0:00:03 > 0:00:05Today, on Real Rescues.... I'm sorry, I'm sorry.
0:00:05 > 0:00:07A man shatters his rib cage
0:00:07 > 0:00:09after helping his neighbour prune a tree.
0:00:11 > 0:00:15You can see that this section here is moving in when he breathes.
0:00:15 > 0:00:16Roger, is he? Yeah.
0:00:18 > 0:00:21A 999 call from a jet-lagged woman.
0:00:21 > 0:00:24She's threatening to take drastic action to escape a fire.
0:00:31 > 0:00:33And a young Border collie gets her leg trapped.
0:00:33 > 0:00:36It's a job for the animal rescue specialists.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40DOG WHINES
0:00:57 > 0:01:01Hello, and welcome to the world of the emergency services.
0:01:01 > 0:01:02This is Real Rescues.
0:01:02 > 0:01:05Now, when the most serious accidents happen,
0:01:05 > 0:01:08there are emergency doctors trained to carry out procedures on the scene
0:01:08 > 0:01:12that once could only happen in a hospital emergency department.
0:01:12 > 0:01:14But it only happens in some areas
0:01:14 > 0:01:16and it's often thanks to charities
0:01:16 > 0:01:18that these specialist doctors are available.
0:01:21 > 0:01:24In Peterborough, a team from the emergency medical charity,
0:01:24 > 0:01:26Magpas, is responding to a call.
0:01:26 > 0:01:29A 74-year-old man has fallen from a stepladder,
0:01:29 > 0:01:32injuring his chest so badly that a rapid response driver
0:01:32 > 0:01:36has called for backup from the emergency charity.
0:01:36 > 0:01:37Magpas doctor Ali Tompkins
0:01:37 > 0:01:41and Magpas volunteer paramedic Simon Standen are on their way.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46There are lots of things that a chest injury could turn out to be,
0:01:46 > 0:01:49from simple things like bruised ribs, which would cause a lot of pain
0:01:49 > 0:01:52and discomfort and may compromise breathing,
0:01:52 > 0:01:55to severe chest injuries whereby you've got multiple rib fractures
0:01:55 > 0:01:57in multiple places.
0:01:57 > 0:02:01It's here, it's right here. Sure? Yes! Oh, yes. Oh!
0:02:01 > 0:02:04They arrive to find out an ambulance is just ahead of them.
0:02:05 > 0:02:08They make their way to the garden. Hello.
0:02:08 > 0:02:10It's full of debris from the accident.
0:02:10 > 0:02:13Two neighbours had been trimming a tree.
0:02:13 > 0:02:15The injured man is in terrible pain.
0:02:15 > 0:02:16He does have emphysema,
0:02:16 > 0:02:19but normally it's his right side that's the problem.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Good air entry on the right, no air entry on the left.
0:02:21 > 0:02:24The fall has left Roger unable to take any breath
0:02:24 > 0:02:27into his stronger left lung.
0:02:27 > 0:02:29You've fallen from quite a height.
0:02:29 > 0:02:34About five foot. No pain in your neck? No.
0:02:34 > 0:02:36You haven't knocked your head? No. OK.
0:02:36 > 0:02:39No pain in your sternum, not knocked yourself out?
0:02:39 > 0:02:40Magpas doctor Ali Tompkins
0:02:40 > 0:02:43needs to find out if his lung has collapsed.
0:02:43 > 0:02:45HE GROANS Sorry, my darling.
0:02:45 > 0:02:46I'm sorry, I'm sorry. OK.
0:02:46 > 0:02:47Oh, my God!
0:02:49 > 0:02:51None on this side whatsoever.
0:02:51 > 0:02:53INDISTINCT
0:02:53 > 0:02:55Thank you. But clearly very sore, yes?
0:02:55 > 0:02:57Yes, very, very sore.
0:02:57 > 0:03:00Now she's examined him, Alison and Simon can get on with
0:03:00 > 0:03:02administering the most potent pain relief. OK.
0:03:04 > 0:03:06I'm just going to have a wee listen here.
0:03:06 > 0:03:09I'm going to pop a needle in, give you some pain relief,
0:03:09 > 0:03:13make that chest more comfortable. Are you allergic to anything? No.
0:03:13 > 0:03:17Oh, pain! I'm allergic to that. Yeah. That's fair enough.
0:03:17 > 0:03:21You and every other person in the world, quite appropriately.
0:03:21 > 0:03:23The morphine will act very quickly to reduce his pain.
0:03:23 > 0:03:28Anything that helps, eh? Absolutely. It's hurting so much.
0:03:28 > 0:03:30What size cannula would you like?
0:03:30 > 0:03:33Oh, no! Is that me? Oh, no!
0:03:33 > 0:03:37No, it's not you, it's me! Oh! It's hurting.
0:03:37 > 0:03:40Alison needs to look at the back of his rib cage as well.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44She immediately sees signs of a potentially life-threatening injury.
0:03:44 > 0:03:47He's got a flail. Has he?
0:03:47 > 0:03:50A flail chest means a segment of Roger's rib cage has broken
0:03:50 > 0:03:54and become detached from the chest wall. Oh, it's really difficult.
0:03:54 > 0:03:58You can see that this section here is moving in when he breathes.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02What that means, Roger, is you've broken some ribs.
0:04:02 > 0:04:04You've probably collapsed a lung under there.
0:04:04 > 0:04:05But what's happened is,
0:04:05 > 0:04:08because you've broken a few ribs in a few places,
0:04:08 > 0:04:11the bit of ribs...the bit of ribs...
0:04:11 > 0:04:16the bit of ribs that are broken are moving the wrong way
0:04:16 > 0:04:19when you breathe, which is why you're so breathless. It's hurting a lot.
0:04:19 > 0:04:21I know it is.
0:04:21 > 0:04:24Dr Ali Tompkins knows just how dangerous this injury is.
0:04:24 > 0:04:27A broken rib could pierce his lungs.
0:04:27 > 0:04:31What we need to do is get you a bit more comfortable
0:04:31 > 0:04:34with some pain relief, all right? Get you into the ambulance...
0:04:34 > 0:04:36It's there.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38..and make a full assessment,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41just make sure you haven't injured your tummy as well.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45Roger needs to be taken to a major trauma unit.
0:04:45 > 0:04:48It's a 45-minute journey away.
0:04:48 > 0:04:50Roger is now depending on his right lung to breathe,
0:04:50 > 0:04:52but that's damaged by emphysema.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54He's well aware of how much trouble he's in.
0:05:01 > 0:05:03Yeah, I know. Fluid.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06I know. If that builds up...
0:05:06 > 0:05:07That's what we're worried about as well.
0:05:07 > 0:05:12Magpas paramedic Simon updates control.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15He triggers positive on the major trauma triage tool.
0:05:15 > 0:05:18So our plan currently is to reassess him in the back of the ambulance
0:05:18 > 0:05:21and we may well have to go direct to Addenbrooke's.
0:05:22 > 0:05:24'Roger, thank you.'
0:05:25 > 0:05:27Even with the pain relief,
0:05:27 > 0:05:29the flail chest makes any move agony for Roger.
0:05:29 > 0:05:31But they need to get him onto
0:05:31 > 0:05:33their own chair to carry him to the ambulance.
0:05:33 > 0:05:37All right, we won't pull you. You stand up in your own time.
0:05:37 > 0:05:40You can just shuffle sideways if that will be easier.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42HE GROANS
0:05:42 > 0:05:46Two seconds, Roger. Good man, OK. Right, Roger, sit down.
0:05:46 > 0:05:48Good man. Well done, Roger. OK.
0:05:48 > 0:05:50That's all right.
0:05:50 > 0:05:51ROGER INDISTINCT
0:05:51 > 0:05:53We'll have a really good look at it.
0:05:53 > 0:05:56That wouldn't surprise me with that kind of fall.
0:05:56 > 0:05:58That's why we need to make... Can you bend this knee, sir?
0:05:58 > 0:06:00There's a little metal bar under your foot. Perfect.
0:06:00 > 0:06:04Oh, the pain is so terrific! It's like having a heart attack.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07Have you had a heart attack? I think I've had three.
0:06:07 > 0:06:10All the time, Alison does her best to reassure him.
0:06:10 > 0:06:12Now there's another worry -
0:06:12 > 0:06:14Roger also has a history of cardiac disease.
0:06:14 > 0:06:17The medics are aware this trauma could trigger heart problems.
0:06:21 > 0:06:25So far, Roger's crushed chest has been their main concern.
0:06:25 > 0:06:28Now he's inside the ambulance, they'll be able to check
0:06:28 > 0:06:30for any other serious injuries.
0:06:30 > 0:06:33There's no time to waste in getting him to the trauma unit.
0:06:33 > 0:06:35ROGER GROANS
0:06:35 > 0:06:37Later...it's a painful journey
0:06:37 > 0:06:42but the Magpas emergency team, Ali and Simon, stay with Roger,
0:06:42 > 0:06:43who may take a turn for the worse.
0:06:45 > 0:06:48It's very important that we get on top of his pain, for one thing,
0:06:48 > 0:06:51and then monitor him very closely for any deterioration.
0:06:51 > 0:06:54They'll have them at the hospital? What? Your medicines?
0:06:54 > 0:06:57We've got them. We've got yours, yes. We won't miss any.
0:07:05 > 0:07:08It's past midnight at Cheshire Fire and Rescue control centre.
0:07:08 > 0:07:12A 999 call has come through from a very frightened woman,
0:07:12 > 0:07:16trapped in her house and threatening to take drastic action.
0:07:53 > 0:07:56The call is coming from this house near Runcorn.
0:07:56 > 0:07:58The smoke is so thick the caller can't tell
0:07:58 > 0:08:01whether the fire is upstairs or down.
0:08:01 > 0:08:04The call handler needs to find out if she's alone and
0:08:04 > 0:08:08if there's any way to prevent more smoke coming into the bedroom.
0:08:21 > 0:08:24The call handler needs her to concentrate on keeping herself safe.
0:08:39 > 0:08:42The woman tries to shut the bedroom door to keep the smoke out,
0:08:42 > 0:08:43but something stops it from moving.
0:09:06 > 0:09:11The firefighters are en route, all too aware a life is at risk.
0:09:12 > 0:09:14On the way to the incident
0:09:14 > 0:09:17I'm obviously thinking about the plan of action when we get there.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19We had a message from our control centre
0:09:19 > 0:09:22and it automatically makes your ears prick up anyway.
0:09:22 > 0:09:26And she said, "We need an estimated time of arrival
0:09:26 > 0:09:29"because the lady is still trapped in the property."
0:09:40 > 0:09:43But just minutes before the fire crew get to the house,
0:09:43 > 0:09:46Karen becomes too terrified to stay inside.
0:09:47 > 0:09:51Unbeknown to the call handler, she climbs onto the window ledge.
0:10:00 > 0:10:03Later, firefighters recall the intensity of the flames
0:10:03 > 0:10:05threatening Karen.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08We've been faced with a real hot compartment.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12It's full of toxic, hot fire gases and smoke.
0:10:12 > 0:10:15The temperatures in this room, at the top of the compartment,
0:10:15 > 0:10:18you're probably looking in excess of 1,000 degrees.
0:10:25 > 0:10:28The traffic cops are on duty in Milton Keynes.
0:10:28 > 0:10:30Their job is to keep the roads safe,
0:10:30 > 0:10:35preventing accidents from happening, as well as clearing up afterwards.
0:10:35 > 0:10:38PCs Mat Waters and Sam Silk are on patrol
0:10:38 > 0:10:40hen they suddenly spot
0:10:40 > 0:10:42something falling from the side of a moving van.
0:10:42 > 0:10:44They signal the driver to pull over.
0:10:49 > 0:10:53The van stops and they think they recognise the van driver.
0:10:53 > 0:10:56Are you all right? Yes, the side door just opened, like.
0:10:56 > 0:10:59You wait there. I'll go and get it.
0:10:59 > 0:11:02Mat disappears off to clear the pallet from the road.
0:11:04 > 0:11:06What have you got in there? Pallets.
0:11:06 > 0:11:08The driver is Lawrence, a local man.
0:11:10 > 0:11:13PC Waters heads back to investigate
0:11:13 > 0:11:16why the vehicle has shed part of its load.
0:11:16 > 0:11:19That was a bit of a surprise. Look at that!
0:11:20 > 0:11:23The open door reveals a van packed to the ceiling.
0:11:25 > 0:11:29With so many pallets, Mat is concerned the van is overloaded,
0:11:29 > 0:11:31a potential hazard to Lawrence and other drivers.
0:11:31 > 0:11:32The chap that we've just stopped
0:11:32 > 0:11:34is obviously collecting pallets
0:11:34 > 0:11:35and, for whatever reason,
0:11:35 > 0:11:39the door slid open and pallets have fallen out onto a live carriageway.
0:11:39 > 0:11:42So we're going to pop him back into the weighbridge,
0:11:42 > 0:11:44get the vehicle weighed and go from there.
0:11:47 > 0:11:49There's a smell of alcohol.
0:11:50 > 0:11:52Right.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55They'll get those standard tests done right way...
0:11:55 > 0:11:57You can't beat a good Transit.
0:11:57 > 0:11:59..starting with a weigh-in at the local weighbridge.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03It's absolutely rammed full of pallets,
0:12:03 > 0:12:06so this is going to be well overweight.
0:12:06 > 0:12:09PC Waters is very confident that the van is overloaded.
0:12:10 > 0:12:13Yeah, roger that. We're just going to get it weighed now.
0:12:13 > 0:12:15But I've got a feeling this is going to be well over.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18It might be worth doing a breath test as well,
0:12:18 > 0:12:20because the van smelt of alcohol.
0:12:20 > 0:12:22PC Sam Silk gets on with the breathalyser
0:12:22 > 0:12:25as they wait at weighbridge.
0:12:27 > 0:12:30ENGINE DROWNS SPEECH
0:12:33 > 0:12:35Lawrence gets the all clear.
0:12:36 > 0:12:39But they have to switch drivers before the weigh-in can take place.
0:12:42 > 0:12:47Whoever was in that van needs to be driving it. Yeah, he's Lawrence.
0:12:47 > 0:12:49Legally, the van owner, Lawrence,
0:12:49 > 0:12:51must drive the vehicle onto the weighbridge.
0:12:51 > 0:12:55If Mat was at the wheel, he would be liable if the van is overweight.
0:12:55 > 0:12:57I bet you, come on.
0:12:57 > 0:12:59They can't resist speculating about the results.
0:12:59 > 0:13:04I reckon you're going to be over as well. Nah. How much? No way!
0:13:04 > 0:13:07Honestly, Lawrence, that'll be over. A packet of Skips.
0:13:07 > 0:13:10Seriously, you really think I'm going to be over? We both do.
0:13:10 > 0:13:12Why wasn't you wearing your seat belt?
0:13:12 > 0:13:14So Mat is chancing a bag of crisps on the outcome.
0:13:14 > 0:13:16Did you slide out of it?
0:13:18 > 0:13:20Ah. Busted!
0:13:22 > 0:13:25What do we do with you? Insecure load or seat belt?
0:13:25 > 0:13:28I'm having a hard enough time. MAT LAUGHS
0:13:39 > 0:13:42The results are in. So who's won the wager? A packet of crisps.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44It's fine.
0:13:44 > 0:13:47Sgt Chris Appleby is going to reveal all.
0:13:54 > 0:13:55I owe him a bag of crisps!
0:13:58 > 0:14:01Mind how you go. He needs to get that one, though, that one pallet.
0:14:01 > 0:14:03To put him over? We've got to go and help him now.
0:14:03 > 0:14:05You won the bet. Thanks!
0:14:05 > 0:14:08So Mat is down a bag of crisps.
0:14:08 > 0:14:11The van is within the legal weight limit.
0:14:11 > 0:14:14But as part of the routine weighbridge test,
0:14:14 > 0:14:16the vehicle has to be checked over by VOSA,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19the agency that enforces roadworthiness.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Lawrence is clearly a good judge of weight
0:14:34 > 0:14:35Is this chap all in order?
0:14:35 > 0:14:38But VOSA have noticed a few things that need attention
0:14:38 > 0:14:41on the vehicle - a loose tow bolt.
0:14:41 > 0:14:44A stop light is also not working.
0:14:44 > 0:14:48And losing the pallet seems to be caused by a broken door handle.
0:14:48 > 0:14:50He's given a ticket by VOSA.
0:14:53 > 0:14:56Basically, it means you're going to need to get the door handle fixed
0:14:56 > 0:14:58within a certain amount of time.
0:14:58 > 0:15:00But this chap here is going to be...
0:15:00 > 0:15:02No. I'll get it done today.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06So the van's problems were not quite as Mat had predicted.
0:15:06 > 0:15:10However, he's hoping to get away without paying up on that wager.
0:15:10 > 0:15:12I owe him a bag of crisps.
0:15:12 > 0:15:16Which he hasn't mentioned yet, so I might just keep quiet.
0:15:16 > 0:15:18Even the most experienced officers get caught out.
0:15:20 > 0:15:23You're going to need to get your tyres sorted soon.
0:15:23 > 0:15:26Yeah, there's still a little bit left on them. Not much, though.
0:15:26 > 0:15:31As a goodwill gesture, Mat and Sam are going to retrieve the pallet.
0:15:31 > 0:15:33You hang on here. We'll go and get your pallet.
0:15:33 > 0:15:35Yeah, we'll go and get his pallet.
0:15:35 > 0:15:37and then we can drop it off there and he can...
0:15:37 > 0:15:40Yeah. At least he'll be safe then, won't he?
0:15:40 > 0:15:42Right, we'll go get it. Cheers.
0:15:44 > 0:15:47But Mat still can't believe he's lost out
0:15:47 > 0:15:49in the "guess the weight" competition.
0:16:06 > 0:16:08Still to come on Real Rescues...
0:16:09 > 0:16:12The animal rescue team is called in after Star the dog
0:16:12 > 0:16:15gets a leg trapped in a metal trolley.
0:16:19 > 0:16:22And ambulance crews head to a roundabout.
0:16:22 > 0:16:25A man has suffered a massive stroke in his car.
0:16:25 > 0:16:27OK, just lay down, darling.
0:16:30 > 0:16:32With a bit of luck we can interrupt Richard,
0:16:32 > 0:16:35who is on the other side of the desk here and find out about
0:16:35 > 0:16:37some of the colourful language they have to deal with on calls.
0:16:37 > 0:16:41Are we able to interrupt you, Richard? Yup. Jolly good.
0:16:41 > 0:16:46So, the language isn't always choice when people call in? No.
0:16:46 > 0:16:49The very nature of calling in 909, it's an emergency
0:16:49 > 0:16:53and fairly stressful, and so people don't tend to be at their best,
0:16:53 > 0:16:56and having a bit of a panic, so, yes, sometimes the language gets...
0:16:56 > 0:16:59Tell us about the time you had to deliver a baby
0:16:59 > 0:17:01when the language was quite fruity.
0:17:01 > 0:17:05Yeah, this lady was having a second baby, I believe,
0:17:05 > 0:17:09and lived in a rural town right on the edge of Dorset,
0:17:09 > 0:17:12and had gone into labour a little bit quicker than they were expecting.
0:17:12 > 0:17:14Husband called it in.
0:17:14 > 0:17:16Basically, the baby's coming
0:17:16 > 0:17:18and there is no time to get her into hospital.
0:17:18 > 0:17:21We've got a response car going from one side of Dorset,
0:17:21 > 0:17:23which is right on the border.
0:17:23 > 0:17:26We've got an ambulance coming from the other side, in Wiltshire.
0:17:26 > 0:17:29But being in a rural town, it took about 20 minutes to get there
0:17:29 > 0:17:32and the baby wasn't waiting for anyone.
0:17:32 > 0:17:38She was in a lot of pain and her language was getting more and more...
0:17:38 > 0:17:39unsavoury
0:17:39 > 0:17:42the longer she was having to wait for these ambulances to turn up.
0:17:42 > 0:17:45And what happened? Was the baby born? Did Dad help?
0:17:45 > 0:17:46Yes, he did.
0:17:46 > 0:17:49I was giving instructions over the phone. The baby came out.
0:17:49 > 0:17:51Dad was doing a fantastic job.
0:17:51 > 0:17:53Um, but there was a rather
0:17:53 > 0:17:56chilling moment just after the baby was born,
0:17:56 > 0:17:58when there was no noise.
0:17:58 > 0:18:00Normally they come out and they cry
0:18:00 > 0:18:03and there's a fantastic sense of relief.
0:18:03 > 0:18:06This was just quiet, which, from my point of view,
0:18:06 > 0:18:08is a bit of a danger sign.
0:18:08 > 0:18:09Yeah.
0:18:09 > 0:18:12I was asking about what happened.
0:18:12 > 0:18:17The mother is in the background still being quite vocal.
0:18:17 > 0:18:20And father explained that...
0:18:20 > 0:18:24he could see the baby was trying to breathe, but it couldn't.
0:18:24 > 0:18:27So I asked a few more questions,
0:18:27 > 0:18:28I found out what was going on.
0:18:28 > 0:18:31Basically, the baby's mouth and throat was full of fluid
0:18:31 > 0:18:33from when it had just been born.
0:18:33 > 0:18:38So what we had to do was a form of CPR, a sort of infant CPR,
0:18:38 > 0:18:40just to try and get that fluid out of the way,
0:18:40 > 0:18:42just to try and get the baby breathing.
0:18:42 > 0:18:45So I gave the father the instructions over the phone.
0:18:45 > 0:18:47And? He followed them to the letter.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50He was, considering all the chaos that was going on, and the baby,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54he was absolutely brilliant. But did the baby survive? Yes, it did.
0:18:54 > 0:18:56We worked on it. He did the breaths.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59We worked on it more and eventually there was that magic moment
0:18:59 > 0:19:02when you can hear the baby crying and gurgling in the background.
0:19:02 > 0:19:06Fantastic. And you got a sort of apology in a card a few days later.
0:19:06 > 0:19:12Um, I did. A card arrived. Very grateful parents.
0:19:12 > 0:19:14Apparently, by the time they'd gone to the hospital
0:19:14 > 0:19:18baby was a fantastic pink colour. Everything was wonderful.
0:19:18 > 0:19:20Included an apology to the chap on the phone
0:19:20 > 0:19:24for the terrible language that she'd been using.
0:19:24 > 0:19:29And, yeah, it was a lovely card and it was nice to have a thank you.
0:19:29 > 0:19:30Yeah, absolutely.
0:19:30 > 0:19:32I think if I was actually giving birth,
0:19:32 > 0:19:34some of my language would be choice as well.
0:19:34 > 0:19:36So I think we can forgive her on this occasion.
0:19:36 > 0:19:37Thanks very much. Richard.
0:19:41 > 0:19:44Oh! Oh, my God!
0:19:44 > 0:19:47An emergency medical team from the Magpas charity is preparing to
0:19:47 > 0:19:51take a seriously injured man to the nearest major trauma centre.
0:19:51 > 0:19:52Roger has fallen from a ladder
0:19:52 > 0:19:55and suffered multiple rib fractures.
0:19:55 > 0:19:58His rib cage is unstable and one lung has collapsed.
0:20:00 > 0:20:03Can you wiggle your toes? Marvellous.
0:20:03 > 0:20:06Let's have a good look at this.
0:20:07 > 0:20:08Now...
0:20:08 > 0:20:10Magpas doctor Ali Tompkins
0:20:10 > 0:20:13is now checking for any other significant injury.
0:20:13 > 0:20:16How is that bony bit? That's all right?
0:20:16 > 0:20:19Excuse me being a little bit personal, my dear.
0:20:19 > 0:20:22How is that bony bit in there?
0:20:22 > 0:20:24OK. Can you bend your knee?
0:20:24 > 0:20:27She's concerned he may have broken a hip as well.
0:20:28 > 0:20:32I think you may have been lucky to get away with bruising to the hip.
0:20:32 > 0:20:36Roger's also complaining of stomach pain. Oh...
0:20:36 > 0:20:37Sorry.
0:20:38 > 0:20:42It's just tender, not the same.
0:20:42 > 0:20:45It's not a broken rib that I'm pressing on? No.
0:20:45 > 0:20:48We'll check out your belly when we get to hospital,
0:20:48 > 0:20:49but, at the moment,
0:20:49 > 0:20:53I think if we lie you down you'll struggle with your breathing and...
0:20:54 > 0:20:57No, I don't want you to do that either.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01It's the flail chest which is the most dangerous injury.
0:21:01 > 0:21:05Roger will have to travel propped up throughout the 45-minute journey.
0:21:05 > 0:21:09Magpas doctor Ali Tompkins will monitor him all the way.
0:21:10 > 0:21:11When you breathe,
0:21:11 > 0:21:14it moves the wrong way with respiration,
0:21:14 > 0:21:16so it compresses the lung underneath
0:21:16 > 0:21:20and it compromises the respiratory efficiency that most of us have.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23So it's very important that we get on top of his pain, for one thing,
0:21:23 > 0:21:26and then monitor him very closely for any deterioration.
0:21:26 > 0:21:29At the moment I think it's predominantly pain,
0:21:29 > 0:21:32but obviously he can get pain relief better at the hospital.
0:21:32 > 0:21:35They might give him a button to press.
0:21:35 > 0:21:37They might do something called an epidural, which can block
0:21:37 > 0:21:40the level of the injury, which can help him to breathe better.
0:21:40 > 0:21:44And they may well offer him physiotherapy to help with that.
0:21:44 > 0:21:46But we'll keep a close eye on him in the ambulance
0:21:46 > 0:21:48and take him to the major trauma centre,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50which is Addenbrooke's Hospital.
0:21:50 > 0:21:52Roger also has a history of heart disease.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55The pain from his fractured ribs could mask anything
0:21:55 > 0:21:57going on with his heart.
0:21:57 > 0:21:59He will remain connected to the ECG machine
0:21:59 > 0:22:01as the ambulance heads to Addenbrooke's.
0:22:05 > 0:22:06The risk of deterioration in Roger
0:22:06 > 0:22:09in a very rapid time frame was
0:22:09 > 0:22:10a very real concern.
0:22:11 > 0:22:14They drive off as smoothly as they can.
0:22:14 > 0:22:17Inside, the team works hard to keep Roger as comfortable as possible.
0:22:20 > 0:22:23Two hours later, at Addenbrooke's, Magpas doctor Dr Ali Tompkins
0:22:23 > 0:22:27can check Roger's X-rays - but they confirm the diagnosis.
0:22:27 > 0:22:29Part of his chest is moving the wrong way
0:22:29 > 0:22:31and those sharp edges of bone
0:22:31 > 0:22:33have caused injury to his underlying lung
0:22:33 > 0:22:36and he's got something called an pneumothorax, which is
0:22:36 > 0:22:38where air collects around the lung,
0:22:38 > 0:22:41so all of this space is air that shouldn't be there.
0:22:41 > 0:22:44You can also see he's got three...
0:22:44 > 0:22:48certainly two definite rib fractures there, on the posterior ribs,
0:22:48 > 0:22:49these are the ribs at the back.
0:22:49 > 0:22:53And the other rib fractures that we were talking about maybe here,
0:22:53 > 0:22:56may be hidden under this white section here.
0:22:56 > 0:23:00But all of this air needs to be drained away with a chest drain,
0:23:00 > 0:23:02and that's what they're doing in the hospital just now to get him
0:23:02 > 0:23:04more comfortable -
0:23:04 > 0:23:07to drain that air and hopefully to improve the effort of his briefing.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14At hospital, Roger is treated in intensive care.
0:23:14 > 0:23:16His collapsed lung is being drained.
0:23:16 > 0:23:20It's just a matter of waiting to see if the lung reinflates.
0:23:20 > 0:23:23Later, Roger recalls his long road to recovery.
0:23:33 > 0:23:35Fire and rescue animal specialist Buster Brown is heading to
0:23:35 > 0:23:38a house in Farnham.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40A pet dog has trapped a leg.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42The owners have tried but failed to free it.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46In the garden he finds 10-month-old Border collie Star.
0:23:46 > 0:23:50She's got a leg wedged between two bars of a folding trolley.
0:23:50 > 0:23:53The metal has pierced her skin.
0:23:53 > 0:23:58Good girl! Buster is having to muzzle Star with a bandage.
0:23:58 > 0:23:59It's only for your benefit.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02In her fear and pain, she has already nipped
0:24:02 > 0:24:04a well-meaning neighbour.
0:24:04 > 0:24:07Stop your biting.
0:24:07 > 0:24:09That's pretty! Not.
0:24:09 > 0:24:12It was a very delicate operation in as much as
0:24:12 > 0:24:13we didn't want to cut the dog,
0:24:13 > 0:24:16we didn't want to damage its leg any further,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19or cause any bruising to the joint
0:24:19 > 0:24:21because it was the joint part of the leg
0:24:21 > 0:24:23that was actually trapped on the metalwork
0:24:23 > 0:24:27Now it's safe for vet Sorrel Proctor to give Star a strong sedative.
0:24:27 > 0:24:31How long does that take to act?
0:24:31 > 0:24:33Ten minutes. OK. We'll leave her quiet.
0:24:33 > 0:24:36'There's no way we could've rescued this dog without causing it'
0:24:36 > 0:24:37further injury -
0:24:37 > 0:24:40ie, it would have struggled, or it would have panicked
0:24:40 > 0:24:43and bitten the rescuer - without the sedation from the vet.
0:24:44 > 0:24:45'Once that was done,
0:24:45 > 0:24:49'a towel was placed over the dog's head to keep it nice and calm.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52'Generally, if they're darkened down a little bit,
0:24:52 > 0:24:53'and can't see what is going on,'
0:24:53 > 0:24:56the animal relaxes a wee bit more.
0:25:02 > 0:25:03Right. OK.
0:25:03 > 0:25:05As the sedation begins to take effect,
0:25:05 > 0:25:08vet Sorrel makes Star more comfortable.
0:25:08 > 0:25:09Good girl.
0:25:11 > 0:25:15She monitors the Border collie's heart to check the drug's progress.
0:25:15 > 0:25:18INDISTINCT CONVERSATION
0:25:18 > 0:25:21Buster's first thought had been to cut the trolley's metalwork with
0:25:21 > 0:25:24a hacksaw but Star's paw is so stuck tightly wedged,
0:25:24 > 0:25:27it's lost circulation and is now cold to touch.
0:25:27 > 0:25:29They need to get her free quickly.
0:25:29 > 0:25:34'The vet suggested that we use some heavy cutters, if available.'
0:25:34 > 0:25:37And I then called the local fire service, who happened to be Surrey -
0:25:37 > 0:25:41they were the nearest fire station to where this incident occurred -
0:25:41 > 0:25:45and a crew turned out and we used the dedicated cutters.
0:25:45 > 0:25:48The hydraulic cutters are more commonly used to cut
0:25:48 > 0:25:51the door pillars of crushed cars to release passengers.
0:25:53 > 0:25:56They make short work of the sack trolley.
0:25:56 > 0:25:58But this is precision work.
0:26:00 > 0:26:01STAR WHINES AND SQUEALS
0:26:01 > 0:26:04All right. All right. And Star's still not free.
0:26:07 > 0:26:09Good girl.
0:26:12 > 0:26:14Must be about 40 minutes.
0:26:14 > 0:26:16That's lovely. That's great.
0:26:20 > 0:26:23The final piece of metal trapping Star is so close to her leg,
0:26:23 > 0:26:26the rescue workers are going to use a hacksaw.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31But it's solid metal and takes some time.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37There you go.
0:26:41 > 0:26:42OK?
0:26:44 > 0:26:45INDISTINCT
0:26:45 > 0:26:47At last, the leg is free.
0:26:47 > 0:26:52Star will go to the vet's to find out the full extent of her injury.
0:26:52 > 0:26:53Come on, girl.
0:26:57 > 0:27:00What's interesting to me about the difference between 111 calls
0:27:00 > 0:27:03and 999 is it depends on the person calling,
0:27:03 > 0:27:05whether they think it's an emergency or not.
0:27:05 > 0:27:09And different people have very different views of what's urgent
0:27:09 > 0:27:10and what isn't.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13For example, Vicky had a call from a professional-sounding gentleman.
0:27:13 > 0:27:15Yeah, a very elderly gentleman.
0:27:15 > 0:27:17The symptoms he mentioned right at the beginning of the call
0:27:17 > 0:27:20sounded like urgent symptoms, chest pain.
0:27:20 > 0:27:22Had previous heart problems.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25And straightaway we need to get into the questions that are going to
0:27:25 > 0:27:27decide whether we're going to need to get him
0:27:27 > 0:27:28an ambulance straightaway. OK.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32So, he sounded well educated and knew what he was talking about?
0:27:32 > 0:27:35He did, yes. But he wanted to add too much information.
0:27:35 > 0:27:38What we need to do right at the beginning, is get there
0:27:38 > 0:27:40very quickly to establish whether it's an urgent call or not.
0:27:40 > 0:27:43After that, we could maybe slow down a little bit.
0:27:43 > 0:27:46At the beginning, we need to make sure straightaway,
0:27:46 > 0:27:49and he wanted to add lots of extra information, which means
0:27:49 > 0:27:52we've got to try and focus him and get what we want from him
0:27:52 > 0:27:53so we can sort out what he needs.
0:27:53 > 0:27:57Interestingly, he had a little spray that he was supposed to use
0:27:57 > 0:27:59but didn't have it with him. So, what was that?
0:27:59 > 0:28:02He had a GTN spray because he'd had previous heart attacks. GTN is...?
0:28:02 > 0:28:06It's just a spray for... It's a spray you use.
0:28:06 > 0:28:08When he got the pains similar to the heart-attack pain
0:28:08 > 0:28:11he'd had before, he would have used it to see if it eased the pain.
0:28:11 > 0:28:14Those were the instructions he should have been given. Right.
0:28:14 > 0:28:16And it's really something he should have with him
0:28:16 > 0:28:18all the time, or know where it is, or keep it in date,
0:28:18 > 0:28:19but people tend to forget that.
0:28:19 > 0:28:22So, did he want to go wandering off and try and find it? Yes.
0:28:22 > 0:28:25Once we'd called the ambulance for him, we wanted to give him
0:28:25 > 0:28:28further advice on what to do whilst waiting for the ambulance.
0:28:28 > 0:28:31He wanted to go off and try and find the spray
0:28:31 > 0:28:32but that could have taken him too long.
0:28:32 > 0:28:34We wanted to keep him on the phone.
0:28:34 > 0:28:36He could have gone up and downstairs - not a good idea
0:28:36 > 0:28:38when he's suffering from heart pain, I suppose.
0:28:38 > 0:28:40Do you think a little knowledge is a dangerous thing
0:28:40 > 0:28:43in terms of people self-diagnosing and telling you? Sometimes.
0:28:43 > 0:28:45I think especially with the elderly -
0:28:45 > 0:28:47they don't realise how serious some things are.
0:28:47 > 0:28:50They don't want to bother us - that's why they call 111.
0:28:50 > 0:28:51They haven't called 999
0:28:51 > 0:28:55but in some of those cases, 999 is what they need.
0:28:55 > 0:28:57If we can control the call, which we teach our call advisers to do,
0:28:57 > 0:29:01we can quickly get them to the right place and time isn't wasted.
0:29:01 > 0:29:03If you're dealing with a professional,
0:29:03 > 0:29:06who is used to being in charge, you still have to take control of
0:29:06 > 0:29:08that situation rather than have them dictate it to you.
0:29:08 > 0:29:11Yes. He wanted to go off and make toast, didn't he?
0:29:11 > 0:29:13He did. We give them a list of instructions for when they're
0:29:13 > 0:29:16waiting for the ambulance. Just the straightforward things.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18Put the lights on. Put the pets away.
0:29:18 > 0:29:20Don't have anything to eat or drink
0:29:20 > 0:29:23because that can cause difficulties for the crew when they arrive.
0:29:23 > 0:29:26Of course. It's not just that you don't want him wandering around
0:29:26 > 0:29:28making toast. If he needs to have an operation,
0:29:28 > 0:29:30then eating now would be a bad thing.
0:29:30 > 0:29:31Yes.
0:29:31 > 0:29:34We need to just tell him exactly what to do whilst he's waiting
0:29:34 > 0:29:37for an ambulance, till the crew take over and deal with him then.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40And did you get control of him until the crew arrived, in the end?
0:29:40 > 0:29:41Yes, we did. Everything was fine.
0:29:41 > 0:29:44Maybe we should take it seriously. If you think you know
0:29:44 > 0:29:47a little bit about what's wrong with you, listen to the call taker -
0:29:47 > 0:29:49they probably know best. Thank you very much.
0:29:54 > 0:29:57At Cheshire Fire and Rescue control centre,
0:29:57 > 0:30:01call handler Wayne is on a 999 call to a woman threatening to jump
0:30:01 > 0:30:04from the first floor of her burning house.
0:30:04 > 0:30:07All the time, he's updating Karen about the fire crew's progress.
0:30:21 > 0:30:23We pulled into the close where the lady lived,
0:30:23 > 0:30:28and I immediately got out of the fire appliance and ran to the property.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31She was actually hanging out of a first-floor bedroom window.
0:30:38 > 0:30:41It's a 15-foot drop from the window ledge.
0:30:41 > 0:30:46There's still a chance she will jump and suffer serious injuries.
0:30:48 > 0:30:52I could see that Karen was kind of maybe even edging herself more
0:30:52 > 0:30:55towards the window ledge when she saw me.
0:30:55 > 0:30:58And maybe the fact that when she saw me she thought, "Right this is
0:30:58 > 0:31:01"my chance, I'm safe now. I'm going to jump," kind of thing.
0:31:01 > 0:31:03At control, Wayne's work is far from over.
0:31:03 > 0:31:07He has to keep telling her to wait to be rescued.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28Karen and her dog will soon be safe,
0:31:28 > 0:31:30but the fire is still raging through her home.
0:31:30 > 0:31:34A second crew moves in to tackle the flames.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37We've made entry to the property through the back door
0:31:37 > 0:31:39and been faced with a real hot compartment.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43It's full of toxic, hot, fire, gases and smoke.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46Temperatures in this room, the top of the compartment,
0:31:46 > 0:31:49you're probably looking at in excess of 1,000 degrees.
0:31:49 > 0:31:51The doorframes have melted,
0:31:51 > 0:31:53a lot of the kitchen worktops have delaminated,
0:31:53 > 0:31:58the rear windows have crazed and cracked due to the intense heat.
0:31:58 > 0:32:02And also, the rear doorframe has badly melted and distorted.
0:32:02 > 0:32:07If we were to introduce oxygen into here, that could cause an explosion.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12It took under an hour to put the fire out.
0:32:12 > 0:32:14Two months on, the damage is still clear.
0:32:14 > 0:32:17Fire crews believe the fire was burning for 30 minutes
0:32:17 > 0:32:21before Karen was woken by her dog barking.
0:32:21 > 0:32:23It started in the dishwasher.
0:32:23 > 0:32:26Luckily the house had fire doors
0:32:26 > 0:32:28and Karen had closed the kitchen door.
0:32:28 > 0:32:32The fact that the door has been closed at this time
0:32:32 > 0:32:35has just given Karen just enough time to get herself out.
0:32:35 > 0:32:39Now, if a smoke detector had been fitted in this room, it would
0:32:39 > 0:32:44have activated in a fire like this in well under a minute, which,
0:32:44 > 0:32:48of course, would give a vast amount more time to get herself out safely.
0:32:48 > 0:32:51It's going to be another four months before Karen, her daughter
0:32:51 > 0:32:55and her dog will be able to move back into their home.
0:32:55 > 0:32:58The fire happened the night Karen returned from holiday.
0:32:58 > 0:32:59She was jet-lagged
0:32:59 > 0:33:02and didn't follow her usual routine before going to bed.
0:33:02 > 0:33:05I'm sort of the type of person
0:33:05 > 0:33:07that will go around the house
0:33:07 > 0:33:09switching every socket off.
0:33:09 > 0:33:13I'm really conscious, you know, about, sort of like, fires.
0:33:14 > 0:33:16I put the dishwasher on, it was about 9:30,
0:33:16 > 0:33:18I went to bed about 10:30
0:33:20 > 0:33:24There was NO smoke alarm and it was thanks to her dog that she woke.
0:33:24 > 0:33:27About 12:30 I woke up.
0:33:27 > 0:33:29There was sort of like banging and explosions.
0:33:29 > 0:33:32So I jumped up and I thought, "God, why is it so hot?"
0:33:32 > 0:33:35And then I thought, "Why can't I see?"
0:33:35 > 0:33:37Cos I was a bit sort of disorientated.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40This was a very narrow escape.
0:33:42 > 0:33:46I think Karen is INCREDIBLY lucky to be alive. I really do.
0:33:46 > 0:33:49I've been in the fire service now for 11 years
0:33:49 > 0:33:53and I've seen a lot of really serious house fires.
0:33:53 > 0:33:54I can't think of an instance
0:33:54 > 0:33:58where someone hasn't had smoke detectors fitted
0:33:58 > 0:34:02and they've managed to tell the story at the end of it.
0:34:02 > 0:34:04I definitely feel there was
0:34:04 > 0:34:07a guardian angel looking after me that night.
0:34:18 > 0:34:20SIREN WAILS
0:34:24 > 0:34:25..311.
0:34:27 > 0:34:29Ambulance technician Tracy Cambell is working alone
0:34:29 > 0:34:31in the rapid response car.
0:34:31 > 0:34:35It's lunchtime when she's radioed by ambulance control.
0:34:39 > 0:34:41RADIO INDISTINCT
0:34:41 > 0:34:43Thank you.
0:34:43 > 0:34:45There's an emergency at a roundabout.
0:34:45 > 0:34:47It's happening inside a car.
0:34:47 > 0:34:48SIREN WAILS
0:34:51 > 0:34:55The priority with any stroke victim is hospital treatment fast.
0:34:55 > 0:34:58It will dramatically affect long-term recovery.
0:35:02 > 0:35:05An ambulance has arrived a few minutes ahead of her.
0:35:11 > 0:35:13He's a bit delirious. The driver is slumped at the wheel.
0:35:14 > 0:35:18Ambulance technician Lynn Northover brings Tracy up to date.
0:35:20 > 0:35:22Left-side paralysis. OK.
0:35:22 > 0:35:26Confusion. Brilliant. Cool.
0:35:27 > 0:35:32My name's Lynn. My colleague's name is Tracy. Hello, my darling.
0:35:32 > 0:35:35My other colleague's Chris, OK? Yeah
0:35:35 > 0:35:36Is his handbrake on?
0:35:36 > 0:35:40Lynn and Tracy know exactly what these symptoms mean.
0:35:40 > 0:35:41'The patient was'
0:35:41 > 0:35:42leant forward in the car.
0:35:42 > 0:35:45It was obvious that he had a left-sided weakness.
0:35:45 > 0:35:46'He had facial droop
0:35:46 > 0:35:49'and he did say that he couldn't move the left side of his body.'
0:35:51 > 0:35:52'He'd had a massive stroke.'
0:35:52 > 0:35:55It's the extent of the paralysis that tells the crew just how
0:35:55 > 0:35:59serious this stroke is but they don't know exactly when it happened.
0:36:02 > 0:36:04The quicker he gets the hospital, the better his chances.
0:36:06 > 0:36:09But getting him out of the car, when he can only move one leg
0:36:09 > 0:36:11and arm, is far from straightforward.
0:36:11 > 0:36:13But it's what they're trained for.
0:36:14 > 0:36:17With the help of emergency care assistant Chris,
0:36:17 > 0:36:19they're going to slide him onto the stretcher.
0:36:19 > 0:36:21Put his legs on and slide him down.
0:36:21 > 0:36:23TRACY: Give us your hand, darling.
0:36:28 > 0:36:29Just watch. Oh...
0:36:31 > 0:36:32Let go. Just lay down, darling.
0:36:35 > 0:36:37Just relax, sweetie.
0:36:44 > 0:36:45Well done.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47Well done, sweetie.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49He's got a dog in the back. Will we be able to sort that?
0:36:49 > 0:36:53With the help of the police as well, they get the man on the stretcher.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57The traffic police can now deal with the car and its back-seat passenger.
0:36:58 > 0:37:00It turns out the driver was just on his way home
0:37:00 > 0:37:02after walking the dog with a friend.
0:37:04 > 0:37:06In the ambulance he's being given oxygen,
0:37:06 > 0:37:10as Tracy puts the hospital stroke team on stand-by.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13Yeah, course I will.
0:37:13 > 0:37:16What they'll do is they'll call the stroke team down.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20They need to send details of the man's blood pressure.
0:37:20 > 0:37:21But it's proving difficult.
0:37:21 > 0:37:22Arm still, arm still.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26Keep it nice and steady. I know it's tight, darling...
0:37:26 > 0:37:28Doing a blood pressure on somebody that's had a stroke
0:37:28 > 0:37:30is quite hard to do.
0:37:30 > 0:37:32Sorry, my darling.
0:37:32 > 0:37:35They're scared. We try to explain to them that you need them
0:37:35 > 0:37:36to keep their arm straight.
0:37:36 > 0:37:38It-it just doesn't register with them.
0:37:38 > 0:37:41You ever had a stroke before, sweetie?
0:37:41 > 0:37:42MAN: No.
0:37:42 > 0:37:44No, what medical history do you have, poppet?
0:37:46 > 0:37:48Hi, can you hear me?
0:37:50 > 0:37:53Right, we're en route to you with a gentleman, left-sided CVA...
0:37:53 > 0:37:55Tracy is relaying all the information
0:37:55 > 0:37:57to the stroke team at the hospital,
0:37:57 > 0:38:01as the ambulance crew prepares their patient for the journey.
0:38:01 > 0:38:04OK, ETA's going to be about seven minutes.
0:38:05 > 0:38:07Yeah, OK.
0:38:07 > 0:38:12At the moment, all we've got is SATs of 98 and pulse of 88.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15The man's blood pressure is extremely high,
0:38:15 > 0:38:18as they would expect from a patient suffering a stroke.
0:38:18 > 0:38:21Blood pressure is 138/147.
0:38:21 > 0:38:24GCS is 14.
0:38:24 > 0:38:2615.
0:38:26 > 0:38:28Yeah, the whole of the left side, yeah.
0:38:30 > 0:38:32OK, thank you, cheers, bye.
0:38:32 > 0:38:34Take him straight into Resus.
0:38:35 > 0:38:36The ambulance is now ready to leave.
0:38:38 > 0:38:40It turns out the alarm was raised by another driver,
0:38:40 > 0:38:42who's trained as a first aider.
0:38:44 > 0:38:45I knocked on the window first,
0:38:45 > 0:38:47but he just wasn't responding at all.
0:38:47 > 0:38:50So I didn't think that was normal behaviour.
0:38:50 > 0:38:51I put two and two together
0:38:51 > 0:38:53and thought I could see that he was having a stroke.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57So, I thought the best thing to do was ring the ambulance service.
0:38:57 > 0:38:59And hopefully he'll be all right.
0:39:00 > 0:39:03The driver is now in the hands of the stroke team
0:39:03 > 0:39:06at Southampton General Hospital.
0:39:06 > 0:39:07We'll be finding out more later.
0:39:18 > 0:39:21Roger has now largely recovered from his very serious injuries
0:39:21 > 0:39:23after falling from a ladder in his garden.
0:39:23 > 0:39:28He suffered multiple fractures in ten ribs and a collapsed lung.
0:39:28 > 0:39:30He was in intensive care for ten days
0:39:30 > 0:39:32and he still gets pains in his chest.
0:39:34 > 0:39:37Roger recalls how a simple job helping out his neighbour
0:39:37 > 0:39:40led to the terrible injuries.
0:39:40 > 0:39:41I went and got the steps.
0:39:41 > 0:39:46I climbed up, held a branch over his side of the fence...
0:39:48 > 0:39:53It was sawn through and as it was getting near the end, it cracked,
0:39:53 > 0:39:56and swung round and knocked me off the steps.
0:39:56 > 0:40:00Although he only fell down a few steps, the effects were devastating.
0:40:00 > 0:40:01He suffered a flail chest.
0:40:01 > 0:40:05A section of his ribcage breaking away and the left lung collapsed.
0:40:05 > 0:40:09He already had a history of emphysema in his other lung.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11These injuries are very severe in normal circumstances
0:40:11 > 0:40:13and can rapidly become life-threatening.
0:40:13 > 0:40:14In Roger's case...
0:40:16 > 0:40:19..the underlying presence of disease made the chances
0:40:19 > 0:40:22of his injury becoming worse, quicker...
0:40:22 > 0:40:24all the more real.
0:40:24 > 0:40:28As well as the chest injuries, Roger also dislocated his left shoulder
0:40:28 > 0:40:31and fractured the orbital bone around his eye.
0:40:31 > 0:40:33He knows he's lucky to be alive.
0:40:36 > 0:40:39I'm delighted that I can continue...
0:40:39 > 0:40:43physically active and mentally quite sharp still.
0:40:44 > 0:40:47And I've still got...
0:40:48 > 0:40:50..this urge to do more. I really have.
0:40:53 > 0:40:55The Border collie puppy, who ended up getting trapped
0:40:55 > 0:40:59in a wire trolley after a run in the garden, is recovering well.
0:40:59 > 0:41:03At the vet's, x-rays revealed Star had not broken her leg.
0:41:03 > 0:41:05She did, however, suffer a deep cut,
0:41:05 > 0:41:08which needed staples to fix the wound.
0:41:08 > 0:41:09Star is now living up to her name.
0:41:09 > 0:41:12Although her accident has delayed agility training,
0:41:12 > 0:41:16she's back on track and her specialism is playing flyball.
0:41:17 > 0:41:21It took her quite a while to get confident at it,
0:41:21 > 0:41:24but she's qualified for Crufts, with the junior team,
0:41:24 > 0:41:25with my daughter.
0:41:25 > 0:41:29And she's also worked her way up to our top team,
0:41:29 > 0:41:31which are quite successful.
0:41:36 > 0:41:39The driver who collapsed at the wheel suffering a stroke
0:41:39 > 0:41:42underwent seven hours of surgery at hospital.
0:41:42 > 0:41:45He's now working hard with the physiotherapist and doing well,
0:41:45 > 0:41:49thanks to the support of his family and the medical teams.
0:41:54 > 0:41:56You remember earlier I was talking to Richard
0:41:56 > 0:41:57about the lady with the fruity language?
0:41:57 > 0:41:58He's on a call at the moment,
0:41:58 > 0:42:01so we can't interrupt him, but he did have the card with him.
0:42:01 > 0:42:03He didn't want to make a big deal of it.
0:42:03 > 0:42:05I've just read the letter that's along with it
0:42:05 > 0:42:07and I thought I'd share some of it with you.
0:42:07 > 0:42:10"To the man on the control desk, thank you so much for everything.
0:42:10 > 0:42:12"Thanks for talking my husband through the delivery.
0:42:12 > 0:42:16"It kept him calm and focused, and thank you for talking us through
0:42:16 > 0:42:17"getting our baby to breathe.
0:42:17 > 0:42:19"We couldn't have done that without you.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22"Thank you also for keeping calm and putting up with me screaming at you.
0:42:22 > 0:42:25"I'm so sorry for that, I was just very frightened -
0:42:25 > 0:42:27"I really thought we may lose her.
0:42:27 > 0:42:30"But thanks to all of you and the midwife and all at the hospital,
0:42:30 > 0:42:33"she's doing really well and a picture of health."
0:42:33 > 0:42:35That's what they do here.
0:42:36 > 0:42:38Isn't that fantastic?
0:42:38 > 0:42:40That's it for today's Real Rescues, see you next time.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd