentrating on creating a water curtain between the fire
0:16:22 > 0:16:26and nearby buildings to stop them catching fire.
0:16:26 > 0:16:29The firefighters are working in relays.
0:16:29 > 0:16:34It felt like your skin was melting. Just felt really hot at the time.
0:16:34 > 0:16:37We was doing it in teams of two so one would be on a water branch
0:16:37 > 0:16:39trying to put the fire out
0:16:39 > 0:16:42and the next team would have ten minutes rest and then we'd swap over.
0:16:42 > 0:16:45So, again, you could work a longer time.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56As night turns to day, the huge plume of black smoke is still
0:16:56 > 0:16:58drifting across the estate.
0:16:58 > 0:17:00The fire is still burning.
0:17:00 > 0:17:04It looks like no-one will be working in the nearby units for some time.
0:17:04 > 0:17:08When Ian Robbins first tried to get to his office at 9:00am
0:17:08 > 0:17:12the roads into the estate were all closed.
0:17:12 > 0:17:15I stood in the middle of the car park behind Hawthorns House
0:17:15 > 0:17:18and I could feel the heat from that point.
0:17:18 > 0:17:22There was a lot of smoke, very toxic.
0:17:22 > 0:17:23And the fire service gave me a mask,
0:17:23 > 0:17:25together with three of my managers,
0:17:25 > 0:17:29just so we didn't inhale the nasty fumes from the fire, really.
0:17:29 > 0:17:33Firefighters broke into Ian's company in the early hours and hosed
0:17:33 > 0:17:38water onto their warehouse wall for hours to stop it going up in flames.
0:17:38 > 0:17:40The wall was just 6m away from the fire.
0:17:42 > 0:17:47There was a platform out in the road.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50That was controlling the water onto the roof.
0:17:50 > 0:17:53And, literally, there was hoses all the way through my building.
0:17:53 > 0:17:57And they didn't want to take the hoses away,
0:17:57 > 0:18:01even when they knew the building was out of danger, just in case.
0:18:01 > 0:18:03They needed to keep everything in place.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05There was miles and miles...
0:18:05 > 0:18:08I've never seen so many hoses in my life.
0:18:08 > 0:18:10Ian's job was to keep the distribution company
0:18:10 > 0:18:12operating in spite of the damage.
0:18:12 > 0:18:16The firefighters were still pouring water on the fire.
0:18:16 > 0:18:20And that went on for three days before it was finally extinguished.
0:18:24 > 0:18:28The fire caused ?6 million worth of devastation at the plastics
0:18:28 > 0:18:29recycling plant.
0:18:35 > 0:18:38Four firefighters had to be treated in hospital.
0:18:38 > 0:18:42But no lives were lost and it could have been a very different story.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45A firefighting point of view,
0:18:45 > 0:18:48to have a fire of that magnitude, which was a major incident for us,
0:18:48 > 0:18:51it really stretched our resources. And to actually have
0:18:51 > 0:18:53the outcome that we did, I think it was a very positive result.
0:18:53 > 0:18:55Despite the flood,
0:18:55 > 0:18:58the office team manages to keep the business operating.
0:18:58 > 0:19:03Eight weeks later, Ian's full of praise for the firefighters.
0:19:03 > 0:19:04They did a fantastic job.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09They were very personable people and nothing was too much trouble.
0:19:09 > 0:19:13I can't speak highly enough of them in all honesty. They were brilliant.
0:19:21 > 0:19:25It's important when you have an accident and call in 999 or
0:19:25 > 0:19:28111 to tell the truth about what happened and as soon as possible.
0:19:28 > 0:19:31To explain why it's so important, I'm chatting to Sam
0:19:31 > 0:19:36about a call that came in here about a bike accident, ostensibly.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37Yeah, that's right.
0:19:37 > 0:19:40The call initially came through to 111 and it was passed for us
0:19:40 > 0:19:43to give the patient a call back for a dental call.
0:19:43 > 0:19:46He'd fallen off his bike and taken out his two front teeth.
0:19:46 > 0:19:48And that was all the information that we had.
0:19:48 > 0:19:50And when was this accident supposed to have happened?
0:19:50 > 0:19:52Actually it turned out that the accident
0:19:52 > 0:19:54had happened the night before
0:19:54 > 0:19:57and it had taken him over 12 hours to phone us.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58That's kind of odd, isn't it?
0:19:58 > 0:20:01Yeah, he also didn't have any other type of injury,
0:20:01 > 0:20:03no grazes, bruises, bleeding,
0:20:03 > 0:20:05anything like that, so it was a bit suspicious.
0:20:05 > 0:20:07So you start to get suspicious about what it is
0:20:07 > 0:20:11and what is your general thought about what it might end up being?
0:20:11 > 0:20:14Anything other than a motorbike accident really.
0:20:14 > 0:20:16There would have been other signs to show that.
0:20:16 > 0:20:18And if he had been in an accident,
0:20:18 > 0:20:21I would have thought he would have called a bit sooner. Yeah.
0:20:21 > 0:20:23So maybe he's involved in a fight or something
0:20:23 > 0:20:26lost his two front teeth and doesn't want to tell the truth.
0:20:26 > 0:20:27But he's left it so long...
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Why would it have been a much better idea for him
0:20:29 > 0:20:31to have dealt with it straight away
0:20:31 > 0:20:33and told the truth about what might have happened to him?
0:20:33 > 0:20:36In some cases when teeth fall out, you can actually have them
0:20:36 > 0:20:37implanted back in,
0:20:37 > 0:20:39your own teeth,
0:20:39 > 0:20:41if you get hold of somebody within about a 30 minute timeframe.
0:20:41 > 0:20:42It's not always the case
0:20:42 > 0:20:45but that could have happened in that situation.
0:20:45 > 0:20:49So this person who is now going to have major dental reconstruction
0:20:49 > 0:20:52work could have avoided that and had his own front teeth re-implanted
0:20:52 > 0:20:55if the moment he'd had the problem he'd have called straight away.
0:20:55 > 0:20:57Absolutely. So the advice is be honest about it.
0:20:57 > 0:21:00You're never going to judge them in terms of... No, never.
0:21:00 > 0:21:02And just call as soon as you can. All right, smashing.
0:21:02 > 0:21:04Thank you very much. Thanks.
0:21:07 > 0:21:09Coming up on Real Rescues:
0:21:09 > 0:21:13Paramedic Ray impresses Henry with his blow-up chair...
0:21:13 > 0:21:15Isn't it clever?
0:21:15 > 0:21:17HE LAUGHS
0:21:17 > 0:21:19Going down, there was a very good...
0:21:19 > 0:21:21..and Grace with his fine stitching.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25How does that feel? It feels very comfortable.
0:21:33 > 0:21:35It's one of the coldest winters on record.
0:21:35 > 0:21:38Snow is causing travel chaos across the county.
0:21:38 > 0:21:42In Derbyshire, that's going to mean the difference between life
0:21:42 > 0:21:43and death for one man.
0:21:45 > 0:21:46At the Etwall Leisure Centre
0:21:46 > 0:21:48just outside Derby,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50the weekly badminton club night is under way.
0:21:50 > 0:21:54After a last-minute change of plan, Kerrie Webster has joined the group.
0:21:54 > 0:21:57So that Friday night, it was freezing cold,
0:21:57 > 0:22:01snow. I was supposed to go to somebody's birthday party,
0:22:01 > 0:22:05didn't manage to get there, so decided to come to badminton instead.
0:22:05 > 0:22:08Paul Glaze is playing with his dad, David,
0:22:08 > 0:22:11when they find themselves on the losing team.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14So, as we talked about having a rematch, I called Dad over
0:22:14 > 0:22:16and said, "Come on, let's have one more game."
0:22:16 > 0:22:18And he made a noise to me, like a bit of a grunt,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21sort of, "Oh..." Like a sigh that he would make
0:22:21 > 0:22:24if he was feeling a bit tired but he knew he had to do a bit more.
0:22:24 > 0:22:27He made that the noise again and I thought, my initial reaction was,
0:22:27 > 0:22:30"Oh, come on, Dad, you can play one more. You've got one more in you."
0:22:30 > 0:22:35And he hit the floor and, basically, his head took the brunt of the fall.
0:22:35 > 0:22:37When I saw that, I obviously realised something was wrong.
0:22:37 > 0:22:41The thud on the floor, it was such a... It's a chilling noise.
0:22:41 > 0:22:43I can still hear it now. I can still see it.
0:22:43 > 0:22:46Not only is the club well equipped with a defibrillator,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48which can shock a heart back into rhythm,
0:22:48 > 0:22:53but also there is someone on-site tonight who has experience using it.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56Little did I know that Kerrie was an off duty paramedic.
0:22:56 > 0:22:58So, suddenly there's a relief there
0:22:58 > 0:23:01because somebody who knows what they're doing is on hand
0:23:01 > 0:23:04and is straight with my dad within seconds of it happening.
0:23:04 > 0:23:07So, it was an absolute blessing really.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11Kerrie has realised David is in cardiac arrest. She starts CPR.
0:23:11 > 0:23:15The way he looked and the way he felt, it was just
0:23:15 > 0:23:17a gut instinct that that wasn't a faint,
0:23:17 > 0:23:19he wasn't just going to come back round on his own.
0:23:19 > 0:23:22Another member of staff dials 999.
0:23:46 > 0:23:49The control room has dispatched an ambulance.
0:23:49 > 0:23:51As they wait at the leisure centre,
0:23:51 > 0:23:52Kerrie is alone in knowing
0:23:52 > 0:23:54the seriousness of the David's condition.
0:23:54 > 0:23:56The son actually asked me
0:23:56 > 0:23:59if he'd be all right and that was difficult to look him
0:23:59 > 0:24:02in the eye and say, "I'm going to do everything I can,"
0:24:02 > 0:24:04but actually knowing that I didn't know
0:24:04 > 0:24:06whether it would be all right or not.
0:24:06 > 0:24:09And if it didn't turn out as well as it did, whether I'd be able to
0:24:09 > 0:24:12go back to the badminton group and face the same people again.
0:24:14 > 0:24:18I knew that every second that we were doing CPR,
0:24:18 > 0:24:22the longer we had to wait for an ambulance and definitive care,
0:24:22 > 0:24:28I knew in my mind that we risked the chance of losing David that night.
0:24:28 > 0:24:30And I had to not think about that
0:24:30 > 0:24:34because the emotional attachment to it would've made me go to pieces.
0:24:34 > 0:24:37So I had to pretend that I didn't know David, that
0:24:37 > 0:24:40I was doing my job and I just had to keep going until we got some help.
0:24:40 > 0:24:44Once manager Phil Templer arrives with his defibrillator,
0:24:44 > 0:24:48Kerrie has a chance to get David's heart working again.
0:24:56 > 0:24:58To stand there above and watch what was going on,
0:24:58 > 0:25:01it was such a strange, surreal experience for me.
0:25:01 > 0:25:04I've never ever seen anything like that occur before.
0:25:04 > 0:25:06And I've never seen anything like that happen to my dad.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09And when you see a man who you've looked up to for years -
0:25:09 > 0:25:12for 30 years of your life, suddenly he's on the floor and he's helpless,
0:25:12 > 0:25:15it's a horrible experience - I wouldn't wish it on anyone. So...
0:25:15 > 0:25:20to see, sort of, her trying to get him back to life, it was...
0:25:20 > 0:25:22it was wonderful to see her doing it but, also,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24the other side of the coin was,
0:25:24 > 0:25:26I hope she can do it because he seemed like he was gone.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30The first shock of defibrillator works.
0:25:30 > 0:25:33David's heart is back in working in rhythm.
0:25:33 > 0:25:36Kerrie's relief is clear.
0:25:47 > 0:25:48I tried to get up.
0:25:48 > 0:25:51I remember trying to get up but my limbs wouldn't obey me.
0:25:51 > 0:25:58I heard "David? David?" And I could see Kerrie leaning over me.
0:25:58 > 0:26:02And the biggest emotion came over me. I felt stupid.
0:26:04 > 0:26:06In fact they said, "Why do feel stupid?"
0:26:06 > 0:26:09Because I'm suddenly helpless on the floor.
0:26:09 > 0:26:12It was such a relief to see him, after two minutes, come back because
0:26:12 > 0:26:14for the two minutes before that,
0:26:14 > 0:26:16he sounded like a car that wouldn't start.
0:26:16 > 0:26:19He was making a whirring noise inside of him
0:26:19 > 0:26:20and it wasn't going, it wasn't going,
0:26:20 > 0:26:23but all the way through it, you could tell he was fighting.
0:26:23 > 0:26:24He should have died that night
0:26:24 > 0:26:26but he was fighting all the way through it.
0:26:26 > 0:26:30And when I saw him come back and he finally regained consciousness,
0:26:30 > 0:26:33it was the most wonderful thing I've ever had in my life.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37At hospital, David was found to have two blocked arteries.
0:26:37 > 0:26:41He had two stents inserted and has made a good recovery.
0:26:41 > 0:26:44He's delighted to be back with his family.
0:26:44 > 0:26:48A big motivating force in my recovery has been my family,
0:26:48 > 0:26:51especially my grandchildren - Ruby and Isla.
0:26:51 > 0:26:54Thinking back on it, your mind starts racing and you're thinking,
0:26:54 > 0:26:57"I never would've seen them again. I won't see them grow up.
0:26:57 > 0:27:01"I won't see them get married." It really does... It troubles you.
0:27:01 > 0:27:05Paul is relieved that fate dealt a good hand to his dad that night.
0:27:05 > 0:27:08If Kerry had left half an hour earlier,
0:27:08 > 0:27:10if the centre didn't have a defibrillator,
0:27:10 > 0:27:13if my dad had decided to leave instead of having the rematch,
0:27:13 > 0:27:15he would be dead now.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17Although it's taken a while for him to recover,
0:27:17 > 0:27:20I'm so grateful to the people who helped that night
0:27:20 > 0:27:23because his granddaughters get to have their granddad.
0:27:29 > 0:27:31Gemma is one of the managers of call takers.
0:27:31 > 0:27:34I've asked her over here to have a chat about people
0:27:34 > 0:27:36who don't necessarily want to be helpful on the phone.
0:27:36 > 0:27:40There was a call from a chap
0:27:40 > 0:27:42whose wife was ill. Yeah.
0:27:42 > 0:27:45The wife wasn't very well, the husband was very concerned.
0:27:45 > 0:27:49And as a process, we have a series of questions we need to ask them.
0:27:49 > 0:27:52But some people are very reluctant to answer our questions
0:27:52 > 0:27:55and it just can delay care, so...
0:27:55 > 0:27:58So he was getting frustrated and you were trying to get information.
0:27:58 > 0:28:00So, how was he reacting?
0:28:00 > 0:28:02What was it that he thought was wrong with his wife?
0:28:02 > 0:28:04He was worried about his wife.
0:28:04 > 0:28:06His wife had very slurred speech,
0:28:06 > 0:28:08which sets alarm bells going off in my head,
0:28:08 > 0:28:10you know, stroke and things like that.
0:28:10 > 0:28:13And I was trying to get him to answer questions but he was like,
0:28:13 > 0:28:15"Oh, I just want to speak to a doctor."
0:28:15 > 0:28:18He just doesn't... He wasn't cooperating with what I was saying.
0:28:18 > 0:28:20He thinks it's delaying the care but actually
0:28:20 > 0:28:23him not answering my questions was delaying the care.
0:28:23 > 0:28:25And I suppose he's saying, "I need to speak to a doctor.
0:28:25 > 0:28:28"I need someone who knows what they're doing."
0:28:28 > 0:28:29But you have a set profile to deal with
0:28:29 > 0:28:35and narrow down what the lady might be suffering from. Yeah, we have...
0:28:35 > 0:28:37If I'm thinking of stroke,
0:28:37 > 0:28:39I'd kind of go down the stroke assessment questions
0:28:39 > 0:28:42and I'd only need to ask two or three questions and then an ambulance
0:28:42 > 0:28:44would be on its way if it could be a suspected stroke.
0:28:44 > 0:28:49OK, and in the circumstances, where that's happening, you can
0:28:49 > 0:28:51actually pre-prepare the ambulance crews with
0:28:51 > 0:28:54knowledge when they actually get on scene? Yeah.
0:28:54 > 0:28:56The more they cooperate and answer our questions,
0:28:56 > 0:28:59the more information we can give to the ambulance service as well.
0:28:59 > 0:29:01And by delaying and arguing with you,
0:29:01 > 0:29:04they might be delaying the whole process and indeed the information.
0:29:04 > 0:29:07With stroke, it's really important to react quickly.
0:29:07 > 0:29:08Yeah. Definitely with strokes.
0:29:08 > 0:29:10But I suppose you can also understand that
0:29:10 > 0:29:13people are nervous or upset or frightened?
0:29:13 > 0:29:16Yeah, I mean, when someone is not well, they act differently
0:29:16 > 0:29:20and if it's someone you love, you'd act differently as well, so...
0:29:20 > 0:29:23So do you have to take a very stern line with people and try and...
0:29:23 > 0:29:25Yeah. I've learned to be assertive. Have you really?
0:29:25 > 0:29:27I suppose it's an important part of doing the course.
0:29:27 > 0:29:30The important information is, if you don't want to delay,
0:29:30 > 0:29:33then do give the information as concisely and quickly as possible.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35It must be frightening, but help the caller gets
0:29:35 > 0:29:37the information and they can help
0:29:37 > 0:29:40the ambulance people and it'll make care that much quicker
0:29:40 > 0:29:43for your loved one. Thank you very much. That's all right. Thank you.
0:29:51 > 0:29:55Emergency care practitioner Ray is back on the road, heading east
0:29:55 > 0:29:59out of Bournemouth. Another 999 call has come through.
0:29:59 > 0:30:02He's been dispatched by control to treat the patient at the home.
0:30:05 > 0:30:08We're going to a 84-year-old lady who's fallen over
0:30:08 > 0:30:12and the crew that are there would like me to go along and have a look
0:30:12 > 0:30:13and see what we can do.
0:30:15 > 0:30:16Hello.
0:30:16 > 0:30:20Ray finds his casualty in the warden's office at the flats
0:30:20 > 0:30:22where she lives.
0:30:22 > 0:30:25She's being helped home after falling over her walking aid
0:30:25 > 0:30:29on the way back from a shopping trip. What may we call you? Grace.
0:30:29 > 0:30:30Grace. I'm Ray.
0:30:30 > 0:30:34Student paramedic Claire has already done the basic checks.
0:30:34 > 0:30:38Chest, good air entry, sats are fine.
0:30:38 > 0:30:44Blood pressure is fine, 118/68. Very healthy girl.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47Whatever you're on, I want some! No pain at all.
0:30:47 > 0:30:52Gracie is actually 89. Her arm has taken the brunt of her fall.
0:30:52 > 0:30:55The thinning skin has left her with two open wounds.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58One has been dressed but the other needs stitches.
0:30:58 > 0:31:01There's one here that I'm a little bit worried about.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Underneath the actual flap there is some fatty tissue which
0:31:04 > 0:31:08I was a little bit worried about, under there.
0:31:08 > 0:31:10Grace doesn't want to go to the hospital.
0:31:10 > 0:31:13If Ray can close the wound up safely,
0:31:13 > 0:31:17Grace will get her wish and stay out of A
0:31:17 > 0:31:19First he needs to clean it up.
0:31:19 > 0:31:23We've got a sore. There, or there?
0:31:23 > 0:31:25What would you like?
0:31:27 > 0:31:29Right, let's have a look. We can do a deal on this, can't we?
0:31:29 > 0:31:32Let's have a little look.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35Ray is keeping Grace's spirits up but the worst bit is to come.
0:31:35 > 0:31:40So I can see what I am doing,
0:31:40 > 0:31:44this needle is not going anywhere into you or near you.
0:31:44 > 0:31:48It's just so that I can spray water.
0:31:48 > 0:31:50That is not nice.
0:31:51 > 0:31:55Reattaching the skin flap is a delicate job.
0:31:55 > 0:31:57Ray's using Steri-Strips.
0:31:57 > 0:32:02I can't stitch this because it's too near the surface of the skin
0:32:02 > 0:32:07so what we need to do is to gradually build all this up
0:32:07 > 0:32:09so that this...
0:32:09 > 0:32:14Oh, look. This is marvellous. ..skin will close the wound up.
0:32:14 > 0:32:19I hope I'm going down as a very good patient. You are.
0:32:19 > 0:32:22You get today's star prize. A lollipop?
0:32:24 > 0:32:27No, I can't afford a lollipop! You can get the stick!
0:32:30 > 0:32:34Ray's finished dressing Grace's arm. His work is done.
0:32:34 > 0:32:41Another satisfied customer. How does that feel? It feels very comfortable.
0:32:41 > 0:32:46OK. Thank you very much for all your help. That's all right. Thank you.
0:32:46 > 0:32:47It's what we're here for.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52The next callout is further along the coast.
0:32:52 > 0:32:55This time, a 68-year-old man has fallen badly and can't get up.
0:32:58 > 0:33:02Ray finds Henry flat out in front of his house. Hello, sir.
0:33:02 > 0:33:07What can I call you? Henry. Henry. His wife, Vivian, called 999.
0:33:07 > 0:33:10Henry fell heavily, hitting his head.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14He's sure he wasn't knocked out. So what's happened today?
0:33:16 > 0:33:19I parked my electric wheelchair in the garage. Right.
0:33:19 > 0:33:21I tried to walk back in the house. OK.
0:33:21 > 0:33:25I was walking up the ramp just there which you can see
0:33:25 > 0:33:29and I just missed it and fell over.
0:33:29 > 0:33:31Missed and fell over. Right.
0:33:31 > 0:33:34Have you got any pain anywhere at all? No.
0:33:34 > 0:33:39I've got soreness in my left side where I fell. And your shoulder.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42This is paralysed this side. Right, OK.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46He complained of pain in that left shoulder. Right.
0:33:46 > 0:33:47OK.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49It feels all right now.
0:33:49 > 0:33:50Henry lost the use of his left side after
0:33:50 > 0:33:54an operation for a spinal tumour almost 30 years ago.
0:33:54 > 0:33:58However, he can still feel pain.
0:33:58 > 0:34:00OK. Right.
0:34:00 > 0:34:05Right, now then, we need to get off this floor, don't we?
0:34:05 > 0:34:06That's the big one!
0:34:06 > 0:34:10That's a good idea. I'll go and get a chair. Right.
0:34:10 > 0:34:12I have a little device.
0:34:12 > 0:34:14Oh, you've got a blow-up balloon, have you?
0:34:14 > 0:34:16I've got an ejector seat for you.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18Let me go and get it.
0:34:18 > 0:34:22Ray's new gadget is perfect helping patients like Henry.
0:34:22 > 0:34:25I'm going to use this device to get him up off the floor.
0:34:26 > 0:34:31In the bag is an inflatable chair. Right, now then.
0:34:31 > 0:34:33Ray simply slides it under Henry,
0:34:33 > 0:34:36then an electric pump fills it with air.
0:34:37 > 0:34:38There we go.
0:34:52 > 0:34:53Right.
0:34:53 > 0:34:58And within five minutes, Henry is not only upright,
0:34:58 > 0:35:00but very impressed.
0:35:01 > 0:35:04Isn't it clever?
0:35:04 > 0:35:07That was wonderful, absolutely brilliant. You're a clever man.
0:35:07 > 0:35:11That's only half of it. I've got to sort your head out now.
0:35:11 > 0:35:12It's all right.
0:35:12 > 0:35:16Despite all the blood, the wound is only superficial.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21Ray is able to close it up with the tissue glue he carries.
0:35:21 > 0:35:22You've glued that, have you?
0:35:22 > 0:35:25I've glued that, so that's formed a scab now.
0:35:25 > 0:35:28Henry and his wife have been briefed to look out for any worrying
0:35:28 > 0:35:31symptoms of head injuries. Take care, Henry. Look after yourself.
0:35:31 > 0:35:34Thanks for your help. You're welcome. Ray can get on his way.
0:35:34 > 0:35:35Bye-bye now.
0:35:35 > 0:35:36All Henry's observations are good,
0:35:36 > 0:35:41so Ray can leave and get back on stand-by for the next emergency.
0:35:41 > 0:35:44If you do need us, then call us, all right? Thank you.
0:35:47 > 0:35:49Have you ever heard someone say
0:35:49 > 0:35:51that the older generation are made of different stuff?
0:35:51 > 0:35:53They don't like to complain too much.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55That might not be a good thing.
0:35:55 > 0:35:58Phil's not on a call. Are we able to talk to you, Phil?
0:35:58 > 0:36:00Yeah, that's fine.
0:36:00 > 0:36:02I was just saying about elderly people not wanting to complain.
0:36:02 > 0:36:05You've had very serious illnesses
0:36:05 > 0:36:07which haven't been directly reported
0:36:07 > 0:36:11because the person doesn't want to make a fuss. That's right.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13And generally, it's the elderly generation.
0:36:13 > 0:36:16On the occasion, I've had somebody ring up and say,
0:36:16 > 0:36:20"Look, I've had this indigestion-type pain about three days ago.
0:36:20 > 0:36:22"It's come back now."
0:36:22 > 0:36:26And I think to myself, "Why didn't they ring earlier
0:36:26 > 0:36:27"because then it's damage limitation
0:36:27 > 0:36:30"if there is something wrong with the heart?"
0:36:30 > 0:36:32And it really is worth getting in touch quickly because,
0:36:32 > 0:36:33as we've shown on the programme,
0:36:33 > 0:36:37get someone to hospital fast enough, with the techniques they've got now,
0:36:37 > 0:36:40they can very often remove a clot causing a heart problem
0:36:40 > 0:36:43and you can go back to a very healthy life directly afterwards.
0:36:43 > 0:36:47Oh, yeah. Without a doubt. When you think about what a heart attack is,
0:36:47 > 0:36:51it's a blood clot blocking an artery or a blood vessel,
0:36:51 > 0:36:54and then the oxygen in the blood doesn't get past there,
0:36:54 > 0:36:58so, in fact, that heart muscle tends to waste away.
0:36:58 > 0:37:01So the quicker you can get to hospital and get treated,
0:37:01 > 0:37:02the less damage it causes.
0:37:02 > 0:37:05All right. So, how do you tell the difference, then,
0:37:05 > 0:37:08between indigestion, bad indigestion, and a heart attack?
0:37:08 > 0:37:10Or can't you? Basically, you don't.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14Normally, if you're the sort of person that doesn't ordinarily
0:37:14 > 0:37:17have indigestion and you get this type of pain,
0:37:17 > 0:37:20then you need to seek advice from your doctor or,
0:37:20 > 0:37:24in a case like this, in your chest, ring for an ambulance.
0:37:24 > 0:37:27But if you are the sort of person that does get this sort of thing,
0:37:27 > 0:37:30but it's just worse, then you can still call us.
0:37:30 > 0:37:33All clinicians that look at the ECG machine
0:37:33 > 0:37:36will be able see immediately if there is something happening
0:37:36 > 0:37:38or there's a cardiac event happening.
0:37:38 > 0:37:40They will be able to read that pretty quickly.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42So don't worry about making a fuss.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44If you're feeling bad, make sure you get checked out.
0:37:44 > 0:37:46Thank you very much. I'll let you get back to it. Thank you.
0:37:56 > 0:37:57Evening rush hour.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00Traffic cops Steve Leathersich and Russ Irwin
0:38:00 > 0:38:02are on duty in Milton Keynes.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05We've had a report of a two-vehicle RTC.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07Possibly a rear-end shunt.
0:38:07 > 0:38:10One of the people that is calling in is apparently
0:38:10 > 0:38:12struggling to keep their eyes open at the moment
0:38:12 > 0:38:17and complaining of neck pain. We don't know how serious this is.
0:38:17 > 0:38:21A local police officer and a paramedic are already at the scene.
0:38:23 > 0:38:26The accident has happened at a junction
0:38:26 > 0:38:28between the four carriageways.
0:38:28 > 0:38:30Which car were you in? I'm in the 407.
0:38:30 > 0:38:33Right, do you want to come over here and have a chat?
0:38:34 > 0:38:36The Peugeot has hit the Audi.
0:38:36 > 0:38:38Inside, the passenger is complaining of pain in the head
0:38:38 > 0:38:40and neck to the paramedics
0:38:40 > 0:38:44and of not being able to keep his eyes open.
0:38:44 > 0:38:47The driver is talking to PC Leathersich.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50Right, is it your car? It is my car, yeah. It is. OK.
0:38:50 > 0:38:54The chap in the car, who's he? He's my friend. He's a friend of yours.
0:38:54 > 0:38:56OK.
0:38:56 > 0:38:59Have you got any form of recovery? AA or something?
0:38:59 > 0:39:02OK, we'll see what happens with your friend.
0:39:02 > 0:39:04It might be that if he continues struggling with pain,
0:39:04 > 0:39:06we'll have to take the roof off the car. All right.
0:39:06 > 0:39:08We'll see how it goes from there. All right?
0:39:10 > 0:39:13Both cars were waiting, one behind the other, at the junction.
0:39:13 > 0:39:16It appears the driver of the Peugeot has looked left,
0:39:16 > 0:39:19seen the way is clear, felt it safe to proceed.
0:39:19 > 0:39:21Unfortunately, he didn't look to see if the Audi had moved forward.
0:39:21 > 0:39:26So he has gone forward. We are talking very, very slow-speed impact.
0:39:27 > 0:39:31The only damage from the collision is a small dent in the car.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34Inside, the paramedic is checking the passenger's breathing
0:39:34 > 0:39:38in a bid to find out what, if any, injuries he's suffered
0:39:38 > 0:39:40before they get him out.
0:39:40 > 0:39:44There's only minor damage to the grille of the Peugeot.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47This has not been a high-impact collision.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50The paramedics have now got the man out of the car
0:39:50 > 0:39:52with some careful choreography.
0:39:52 > 0:39:55He's on a board, his spine protected.
0:39:58 > 0:40:02PC Leathersich is all too aware of the dangers of working on the road.
0:40:02 > 0:40:04I'm just thinking if someone loses their footing
0:40:04 > 0:40:07because they are still coming past reasonably quick.
0:40:07 > 0:40:09The passenger is on his way to the ambulance
0:40:09 > 0:40:12for a more thorough checkup.
0:40:15 > 0:40:19The driver of the Peugeot is sent on his way with a police report.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22You got everything? Yeah. OK.
0:40:22 > 0:40:25This will be a case for the insurance company.
0:40:25 > 0:40:29It wasn't on purpose. I didn't do it on purpose. All right. Thank you.
0:40:29 > 0:40:30Cheerio.
0:40:32 > 0:40:35There's no need for recovery of this vehicle either.
0:40:35 > 0:40:39The Audi driver will meet up with his friend at hospital later.
0:40:39 > 0:40:42All that's left to do is pack up.
0:40:42 > 0:40:45The traffic cops are ready for their next callout.
0:40:51 > 0:40:55Brenda, the 70-year-old women, who was treated by paramedic Ray Thane
0:40:55 > 0:40:58after falling over in her garden, did suffer a broken hip.
0:40:58 > 0:41:02It's been a difficult time for Brenda.
0:41:02 > 0:41:04She's out of hospital and, despite everything,
0:41:04 > 0:41:06she is managing to keep her spirits up.
0:41:09 > 0:41:13The huge fire at the Jayplas recycling plant in Smethwick
0:41:13 > 0:41:17put the site out of action for more than six months.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21The West Midlands Fire Service spent three days tackling the fire,
0:41:21 > 0:41:26which was started by a Chinese lantern dropping onto the site.
0:41:26 > 0:41:30It's quite clear on the CCTV footage that you see a Chinese lantern
0:41:30 > 0:41:32drifting across the site.
0:41:32 > 0:41:34It lands on one of the plastic stacks,
0:41:34 > 0:41:37the bales of recycled material. It bounces
0:41:37 > 0:41:38and then disappears.
0:41:38 > 0:41:41And about eight minutes after that, the fire starts in that bale.
0:41:42 > 0:41:46This catastrophic fire should not have happened.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50Chinese lanterns are a growing problem.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53In one year alone, a third of Britain's fire brigades received
0:41:53 > 0:41:55callouts to extinguish lanterns.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00Now, West Midlands Fire Service is joining the call
0:42:00 > 0:42:02for the lanterns to be banned.
0:42:02 > 0:42:06Chinese lanterns are a flame which is allowed to go in the sky
0:42:06 > 0:42:09and then drift around and land anywhere, still burning.
0:42:09 > 0:42:12And that just doesn't make sense at all.
0:42:16 > 0:42:20I have to admit, I've actually lit and launched them.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23I thought they looked very beautiful, without ever wondering
0:42:23 > 0:42:25where they come to land and what they might set fire to.
0:42:25 > 0:42:27I don't think I'll be lighting any more.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30That's it for today's Real Rescues. See you next time.
0:42:55 > 0:42:58Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd