0:00:02 > 0:00:08Today a man clings on to a cliff and his life. Only the coastguard helicopter can save him.
0:00:13 > 0:00:20A car is jammed tight between the trees. It looks like it just dropped from the sky.
0:00:20 > 0:00:26It was clear that something out of the ordinary had happened. It wasn't a normal accident.
0:00:26 > 0:00:31And trapped by smoke upstairs, all caused by a large teddy bear.
0:01:03 > 0:01:09Hello and welcome to Real Rescues. We're at the ambulance control centre near Winchester.
0:01:09 > 0:01:14When people are hurt, scared and need medical attention, this is where they call.
0:01:14 > 0:01:20They've taken all sorts of calls here today. There's somebody who has fallen off their horse
0:01:20 > 0:01:26and a little toddler walked through a bonfire that had been put out, but was still hot.
0:01:26 > 0:01:33- Lee, are you busy? Are you OK to talk?- Yeah.- You've had a call from somebody in a DIY shop.
0:01:33 > 0:01:39Yeah, a young lady stumbled across some garden shears in the store and sustained an ankle injury.
0:01:39 > 0:01:43It sounds quite painful. What have you done about it?
0:01:43 > 0:01:47We've sent an emergency care practitioner to the scene
0:01:47 > 0:01:49to assess her injuries
0:01:49 > 0:01:56- and hopefully to treat her on the scene.- And the point is that she won't have to go to hospital?
0:01:56 > 0:02:00Absolutely. If we can treat her on the scene, she won't have to go in.
0:02:00 > 0:02:06- Which saves time for everybody. - Yes.- Brilliant. We'll get an update later. Lee, thank you. Nick?
0:02:06 > 0:02:10Now a mystery under a busy motorway flyover.
0:02:10 > 0:02:15A car is embedded in trees and looks like it's just been dropped there.
0:02:19 > 0:02:26PC Adam Jackson has been despatched urgently after a very worrying emergency call has come in.
0:02:27 > 0:02:31A one-vehicle accident at the flyover at Lancaster.
0:02:31 > 0:02:37They're still trapped in there. Local units are on scene. I need to get there pretty sharpish.
0:02:42 > 0:02:47Adam arrives to find a hive of activity. All the services are here.
0:02:47 > 0:02:52This looks bad. The crashed car lies on its side on the island of this busy roundabout.
0:02:52 > 0:02:58It's completely wedged between the trees as if it's been slotted in with great force.
0:02:59 > 0:03:03Something out of the ordinary had happened.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08With the carnage of the vehicle, parts of road signs, the trees, the way the car was,
0:03:08 > 0:03:15my first thoughts are that we may well have a very seriously injured person, if not a fatality.
0:03:15 > 0:03:19The 51-year-old driver Kevin is trapped inside.
0:03:19 > 0:03:25He's suffered a massive impact and is hanging upside down, but he is conscious and breathing.
0:03:25 > 0:03:31Access is restricted by the trees, but a paramedic and firefighters Jim Tarbuck and Christine Shepherd
0:03:31 > 0:03:34have managed to crawl in.
0:03:34 > 0:03:39He was fully conscious but very quiet. He'd blood around his face.
0:03:39 > 0:03:44I basically tried to keep him calm while the paramedic worked on him.
0:03:44 > 0:03:51The driver, Kevin, is only held in by his seatbelt and needs his weight supporting.
0:03:51 > 0:03:53I was holding his head.
0:03:53 > 0:04:01Firefighter Tarbuck was laid on his back with his hands supporting his hips and his legs,
0:04:01 > 0:04:09just to make sure everything was held in place while the paramedics and the Fire Brigade were doing their jobs.
0:04:09 > 0:04:16After talking to eyewitnesses, the police found out how the car ended up in this position.
0:04:16 > 0:04:22Basically, what we've got, it would appear, is that a vehicle has come off the slip road,
0:04:22 > 0:04:25for whatever reason, at 60 miles an hour.
0:04:25 > 0:04:30he went straight across the roundabout to where we've got it now.
0:04:30 > 0:04:36Kevin's car has ploughed straight into the roundabout at speed, apparently without braking.
0:04:36 > 0:04:42Luckily, the lights were on green or the consequences could have been even worse.
0:04:42 > 0:04:49- Adam wants to establish Kevin's full identity and ownership of the car, but has a problem.- No index plate.
0:04:49 > 0:04:51- Nothing on the front either?- No.
0:04:51 > 0:04:54I can't see any index number.
0:04:54 > 0:05:00There's normally one number plate. To have none, back or front, you think, "This isn't right."
0:05:00 > 0:05:07Is there a reason why the plates aren't on the car? Has something else happened prior to the collision?
0:05:07 > 0:05:12All things you think about as a police officer - who, what, where, why and how?
0:05:12 > 0:05:19While Adam searches for the car's missing number plates, the fire crew have started getting Kevin out.
0:05:19 > 0:05:23To create enough room, they have to cut the roof off.
0:05:23 > 0:05:28It's a challenging task for Kevin Evenett and his team.
0:05:28 > 0:05:31The difficulty was a lack of space
0:05:31 > 0:05:35and access around the vehicle was restricted and difficult.
0:05:35 > 0:05:43Also, gravity was working against us so any movement of any glass would fall downwards onto the casualty.
0:05:43 > 0:05:49They have to work carefully around Kevin and the three people helping him inside the car.
0:05:49 > 0:05:54With all the cutting going on, we needed to make sure he was well-protected,
0:05:54 > 0:06:00so at one point I had a canvas sheet over me, over Kevin and the paramedics so the glass
0:06:00 > 0:06:03wouldn't come down on top of us.
0:06:03 > 0:06:09Meanwhile, Adam and his colleague PC Andy Green have found fragments of a number plate.
0:06:09 > 0:06:13- Golf Yankee something. - Lima?
0:06:13 > 0:06:16It's an unusual jigsaw puzzle.
0:06:16 > 0:06:20Golf Yankee... Could you try that, please? Well done, mate.
0:06:20 > 0:06:22Top banana.
0:06:22 > 0:06:28Now that they've confirmed the car belongs to Kevin, they can look for any medical information
0:06:28 > 0:06:33that might help explain why this accident happened.
0:06:33 > 0:06:37We can check the DVLA database for medical conditions.
0:06:37 > 0:06:42It was clear from this incident this guy wasn't suffering from anything,
0:06:42 > 0:06:45so there was nothing untoward.
0:06:45 > 0:06:51Emergency specialist Dr Brando Tamayo has arrived to assess Kevin.
0:06:51 > 0:06:57He thinks the unexplained crash is still likely to have been caused by a medical issue.
0:06:57 > 0:07:01Why do people fall down in the street? Or crash their cars?
0:07:01 > 0:07:03Sometimes it's road conditions,
0:07:03 > 0:07:09sometimes driving behaviour, sometimes something happens to you - a blackout or chest pains...
0:07:09 > 0:07:16Whatever the reasons for Kevin ending up in this position, attention is on getting him out.
0:07:18 > 0:07:23Our next rescue is an extremely difficult one. A man is clinging on to a 45-degree slope
0:07:23 > 0:07:31- which is a bit like that? - Yeah, it may not look much, but it's almost impossible to stand.
0:07:31 > 0:07:35On top of that, he has broken limbs and is bleeding heavily.
0:07:35 > 0:07:42It's going to take the most exact flying by the coastguard helicopter crew, who Louise went to meet.
0:07:42 > 0:07:46I'm with Rescue 106 and its highly-specialised crew.
0:07:46 > 0:07:50Two pilots, one winch operator and one winchman.
0:07:50 > 0:07:57They work together as a close team and they never know what they are going to be called out to.
0:08:03 > 0:08:08The crew have got an emergency right on their doorstep in Portland.
0:08:08 > 0:08:14A man's been spotted clinging on for dear life to a cliff face after losing his footing on a path.
0:08:14 > 0:08:19Onboard are pilots Kevin Balls and Mark Bazalgette,
0:08:19 > 0:08:23winch operator Steve Larson and winch man Buck Rogers.
0:08:23 > 0:08:29- Why don't you just put him on the ground to walk up? - Buck is lowered down on a wire
0:08:29 > 0:08:34and carefully manoeuvred towards the man who is in obvious pain.
0:08:34 > 0:08:37To the right. Right a further two.
0:08:37 > 0:08:40Right one, and steady. That's good.
0:08:40 > 0:08:47The camera angle from the helicopter doesn't show it, but this is a very steep gradient, at least 45 degrees,
0:08:47 > 0:08:51- and covered in loose rock. - Steady. Steady. Right one.
0:08:51 > 0:08:57The winch supports Buck's weight, so it's safer and easier for him to clamber up the slope.
0:08:57 > 0:09:02They come from below so that the downdraft helps the man to hold on
0:09:02 > 0:09:08- rather than forcing him further down the cliff. - Right, steady.
0:09:08 > 0:09:13Buck disconnects himself from the helicopter so that it can fly away.
0:09:13 > 0:09:15That's the hook now.
0:09:15 > 0:09:20Winching in. OK, clear the target area while Buck sorts himself out.
0:09:23 > 0:09:27He can now speak clearly with the casualty and assess his injuries.
0:09:27 > 0:09:32What was difficult to see there was how steep that cliff face was.
0:09:32 > 0:09:39- It was quite tricky to get Buck on there safely. - The danger on that loose slope was
0:09:39 > 0:09:43was the casualty had no firm footing and we could have dislodged him
0:09:43 > 0:09:51- and made him fall further. - How forceful is the downdraft? It could take you off the edge?
0:09:51 > 0:09:58Effectively, it's a very strong wind. It's a cushion of air keeping the weight of the aircraft airborne.
0:09:58 > 0:10:02And he could have easily slid down? How did you stop him?
0:10:02 > 0:10:08What you tend to try and want to do is to be below the casualty and walk up the cliff on the winch
0:10:08 > 0:10:15so that if anything does happen... hopefully they'll come your way and you'll be able to stop them!
0:10:15 > 0:10:21And immediately you have to assess him and start looking after him.
0:10:22 > 0:10:27It's a bit of an awkward one. We'll wait to see what Buck says.
0:10:27 > 0:10:34A coastguard cliff rescue team have arrived. The casualty is exhausted from hanging on for over an hour.
0:10:34 > 0:10:37Buck updates the helicopter crew.
0:10:50 > 0:10:53Roger. Splints bag on its way.
0:10:53 > 0:10:57With further examination, it appears he's actually broken both legs.
0:10:57 > 0:11:02What sort of extraction are you looking at, Buck?
0:11:06 > 0:11:13While the helicopter gets in position, Buck gives the casualty gas and air to help with his pain.
0:11:13 > 0:11:18We can look at this as a practice extraction as well. ..Winching out.
0:11:18 > 0:11:22They lower the splint equipment with pinpoint precision.
0:11:22 > 0:11:26Right four and forward. Three, two, one. Steady.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29Steady. Right one.
0:11:29 > 0:11:32Steady. Steady. Right one and forward.
0:11:32 > 0:11:36Steady. Contact. Steady. Good position.
0:11:37 > 0:11:41One of the cliff rescue team has been roped down to them.
0:11:41 > 0:11:47It's a bit misleading on the camera. It's quite a gradient that you're hanging on to.
0:11:47 > 0:11:52He helps the casualty to hold on, letting Buck treat the injuries.
0:11:52 > 0:11:55He'll have numerous lacerations.
0:11:55 > 0:12:01He'll have to use all of his medical training on this job and has to strap the casualty's legs securely
0:12:01 > 0:12:05- in difficult conditions. - He's earning his supper today.
0:12:05 > 0:12:11He's splinted it. He's done a good job there. He's done all right, hasn't he?
0:12:11 > 0:12:15Buck, he was seriously injured. What was going on?
0:12:15 > 0:12:19He had fractures to both legs, both lower legs.
0:12:19 > 0:12:24One was an open fracture, so blood loss. The other one was closed.
0:12:24 > 0:12:30'So you've really got two fractures and you've also got the blood loss to take care of
0:12:30 > 0:12:32'before we could take him anywhere.'
0:12:32 > 0:12:37He'd taken his t-shirt off to do something pretty important.
0:12:37 > 0:12:39Yeah, very clever, actually.
0:12:39 > 0:12:45He'd taken the t-shirt off and used it as a tourniquet above the open fracture,
0:12:45 > 0:12:52which meant he reduced the blood loss through the wound. Clever stuff, bearing in mind he was a cliff faller
0:12:52 > 0:12:54and was in a bit of a state.
0:12:54 > 0:13:00I know it took you about 45 minutes to get him sorted out and you also had concerns
0:13:00 > 0:13:03that drugs could have a bad effect.
0:13:03 > 0:13:08Yeah, we were using Entonox on this. The problem with Entonox is
0:13:08 > 0:13:13with too much of it it will make you unconscious, make you go to sleep.
0:13:13 > 0:13:19What we don't want is for the person to become completely limp and roll the rest of the way.
0:13:19 > 0:13:25- Cos he was holding on.- Right. - Eventually, you did get him sorted and you called back the team.
0:13:31 > 0:13:37They're going to lower two harnesses that Buck can fix around himself and the casualty for a quick getaway
0:13:37 > 0:13:41but first they need to retrieve all their equipment.
0:13:41 > 0:13:43OK, left two.
0:13:43 > 0:13:45Left one.
0:13:45 > 0:13:49And winch again. OK, we have recovered the gear.
0:13:52 > 0:13:58- Just bringing the gear into the cabin.- Is that a thumbs up? - I'm not too sure. I think it was.
0:13:58 > 0:14:01- Clear to winch?- Clear to winch.
0:14:01 > 0:14:05So really the pick-up is up and just left a bit.
0:14:05 > 0:14:09Yeah, just left so we can get to those bushes.
0:14:09 > 0:14:12And steady. Steady.
0:14:12 > 0:14:15Steady. Contact looks in hand.
0:14:15 > 0:14:18Steady. Just about to hook on.
0:14:18 > 0:14:21Hooked on. Winching in.
0:14:21 > 0:14:27After desperately holding on for well over an hour, the injured man can finally be lifted away
0:14:27 > 0:14:29from his ordeal.
0:14:31 > 0:14:33Left two.
0:14:34 > 0:14:37Left two. Left one.
0:14:39 > 0:14:41Going slowly. Still all clear.
0:14:41 > 0:14:4315 foot of cable to come.
0:14:43 > 0:14:47Down four, down three, down two. Down one. Steady.
0:14:47 > 0:14:49Just below step height.
0:14:52 > 0:14:54Coming to the step.
0:14:54 > 0:15:00Safely onboard, they head straight for the Emergency Department at a hospital in Dorchester
0:15:00 > 0:15:04where his injuries can be fully treated.
0:15:06 > 0:15:12I'll look at some of the other hazards Buck and the crew face a bit later.
0:15:12 > 0:15:14Just listen to this.
0:15:14 > 0:15:19- CHATTER - That's the general hubbub of people very calmly answering calls
0:15:19 > 0:15:25from people who are generally in a panic because they need help. That's the general hubbub you hear.
0:15:25 > 0:15:32We're not disturbing them. Chris is here observing from Bicester. He's watching Charlee Buckles here.
0:15:32 > 0:15:36He said he'd take advantage of me coming in to make a cup of tea.
0:15:36 > 0:15:44- People observe different units... - Yeah. They come and see the difference between our systems.
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Yeah. I wanted to ask you about a case recently
0:15:48 > 0:15:54where you had a phone call from someone... We want to talk about amputations, toes, fingers.
0:15:54 > 0:15:59Yeah, I had one from this lady whose son...
0:15:59 > 0:16:02sorry, husband was mowing the lawn
0:16:02 > 0:16:08and he went over his son's foot. She thought it was just cut, so we gave her bleeding instructions
0:16:08 > 0:16:14to get a clean, dry cloth or towel and place it on the wound to control the bleeding
0:16:14 > 0:16:18until her husband piped up that he'd found a toe in the grass.
0:16:18 > 0:16:20- He'd cut his son's toe off?- Yeah.
0:16:20 > 0:16:26- So what advice do you give then? - We advise them to put them into a clean plastic bag
0:16:26 > 0:16:31and to save it until the crew arrives and we'll try to reattach it.
0:16:31 > 0:16:35Should you wash the grass off the toe? Or wash dirt off?
0:16:35 > 0:16:39We say to put it straight into the bag and let the crew deal with it.
0:16:39 > 0:16:44- And put it in ice?- We just advise to keep it where it is in the bag.
0:16:44 > 0:16:48- So the thing about ice isn't necessarily true?- Not necessarily.
0:16:48 > 0:16:55It depends how long it's been out. We just advise to put in in a bag and preserve it for the crew.
0:16:55 > 0:16:59There you go. It's interesting. You expect the old advice,
0:16:59 > 0:17:04but you don't want to over-freeze a toe or a finger or whatever.
0:17:04 > 0:17:10So just put it in a bag, keep it cool, don't play around with it, and wait for the ambulance. Thanks.
0:17:10 > 0:17:15Earlier we saw a car wedged sideways between trees under a flyover.
0:17:15 > 0:17:19The driver, Kevin, is trapped inside suspended by his seatbelt.
0:17:19 > 0:17:23All three emergency services are working hard to free him.
0:17:27 > 0:17:30Rescue teams are at work.
0:17:30 > 0:17:37Inside the car, firefighters are helping to support his weight as he's suspended only by his seatbelt.
0:17:37 > 0:17:43After about 15, 20 minutes, Kevin's legs started to go numb because of the pressure
0:17:43 > 0:17:47and weight all being on one side, even though we supported him.
0:17:47 > 0:17:50It was a very awkward position.
0:17:50 > 0:17:55They're working as fast as they can to release him.
0:17:55 > 0:18:01To create enough space, they cut the roof off the car using electric saws.
0:18:03 > 0:18:08They also use a more traditional type of saw to cut back the trees.
0:18:08 > 0:18:15After being trapped in a very uncomfortable position for half an hour, Kevin sees the outside world.
0:18:15 > 0:18:20He's being held in mid-air as they delicately manoeuvre him out.
0:18:20 > 0:18:23We try to minimise any movement.
0:18:23 > 0:18:25One, two, three.
0:18:25 > 0:18:28'To lift him in a smooth manner.
0:18:28 > 0:18:35'Instead of walking with the casualty, we'd pass them from one set of hands to another set.'
0:18:35 > 0:18:37Many hands make light work.
0:18:41 > 0:18:45Kevin is finally free and out into the open.
0:18:52 > 0:18:58The car had hit a roundabout at 60mph and gone through a sign before flipping onto its side,
0:18:58 > 0:19:05yet Dr Brando Tamayo's initial examination finds that, amazingly, Kevin is relatively unscathed.
0:19:05 > 0:19:10At the present time, it looks like he's gotten away pretty Scot-free.
0:19:10 > 0:19:13He's still going to hospital.
0:19:13 > 0:19:18We'll do all the blood tests, make sure he's well before he goes home.
0:19:18 > 0:19:22The outcome of this accident could have been a lot worse.
0:19:22 > 0:19:27He's very lucky. If he'd gone against a red instead of through a green,
0:19:27 > 0:19:33he could have been hit by another vehicle and the force could plough him across the carriageway.
0:19:33 > 0:19:38If he hit something hard, a concrete barrier, then significant injuries.
0:19:38 > 0:19:42Here he's gone through the trees and they absorbed the force.
0:19:42 > 0:19:47These springy young trees may have saved Kevin's life,
0:19:47 > 0:19:53but the reason for his crash is still unknown and PC Adam Jackson needs to check
0:19:53 > 0:19:56whether alcohol was involved.
0:19:56 > 0:20:02- The cause is probably medical.- Right. - Something's happened to him, he's felt a bit unwell,
0:20:02 > 0:20:06he's blacked out, something's happened to cause that.
0:20:06 > 0:20:11- Does he smell of alcohol?- Not to me. - Is he up to providing a blow sample?
0:20:11 > 0:20:16- Has he got any facial...? - Personally, I think you could. - Right, OK.
0:20:16 > 0:20:21- Hello, Kev. How are you? Have you had anything to drink?- No.
0:20:21 > 0:20:27Put this tube in your mouth, blow quite hard for about 10 seconds. All right? As hard as you can.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Go, mate.
0:20:29 > 0:20:32Good lad. Well done, mate. Beautiful.
0:20:32 > 0:20:37The breath test results confirm that Kevin has not drunk any alcohol.
0:20:37 > 0:20:41He's taken to hospital for further medical checks.
0:20:43 > 0:20:49A vehicle recovery team has arrived to pull the car from the trees.
0:20:49 > 0:20:55Adam has seen a lot of incidents and is astounded by Kevin's good fortune.
0:20:55 > 0:20:59You can see the extent of the damage to the roadside furniture,
0:20:59 > 0:21:03to the vegetation, to the car. And he's got a little bump on his head.
0:21:03 > 0:21:09- So he's very lucky. - This incident tested the skills of all three emergency services
0:21:09 > 0:21:14who worked closely together to get Kevin out of the wreckage.
0:21:14 > 0:21:21Christine is taking a well-earned break after holding his head steady for such along time inside the car.
0:21:21 > 0:21:25Because it's so cramped, you are in the same spot
0:21:25 > 0:21:28so, yeah, fingers go numb. Very hot.
0:21:28 > 0:21:33Yes, it was a great relief to get myself out the car.
0:21:35 > 0:21:39Kevin did black out and lose control. He is recovering well now
0:21:39 > 0:21:42and wanted to thank everyone involved in his rescue.
0:21:45 > 0:21:47Still to come on Real Rescues:
0:21:47 > 0:21:54if a coastguard rescue goes into a spin, it's a perilous moment - how do you stop it?
0:21:57 > 0:22:04And does my bum look big in this? The fat-bottomed pony who... well, she just got stuck.
0:22:07 > 0:22:13Now to a serious fire caused by a teddy bear. The smoke spread throughout the ground floor,
0:22:13 > 0:22:18trapping the owner upstairs. Terrified, she called 999.
0:23:17 > 0:23:23So much smoke fills the upstairs that it's starting to seep into the bedroom. This happened next.
0:24:47 > 0:24:52Ian, you took that call. You were incredibly calm! How did you manage to do that?
0:24:52 > 0:24:57Just talking to her and giving her the information that was going on,
0:24:57 > 0:25:03telling her where the appliances were. I watch them on a map to keep track of them.
0:25:03 > 0:25:10It helps keep her calm because she knows the area and can visualise where they are at the time.
0:25:10 > 0:25:16When you talked to her about going to the window, she got confused. She thought she had to get out.
0:25:16 > 0:25:23Yeah, I didn't want her to get out! She had to be on at least the first floor. I didn't want her to go out.
0:25:23 > 0:25:27I just wanted her to get fresh air so she wasn't breathing any smoke.
0:25:27 > 0:25:32She was sounding really croaky. I wanted her to get fresh air.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36You were very concerned to get the layout of the house. Why is that?
0:25:36 > 0:25:40So we can tell the crew where they are, so they go straight there.
0:25:40 > 0:25:44They can go straight up the stairs to the room where the lady was,
0:25:44 > 0:25:49- rather than search every room. - Which makes it safer.
0:25:49 > 0:25:55- It makes it quicker for her, so we can get the lady out. - And safer for the firefighters.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00You warned her about the breathing apparatus. Why was that?
0:26:00 > 0:26:06The sets make a noise. The exhalation valves make a noise when the firefighters breathe out,
0:26:06 > 0:26:13so for anybody who doesn't understand that or know what to expect, they can be quite frightening.
0:26:13 > 0:26:17- It sounds a bit like Darth Vader. - Yeah.- That horrible breathing.
0:26:17 > 0:26:21You made sure to stay on the phone until you spoke to them. Why?
0:26:21 > 0:26:27What I didn't want the lady to do was put the phone down and disappear off into the house to get out.
0:26:27 > 0:26:33- And I wanted to make sure that the firefighters knew where she was. - Is that what people do?
0:26:33 > 0:26:37They'll put the phone down, thinking they can get out
0:26:37 > 0:26:44and from the sounds of the call and the amount of smoke there was, I didn't want her making herself ill.
0:26:44 > 0:26:49Absolutely. Also, you did find out later what caused the fire. Tell me what caused it.
0:26:49 > 0:26:55I believe the lady had thrown a teddy bear into a room, which landed on the gas fire.
0:26:55 > 0:27:01- I don't know what size the teddy bear was.- I understand it was quite a big teddy bear.
0:27:01 > 0:27:06- I didn't know.- Did the teddy bear make it?- I doubt it!
0:27:06 > 0:27:10I expect so, too. Thank you. Lovely to speak to you.
0:27:10 > 0:27:16Earlier in the programme we saw the coastguard rescue helicopter saving a man with two broken ankles.
0:27:16 > 0:27:21The crew talked about how they avoid the dangers of rotor blade downdraft
0:27:21 > 0:27:25which can occasionally result in the winchman going into a spin.
0:27:25 > 0:27:29The crew gave us this footage. Hello.
0:27:29 > 0:27:33They gave us this footage of the rescue of a young woman recently.
0:27:33 > 0:27:39Yes, this is Buck Rogers, who I met. he's on the end of the winch with this young woman
0:27:39 > 0:27:43- who had an accident while climbing. - It's extraordinary.
0:27:43 > 0:27:47She's got a leg injury. He's trying to winch her in and they spin.
0:27:47 > 0:27:51And it's not something that's slowing down. It's getting faster.
0:27:51 > 0:27:54It gets faster and faster.
0:27:54 > 0:27:58They start separating, which must have been terrifying for her.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02Quite sick-making. Quite painful considering she has an injury.
0:28:02 > 0:28:06And as you can see it gets faster and faster.
0:28:06 > 0:28:11I asked a pilot how and why that happens.
0:28:11 > 0:28:16The downdraft from the aircraft rotor blades hits whatever is beneath
0:28:16 > 0:28:19and that can induce a spin.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23That can get so bad that the winch man and casualty pass out.
0:28:23 > 0:28:28So the way we can get round that is to get forward airspeed
0:28:28 > 0:28:32and that pushes our downdraft away from the people underneath
0:28:32 > 0:28:36and stops the spin. If it gets really bad and we can't do that,
0:28:36 > 0:28:41the last option we have available is to dunk them in the sea.
0:28:41 > 0:28:45And you'd stop feeling sick quite quickly.
0:28:45 > 0:28:47- That has to be an option?- Yeah.
0:28:47 > 0:28:53And on this occasion this is how the stopped it - they dropped gently onto the ground.
0:28:53 > 0:28:59- Which looks pretty uncomfortable. They'd rather not do that, but...- He said they could pass out.
0:28:59 > 0:29:06He said, "We just plonk them in the sea." I think he meant they gently touch them onto the surface!
0:29:06 > 0:29:08It's amazing the skill they have.
0:29:08 > 0:29:14It happens only when there's no breeze for them to fly into. The breeze takes it away.
0:29:14 > 0:29:21- Otherwise it goes straight down. Extraordinary stuff.- Scary. - We have more take home facts now.
0:29:21 > 0:29:27- I'll do a bit on chest pain and you're doing...?- We saw that injured man on the side of a cliff.
0:29:27 > 0:29:33He'd broken both ankles. One was an open fracture and he'd made a tourniquet from his t-shirt
0:29:33 > 0:29:37and tied it around his leg. Mark is an expert on all this.
0:29:37 > 0:29:43As a member of the public, it's controversial. Should people use tourniquets?
0:29:43 > 0:29:47We normally advise that they shouldn't in the civilian world.
0:29:47 > 0:29:49They can cause big complications.
0:29:49 > 0:29:55- What sort of things? - Potentially, people can suffer very serious nerve damage,
0:29:55 > 0:30:02or they don't get enough oxygen to their cells and end up with necrosis, where limbs are seriously affected.
0:30:02 > 0:30:06But you might occasionally use them in an emergency?
0:30:06 > 0:30:12- It would be rare.- You've got one. - I've got a real one here. It would be very rare to use them.
0:30:12 > 0:30:18It tends to be at major incidents with masses of casualties and delays going into hospital.
0:30:18 > 0:30:23It goes on like this and then we tighten the Velcro up...like this.
0:30:23 > 0:30:27The word tourniquet comes from to turn. That's what this does.
0:30:27 > 0:30:32- You see how quickly that would cut off the blood.- And we secure it.
0:30:32 > 0:30:36- I'm not going to do that!- No! You also put the time on it.
0:30:36 > 0:30:42- That's important.- It's very important to note when it was applied. For every minute,
0:30:42 > 0:30:48more damage is done to the cells. We'd make a note in the record and even on the tourniquet.
0:30:48 > 0:30:55So if we saw somebody with a very serious injury, there's basic first aid you do before you do that.
0:30:55 > 0:31:02- If there's a single casualty, apply direct pressure to the wound. - So press it.- Yep. Or go above it.
0:31:02 > 0:31:08- Then elevate it, ideally, above the level of the patient's heart. The higher the better.- Fantastic.
0:31:08 > 0:31:11- Great talking to you.- No problem.
0:31:11 > 0:31:17- I have a quick question.- Go on. - If you damage a main artery and you're losing blood really fast,
0:31:17 > 0:31:23- surely the tourniquet is the best of a bad job?- If you directly press on the artery affected,
0:31:23 > 0:31:29you can stop the bleeding yourself. Sometimes, with a groin injury, you have to use your foot.
0:31:29 > 0:31:34- Better to press something on? - Yes, direct pressure.
0:31:34 > 0:31:39We try to avoid these. There is a need in the military, but not here.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43Thank you very much. OK, I was just interested there.
0:31:43 > 0:31:49Now almost 10% of all 999 calls to the ambulance service are for people with chest pains.
0:31:49 > 0:31:57Symptoms vary, so paramedics have to work skilfully to detect is it a chest pain or a heart attack?
0:31:58 > 0:32:03Paramedic Angie Carter is on duty in a rapid response vehicle.
0:32:03 > 0:32:09- Hello?- 'Hello, Angie. We have an 81-year-old male with chest pains.' - OK. On my way.
0:32:09 > 0:32:12- 'OK, no worries.'- Bye.
0:32:12 > 0:32:16Anyone with chest pain should be going to hospital.
0:32:16 > 0:32:20No chest pain is normal so it needs to be investigated anyway.
0:32:22 > 0:32:28Chest pains could lead to a potentially fatal heart attack, so Angie wastes no time.
0:32:28 > 0:32:35At the house she finds Ray who was outside with his wife Jean when his problems started.
0:32:35 > 0:32:41I went in the garden to pluck a few weeds and I felt this pain,
0:32:41 > 0:32:46- mostly back there. And it came across the chest.- OK.
0:32:46 > 0:32:48And, er...
0:32:49 > 0:32:52It gradually got worse.
0:32:52 > 0:32:56And now it's... it's making me shake, you know.
0:32:56 > 0:33:01Angie has to work quickly. Ray's told her he had a heart bypass ten years ago
0:33:01 > 0:33:04and she must assume the worst.
0:33:04 > 0:33:10I'll just do your blood pressure, then we'll pop some of these on your chest to look at your heart.
0:33:10 > 0:33:13There is an ambulance running.
0:33:13 > 0:33:17If you take a deep breath in, does it change the pain at all?
0:33:18 > 0:33:24- No. Worse.- Just makes it worse. - Yeah.- Can I get to your chest?
0:33:24 > 0:33:26- Up this way?- That'll be fine.
0:33:26 > 0:33:33- The next step is getting an electronic reading from Ray's heart. - Still got that discomfort?- Yeah.
0:33:33 > 0:33:39- Things aren't looking normal. - There's some slight discrepancies on the ECG.
0:33:39 > 0:33:45Ray's had surgery, a triple bypass. So I want to be sure if that's new or old, looking at the ECG.
0:33:46 > 0:33:53We'll be taking him to hospital because he has chest pain and they can compare ECGs with the last time.
0:33:53 > 0:33:56The ambulance has arrived.
0:33:56 > 0:34:01Hello. This young man is Ray. Ray's been out gardening to pull up a few weeds
0:34:01 > 0:34:04and got a sudden onset of chest pain.
0:34:04 > 0:34:09Ray's heart condition was originally diagnosed from shortness of breath.
0:34:09 > 0:34:13How's your breathlessness been since then? No problems?
0:34:13 > 0:34:19Actually, in the last 10 minutes, quarter of an hour, it seems to have got a little bit worse.
0:34:19 > 0:34:26Ray's condition is worrying the team and they quickly get him into the ambulance.
0:34:26 > 0:34:33I'll go with the crew. Ray's heart rate has gone right down. It's a little lower than we'd like.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37I'll go with them so they've got paramedic back-up.
0:34:37 > 0:34:40All right there, Jean?
0:34:42 > 0:34:47Inside the ambulance, he's connected up to the ECG again to spot changes.
0:34:47 > 0:34:53All this valuable information can be called through to the medical team at the hospital
0:34:53 > 0:34:57- while they're still en route. - The hospital know we're coming in.
0:34:57 > 0:35:02- We'll just keep an eye on things. You all right, Ray?- Yeah.- Yeah?
0:35:03 > 0:35:09Jean watches anxiously as he's given gas and air to relieve the pain.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13Just suck the gas out of the bottle. Like breathing the morning air.
0:35:13 > 0:35:19A spray medication will lower his blood pressure and take the strain off his heart.
0:35:19 > 0:35:23- You've had this spray before, haven't you?- Mm.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26OK? So...under.
0:35:28 > 0:35:31- Carry on with this?- Yes, please!
0:35:31 > 0:35:34It certainly won't hurt.
0:35:35 > 0:35:38As they make their way to A&E,
0:35:38 > 0:35:42the gas and air take effect and Ray gets onto his favourite topic.
0:35:42 > 0:35:48Last time I went to Wembley was the Zenith Data Cup. How old am I?!
0:35:48 > 0:35:50I was only little then.
0:35:50 > 0:35:53I've still got tickets from 1956.
0:35:53 > 0:35:58Have you? Wow! That's something worth keeping.
0:35:58 > 0:36:04- Do you know of Stanley Matthews? - Yes.- I was there when he won his medal.
0:36:06 > 0:36:11They're soon at the hospital where A&E staff are expecting him.
0:36:11 > 0:36:16They'll do more ECGs and run some bloods and a thorough check up
0:36:16 > 0:36:20to find out if the cardiac rhythm we were getting is normal for him.
0:36:23 > 0:36:29And here is Angie. Every time you get a call, it can be very different.
0:36:29 > 0:36:35I said I'd give you information on this. There's no way of narrowing down if it is indigestion
0:36:35 > 0:36:38or a chest pain or heart attack.
0:36:38 > 0:36:43No, we have tests. If you think it might be indigestion,
0:36:43 > 0:36:47if you haven't got some Gaviscon, you can try some milk.
0:36:47 > 0:36:49That should help with indigestion.
0:36:49 > 0:36:53- But you'd rather hear anyway. - We'd rather come out for a look.
0:36:53 > 0:36:59We've got other tests. ECGs will see if there's any discrepancies on the ECG tracing,
0:36:59 > 0:37:04but we'd normally take you to hospital for a blood test.
0:37:04 > 0:37:10- There are other brands of indigestion drink available! - Sorry!- It's all right.
0:37:10 > 0:37:16The other thing is, if someone actually has a heart attack or think they're having one,
0:37:16 > 0:37:22- what do you do?- Stay still. Don't go upstairs or downstairs, if you're experiencing chest pain.
0:37:22 > 0:37:28Dial 999 or get someone to dial for you. Try to make yourself as comfortable and relaxed as possible.
0:37:28 > 0:37:34- Can you take any painkiller? - If you've got aspirin at home, take up to 300mg.
0:37:34 > 0:37:38If you've got GTN spray, which patients with angina may have,
0:37:38 > 0:37:42take that as well to relieve the symptoms.
0:37:42 > 0:37:48The last thing we should say is if someone them stops breathing, that's not game over.
0:37:48 > 0:37:54- If you can keep them going with CPR until the ambulance arrives, they've a good chance.- Early intervention.
0:37:54 > 0:37:58So compressions in the breathing. Keep it going for as long as you can.
0:37:58 > 0:38:05- It is quite difficult, but until the ambulance crew get there. - Brilliant. Thank you. Learn CPR.
0:38:05 > 0:38:09When Molly the New Forest pony fancied a scratch up against a tree,
0:38:09 > 0:38:12she ended up walking into a trap.
0:38:12 > 0:38:19This needs a man with a gentle touch, so it's one of Hampshire Fire Service's animal rescue specialists.
0:38:21 > 0:38:27Animal rescue specialist Buster Brown is heading to a stables where a pony is in a predicament.
0:38:27 > 0:38:33Buster meets an extraordinary sight. Molly, a New Forest pony, is stuck
0:38:33 > 0:38:38between two large branches of one tree. She wanted a good old scratch,
0:38:38 > 0:38:43but clearly underestimated the size of her rear end.
0:38:43 > 0:38:47The owner sensibly kept her calm. If she's calm, the animal stays calm.
0:38:47 > 0:38:54Owner Louise continues to soothe Molly. Equine vet David Langrish is also on hand
0:38:54 > 0:38:58- as well as the local fire crew. - Happy with the plan, David?- Yeah.
0:38:58 > 0:39:03The fire crew are going to prise the trunks apart to release Molly,
0:39:03 > 0:39:05but first she has to be sedated.
0:39:05 > 0:39:10'When horses are released from a situation'
0:39:10 > 0:39:14where they are trapped, they often panic.
0:39:14 > 0:39:19Then there's quite a serious risk to the people around and the horse.
0:39:19 > 0:39:24'By sedating a horse sufficiently, but not unduly,
0:39:24 > 0:39:27'you can actually control that.'
0:39:27 > 0:39:33Being trapped brings on a natural sedative in the animal, so they don't have to give her too much.'
0:39:35 > 0:39:38'The two trees squeezing the abdomen of the horse'
0:39:38 > 0:39:44has created the animal to naturally produce endorphins which are painkillers
0:39:44 > 0:39:48and stress-free relief agents in the blood.
0:39:48 > 0:39:52Owner Louise has an important part to play as well.
0:39:52 > 0:39:56I'll leave you on the head because it's your horse.
0:39:56 > 0:39:59Otherwise we would take over.
0:39:59 > 0:40:05Before the fire crews start to winch, they remove some small branches from the tree.
0:40:07 > 0:40:13It's time to widen the gap. This is the moment that could cause Molly to panic and lash out.
0:40:13 > 0:40:19Tony, can you take up the... the tension on that?
0:40:19 > 0:40:24'The winching is very quiet. It has no mechanical engine running.'
0:40:24 > 0:40:30So it's kept very quiet. My only concern really was that once the horse realised
0:40:30 > 0:40:37that she was becoming released, she might react and try to get herself free before we're ready.
0:40:37 > 0:40:41So we must keep good head control.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47Slowly, inch by inch, the trees are pulled apart.
0:40:47 > 0:40:53Molly has kept her head and with a little more help from vet David, she can finally walk free.
0:40:53 > 0:40:56Good girl.
0:40:56 > 0:41:02'She had minor abrasions to her pelvis, just in front of the pelvic bones.'
0:41:02 > 0:41:07And a few scratches to her abdomen. She was a little sore.
0:41:07 > 0:41:13'Otherwise, she was fine and was happy to go and have her breakfast and go on and be a normal horse.'
0:41:13 > 0:41:17Owner Louise is delighted Molly is out and safe.
0:41:17 > 0:41:24I think she can just rest. When she's woken up a little bit, I'll walk her over to her stable.
0:41:24 > 0:41:27She can eat in about an hour.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30Then I'll let her rest for the day.
0:41:32 > 0:41:35They get all sorts of calls here.
0:41:35 > 0:41:41Linda, you're a bit of a specialist. You've delivered lots of babies over the phone. How many?
0:41:41 > 0:41:45- 17 in total in two years. - You're kidding me!- No.
0:41:45 > 0:41:49One was particularly dramatic because the baby was in trouble.
0:41:49 > 0:41:54Yes, when it was born it had the umbilical cord around its neck.
0:41:54 > 0:41:57It came out and wasn't breathing.
0:41:57 > 0:42:02So we had to take off the umbilical cord, or get the father to do it,
0:42:02 > 0:42:10and then get a towel and rub the baby's back briskly to stimulate it to breathe.
0:42:10 > 0:42:16- And...?- And then the tiny little noises that I heard were just such a relief to hear.
0:42:16 > 0:42:22- That is just a fabulous story. Are there any little Lindas named after you?- No, I don't think so!
0:42:22 > 0:42:30- I bet there are!- I'm sure there's not.- Good luck with the next one. Lovely to talk to you. Thank you.
0:42:30 > 0:42:34I've got some updates for you. The person who fell off the horse,
0:42:34 > 0:42:38perfectly fine, gone to hospital for a check-up.
0:42:38 > 0:42:44The toddler who walked through a bonfire has gone to a specialist burns unit in Salisbury.
0:42:44 > 0:42:46And the lady in the DIY store.
0:42:46 > 0:42:50They treated her on the scene - a couple of stitched and she's OK.
0:42:50 > 0:42:55I'm surprised we don't teach CPR as compulsory in schools.
0:42:55 > 0:43:02- Good idea.- We'll have more for you of all kinds of rescues soon. - Bye-bye.
0:43:16 > 0:43:20Subtitles by Subtext for Red Bee Media Ltd - 2010
0:43:21 > 0:43:23Email subtitling@bbc.co.uk