0:00:02 > 0:00:05Today, a man hangs over a 100ft drop, and he's badly injured.
0:00:05 > 0:00:08MAN SPEAKS
0:00:08 > 0:00:09OPERATOR RESPONDS
0:00:19 > 0:00:21CLIFF SOBS AND SHOUTS
0:00:22 > 0:00:26Also today - he was only trying to help someone out.
0:00:26 > 0:00:28Now Simon's heel bone is shattered.
0:00:28 > 0:00:31- HE GASPS IN PAIN - Do you want some gas?
0:00:31 > 0:00:36- Agh!- It will hurt. It will hurt, but it will immobilise it.
0:00:59 > 0:01:03Hello. All around the country, emergency crews of all sorts
0:01:03 > 0:01:06are heading out to help people like you and me - ambulances,
0:01:06 > 0:01:08air ambulances, paramedics, doctors,
0:01:08 > 0:01:11maybe even the new Hazardous Area Response Teams.
0:01:11 > 0:01:14- We'll see what they do later on. - All are sent out from centres
0:01:14 > 0:01:17like this one at South Central Ambulance Control.
0:01:17 > 0:01:21Today there's been some rain around, and it's affecting their work.
0:01:21 > 0:01:25They're very busy. Michele is in charge. She may be talking to someone.
0:01:25 > 0:01:29- Are you free to talk?- OK. No problem. - She's just finishing a call.
0:01:29 > 0:01:31- I don't want to interrupt her. - No problem. Bye bye.
0:01:32 > 0:01:35- Are you clear now? - I'm clear now.- Sorry about that.
0:01:35 > 0:01:39We've had a bit of rain, and that's affected what's going on, hasn't it?
0:01:39 > 0:01:43It has. We've had four road-traffic incidents in the last few hours.
0:01:43 > 0:01:46- Right.- And that usually is due to the weather conditions.
0:01:46 > 0:01:51- And what sort of incidents are they? - A car overturned, rollover car,
0:01:51 > 0:01:55- a car via motorbike...- And that's because of the road conditions?
0:01:56 > 0:01:59You could say that. The roads are slippery.
0:01:59 > 0:02:02- People are still going fast. - I know you're busy,
0:02:02 > 0:02:05so I'll leave you to get on for now.
0:02:05 > 0:02:09We're about to listen to a recording of an extraordinary 999 call.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12A man has lost consciousness and woken up partway down
0:02:12 > 0:02:16a 100ft cliff. He's in pain from his injuries,
0:02:16 > 0:02:21he's groggy and confused. And this is the emergency call he makes.
0:04:23 > 0:04:27This is obviously a precarious situation. In the pitch darkness,
0:04:27 > 0:04:29this man, ironically named Cliff,
0:04:29 > 0:04:33is trapped 30 feet down a cliff- face. He's had an epileptic fit
0:04:33 > 0:04:37and has found himself wrapped in a bramble bush with an injured leg.
0:04:37 > 0:04:40And as if that's not bad enough, he has another fit
0:04:40 > 0:04:42whilst he's on the phone.
0:04:42 > 0:04:45CLIFF SPEAKS
0:05:20 > 0:05:22CLIFF GASPS AND CHOKES
0:05:24 > 0:05:26CLIFF MOANS
0:05:37 > 0:05:40CLIFF WHIMPERS
0:05:46 > 0:05:49CLIFF MOANS
0:05:59 > 0:06:04For the second time, Cliff has no memory of what's just happened.
0:06:04 > 0:06:06The urgency, as we'll find out later,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09is to pinpoint exactly where he is. Louise.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12One good turn normally deserves another,
0:06:12 > 0:06:15but unfortunately not in Simon's case.
0:06:15 > 0:06:18He's only trying to do a good deed for a client,
0:06:18 > 0:06:21but it all goes very wrong when he shatters his heel bone.
0:06:24 > 0:06:27An ambulance crew are heading out to an emergency
0:06:27 > 0:06:30in a residential street. A workman's fallen off a roof
0:06:30 > 0:06:34and is now lying injured and in terrible pain in his customer's front room.
0:06:34 > 0:06:38We don't know how high the garage is, obviously,
0:06:38 > 0:06:41so we've got a query fractured ankle,
0:06:41 > 0:06:44so we've got to take into account other things, as well.
0:06:44 > 0:06:49Alyssa Musselwhite and Dave Francis arrive to find Simon
0:06:49 > 0:06:51suffering a mixture of pain and embarrassment.
0:06:51 > 0:06:55- What's been happening, mate? - I made the stupid mistake
0:06:55 > 0:06:58- of jumping off a garage roof. - You jumped off a garage roof?
0:06:58 > 0:07:00What were you doing on the garage roof?
0:07:00 > 0:07:04Gentleman locked himself out of a door that I've just fitted.
0:07:04 > 0:07:07Simon has been working at ground level, fitting new doors
0:07:07 > 0:07:11along the street, when a customer locked himself out.
0:07:11 > 0:07:15Simon was quick to help, and climbed onto the roof to get round the back.
0:07:15 > 0:07:17That's when a good deed turned into a bad move.
0:07:17 > 0:07:20- How high was it you came off? - You can see.
0:07:20 > 0:07:24- Eight foot.- Eight foot down. And what happened then?
0:07:24 > 0:07:27- I just landed a bit awkward, a bit flat-footed, on that foot.- OK.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30I can't put any pressure on it. I'm hurting from about...
0:07:30 > 0:07:34- Just a massive ache from there to there.- All right.
0:07:34 > 0:07:36Because Simon landed flat on his feet,
0:07:36 > 0:07:40he could have jarred bones in his back as well as damaging his foot.
0:07:40 > 0:07:43- Any pains in the back of your neck? - No.- Don't shake your head.
0:07:43 > 0:07:47Just say yes or no. Can you lean forward for me slightly?
0:07:47 > 0:07:49- Any pains down here?- Not at all.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52- Any pains as I go down your back? - No. You're all good.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54- Are you normally fit and well?- Yes.
0:07:54 > 0:07:57Simon's blood pressure and pulse are normal,
0:07:57 > 0:07:59but one foot is giving cause for concern.
0:07:59 > 0:08:02His leg is shaking uncontrollably.
0:08:02 > 0:08:05He's also struggling to deal with the pain.
0:08:05 > 0:08:07- Excuse the shaking. - That's all right.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11- Actually, have you got a wee bit? - Yeah.- Before we even do that.
0:08:11 > 0:08:13Just to try and stop the shaking.
0:08:13 > 0:08:16No. No, that's fine. Yeah.
0:08:16 > 0:08:17OK.
0:08:17 > 0:08:21- The valve will open.- Cheers. - Put that in your mouth.
0:08:21 > 0:08:25Nice big breaths on it. That's it. That's perfect.
0:08:25 > 0:08:27It soon takes the edge off Simon's pain.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31- Take some deep breaths on that gas and air.- Go for it, go for it.
0:08:31 > 0:08:33Thank you. It's off.
0:08:33 > 0:08:35Painful there?
0:08:36 > 0:08:38- Painful here?- No.
0:08:38 > 0:08:42Right. Can I get you just to try and gently bring the foot up toward you?
0:08:43 > 0:08:46That's as much as I can go before it stops.
0:08:46 > 0:08:49- There's no sharp pain anywhere. - Right. OK.
0:08:49 > 0:08:51Yeah. I can feel that.
0:08:51 > 0:08:53- What about here? - Yeah, yeah. I can feel it.
0:08:53 > 0:08:58- Just there?- Yeah. I wouldn't push too hard on there.- I'm not going to.
0:08:58 > 0:09:03There's clearly a significant injury here, and it's going to get worse before it gets better.
0:09:03 > 0:09:05His leg has to be put into a splint.
0:09:06 > 0:09:09- All right? - Agh! Jesus!- Do you want some gas?
0:09:09 > 0:09:14- Agh!- It will hurt. It will hurt, but it will immobilise it.
0:09:14 > 0:09:17- There we are.- It will immobilise it, to protect it.
0:09:17 > 0:09:19OK? That's why it's padded.
0:09:19 > 0:09:21But it will protect it.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24- How's that? - Now that you've got it in there,
0:09:24 > 0:09:28we won't need to touch it at all. We've got the pedal board...
0:09:28 > 0:09:32You've just happened to put it in the exact position where it hurts.
0:09:32 > 0:09:35- No, that's fine. - When we're on the stretcher,
0:09:35 > 0:09:39we can pad it out and make it a little more comfortable.
0:09:39 > 0:09:41All right? Yeah?
0:09:41 > 0:09:43Bargain.
0:09:45 > 0:09:50Although it's extremely painful, the splint will protect the foot from further injury.
0:09:50 > 0:09:53- I'm not going to swear. - HE LAUGHS
0:09:53 > 0:09:55- It's all good.- Right.
0:09:59 > 0:10:00Right.
0:10:02 > 0:10:05- Good luck, mate! > - Cheers. Thank you very much.
0:10:05 > 0:10:07See you later! Bye! >
0:10:07 > 0:10:11Simon has no choice but to abandon his customers,
0:10:11 > 0:10:14his work and his van. The next stop is A&E.
0:10:14 > 0:10:17Two secs. We'll get you up and then we'll get you in.
0:10:17 > 0:10:18Yeah, yeah, yeah. No worries.
0:10:18 > 0:10:21The pain is still very severe.
0:10:23 > 0:10:26- We'll take the bad leg. - There we go.- That's it.
0:10:26 > 0:10:29Well done. HE GROANS
0:10:29 > 0:10:33- Do you want a blanket under this one to make it softer?- Let it drop.
0:10:35 > 0:10:39- No. No, that's...that's nice! - We'll leave it there, then!
0:10:39 > 0:10:40THEY LAUGH
0:10:40 > 0:10:43Now that we've immobilised that, is that better?
0:10:43 > 0:10:46Oh, yeah. Just uncomfortable
0:10:46 > 0:10:50from the fact that I've jumped off a roof onto it, really,
0:10:50 > 0:10:54more than anything else. The silly things we do to help people out!
0:10:54 > 0:10:57- So it's not part of the job description?- No!
0:10:57 > 0:11:00What qualifications do you need to jump off a roof?
0:11:02 > 0:11:05It would appear an extreme amount of stupidity!
0:11:05 > 0:11:06THEY LAUGH
0:11:06 > 0:11:08Whatever the state of his foot,
0:11:08 > 0:11:12Simon is determined to keep grinning and bear it.
0:11:13 > 0:11:17- If you'll excuse me, I may be disappearing to the land of the fairies.- You carry on.
0:11:17 > 0:11:21It shows that the stuff's working.
0:11:21 > 0:11:24Now at the hospital, X-rays can be carried out
0:11:24 > 0:11:27to find out exactly what the damage is.
0:11:28 > 0:11:32And that turns out to be far more serious than a broken bone.
0:11:32 > 0:11:34In a moment we'll see what the A&E doctor discovers.
0:11:34 > 0:11:38Marvellous stuff, that gas, isn't it? He was smiling in there.
0:11:38 > 0:11:41Now, back to the unfortunate man who's fallen 30 feet
0:11:41 > 0:11:44down a cliff. He urgently needs help.
0:11:44 > 0:11:47It's the middle of the night. He's had two epileptic fits,
0:11:47 > 0:11:49and he's in a lot of pain.
0:12:01 > 0:12:03CLIFF MOANS
0:12:40 > 0:12:42HE SHOUTS
0:13:41 > 0:13:45Extraordinary stuff! And Jenna, who was taking the call, and Cliff
0:13:45 > 0:13:48are here with us now. Um, how's your knee?
0:13:48 > 0:13:51It's certainly a lot better now, thanks.
0:13:51 > 0:13:55I wanted to find out straight away. What an extraordinary thing to have to go through!
0:13:55 > 0:13:57Yeah, it was quite difficult.
0:13:57 > 0:14:01Just hearing back to it there, I can't remember all of it,
0:14:01 > 0:14:05and some of it coming back, it's just a relief to be here
0:14:05 > 0:14:09- and everything being all right now. - You were tangled in a thorn bush,
0:14:09 > 0:14:13which was unpleasant, but from your point of view, you love that bush!
0:14:13 > 0:14:16To bits. I think if it weren't for that thorn bush,
0:14:16 > 0:14:19I probably would have fallen a lot further down.
0:14:19 > 0:14:22Things would have been a lot worse off had that happened.
0:14:22 > 0:14:25Jenna, extraordinary, because you had somebody in pain
0:14:25 > 0:14:28but you were trying to get people to him, as well,
0:14:28 > 0:14:31and you were worried at times that you might lose him.
0:14:31 > 0:14:34Yeah, because he went into another fit during the call.
0:14:34 > 0:14:38He was groaning to start with, then went really, really quiet
0:14:38 > 0:14:42and all I could hear was the traffic buzzing by in the background.
0:14:42 > 0:14:46But fortunately he started to groan again a bit later.
0:14:46 > 0:14:49It's nice that you get to meet someone that you've...
0:14:49 > 0:14:53I'm sure you were pleased to have Jenna on the line throughout that whole ordeal,
0:14:53 > 0:14:55- or do you not remember much of it at all?- You're right,
0:14:55 > 0:14:58I don't remember much. But the bits I do remember,
0:14:58 > 0:15:01having someone on the end of the phone was quite comforting,
0:15:01 > 0:15:04rather than being stuck there on my own.
0:15:04 > 0:15:07- How's your epilepsy now? - A lot more settled down, thanks.
0:15:07 > 0:15:11They've got my medication sorted out, a bit more suited to my needs.
0:15:11 > 0:15:14We wish you the best of luck. Thank you for coming in.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17Now, Cliff's cliff-face rescue was the first job
0:15:17 > 0:15:20for the brand-new Hazardous Area Response Teams.
0:15:20 > 0:15:24Unlike regular ambulance crews, HART, as they're known,
0:15:24 > 0:15:28are specifically trained to go into the most dangerous places,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31right at the centre of a disaster, areas they call hot zones.
0:15:31 > 0:15:36In a moment we'll see why they're becoming a vital emergency service.
0:15:39 > 0:15:42Still to come, a busy motorway packed with holiday traffic -
0:15:42 > 0:15:46hardly the best place for a horsebox to break down,
0:15:46 > 0:15:49because getting them to safety will make them panic.
0:15:49 > 0:15:52My horse is quite skittish. My concern is, if we unload her,
0:15:52 > 0:15:56she may not load again. They've been in there for five hours.
0:15:56 > 0:15:58And a prang at just ten miles an hour,
0:15:58 > 0:16:02but the emergency services are taking it very, very seriously.
0:16:02 > 0:16:06We'll deal with it as final removal. We'll go for the full roof removal.
0:16:08 > 0:16:12I want to talk to Debbie about a recent call that came in here
0:16:12 > 0:16:15about a man who'd injured his hand, but I think she might be busy.
0:16:15 > 0:16:19Yep. She's on a call at the moment. She had a call in here yesterday
0:16:19 > 0:16:23while we were here. Somebody had injured his hand with an electric saw,
0:16:23 > 0:16:26and he'd actually severed some fingers.
0:16:26 > 0:16:30She managed to tell him to calm down, sit down, open the door,
0:16:30 > 0:16:33and before he did so, the ambulance crew got there,
0:16:33 > 0:16:36and they did find his fingers. That call came in here yesterday.
0:16:36 > 0:16:39As you can see, she's really busy. Nick.
0:16:40 > 0:16:44Now, your task. Here's your task, all right? You have two horses
0:16:44 > 0:16:46trapped in their horsebox on a busy motorway.
0:16:46 > 0:16:50The vehicle can't be loaded onto a tow truck with the animals inside,
0:16:50 > 0:16:53and the horses will panic if they're let out. So what do you do?
0:16:53 > 0:16:55Fortunately this happened in Hampshire,
0:16:55 > 0:16:58home to the leading animal-rescue specialists in the country.
0:17:01 > 0:17:04It's a busy Friday afternoon on the M3,
0:17:04 > 0:17:08and an emergency call comes in to Jim Green, animal-rescue specialist.
0:17:08 > 0:17:12- We've now had a call to... - HE SWITCHES OFF SIREN
0:17:12 > 0:17:16..assist at a fire on the motorway
0:17:16 > 0:17:18involving a horse lorry
0:17:18 > 0:17:21which apparently has two horses on board.
0:17:21 > 0:17:25First thing we're looking for is the safety of everybody at the scene.
0:17:25 > 0:17:29If the horses have been evacuated from the vehicle
0:17:29 > 0:17:32prior to our arrival,
0:17:32 > 0:17:37then they're obviously going to be in a state of anxiety,
0:17:37 > 0:17:39to say the least.
0:17:39 > 0:17:43If the horses escape onto the motorway, it could be catastrophic.
0:17:44 > 0:17:48But when he arrives, the fire crews have already put the flames out,
0:17:48 > 0:17:51and there's no sign of the horses.
0:17:51 > 0:17:55- Hello, mate. - HE RESPONDS OFF-MIC
0:17:55 > 0:17:57Jim soon learns that the horses are still inside.
0:17:57 > 0:18:01Owners Sam and Alexa have been travelling to the New Forest
0:18:01 > 0:18:04for a weekend's riding. That plan's gone up in smoke.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07The engine has been badly damaged by fire,
0:18:07 > 0:18:11and the horsebox is stranded on the hard shoulder.
0:18:11 > 0:18:13- Are you local?- No, we're from Epsom.
0:18:13 > 0:18:18- Is there a stables that you know of that would allow us in there... - We'll find out from the vet.
0:18:18 > 0:18:22The horses have already been locked in for five hours.
0:18:22 > 0:18:27My horse is quite skittish. If we unload her, she may not load again.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29Let me have a chat with the vet. He's local.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33Jim, along with vet Jonathan Moore and the recovery driver,
0:18:33 > 0:18:36urgently work out a plan to get the horses to safety.
0:18:36 > 0:18:39He thinks he can tow this for a short distance,
0:18:39 > 0:18:43but if it's recovered properly, it needs to be lifted up.
0:18:43 > 0:18:45He's not doing that with them in it.
0:18:45 > 0:18:50So we're going to get them quietly to Kings Worthy, let them off,
0:18:50 > 0:18:54relax them, give them some water, give them time to settle down and then take them on.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59The fire crew will escort the towed wagon to a local stable yard
0:18:59 > 0:19:03to unload the horses. Once empty, the horsebox can be lifted
0:19:03 > 0:19:05onto the breakdown truck to get it home.
0:19:06 > 0:19:10New transportation for the horses has also been organised.
0:19:10 > 0:19:14First, Jonathan needs to sedate the two horses.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17Be careful with her.
0:19:17 > 0:19:19She doesn't like needles.
0:19:20 > 0:19:22Good girl...
0:19:22 > 0:19:26As the sedation takes effect, they get the horsebox hooked up
0:19:26 > 0:19:29to the breakdown truck, but Jim still has concerns.
0:19:30 > 0:19:34He was putting this bar on there, and he reckons there's going to be
0:19:34 > 0:19:36- a phenomenal amount of banging and crashing.- Yes.
0:19:36 > 0:19:38He says it's like a gunshot going off,
0:19:38 > 0:19:41because it's taking up slack and knocking all the time.
0:19:41 > 0:19:45He cannot put this on his proper lifter with the horses in there,
0:19:45 > 0:19:49so that's his only option, but there is going to be quite a lot of stimulation.
0:19:50 > 0:19:53They're going to react, even if they're sedated.
0:19:53 > 0:19:59I think, to a certain extent, we've got to wait and see what happens.
0:19:59 > 0:20:03To close the motorway in both directions is an option,
0:20:03 > 0:20:05but one the team are keen to avoid.
0:20:05 > 0:20:09The sedative is now working. They have to get the horses to the stables
0:20:09 > 0:20:11as soon as possible.
0:20:11 > 0:20:14I'm on radio communication. I'll be in front.
0:20:14 > 0:20:17Anything goes wrong, he'll tell me, and we'll stop.
0:20:17 > 0:20:20They're ready to go ahead with the towing.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24All the vehicles will form a convoy, with Jim at the front
0:20:24 > 0:20:29and two fire engines behind the lorry, until they get off the motorway.
0:20:29 > 0:20:31This is quite a tricky part of the journey,
0:20:31 > 0:20:34because we're not quite sure how the horses will react.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37Using the hard shoulder, they carefully make their way
0:20:37 > 0:20:39off the motorway.
0:20:40 > 0:20:43But to get to the stable yard, all these heavy vehicles
0:20:43 > 0:20:47have to go through a village - and there's a problem. The road is very narrow.
0:20:47 > 0:20:51- What are you going to do? - Get the bus over as far as I can.
0:20:51 > 0:20:53OK.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Because the horsebox is being towed, it can't reverse,
0:20:57 > 0:20:58so the bus will have to.
0:21:03 > 0:21:06As the convoy manoeuvres down a tiny country lane,
0:21:06 > 0:21:10it comes to a complete halt. Now it's a low bridge blocking the way.
0:21:10 > 0:21:13- What's happening, mate? - The bridge is too low.
0:21:13 > 0:21:17I forgot that bridge is as low as it was.
0:21:17 > 0:21:20- Right. Well, how low is the bridge? - 12ft. He's 14.
0:21:20 > 0:21:23Right. OK.
0:21:23 > 0:21:26Vet Jonathan wants to unload the horses here
0:21:26 > 0:21:30into a nearby empty field, and then walk them to the stables.
0:21:30 > 0:21:34We'll take them down to the yard as soon as we get everything...
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- I got you. How far is the yard? - It's just under the bridge.
0:21:37 > 0:21:38THEY LAUGH
0:21:39 > 0:21:44After seven hours in the lorry, the horses, Freya and Leah,
0:21:44 > 0:21:47can finally stretch their legs and grab a snack.
0:21:47 > 0:21:49It's great news that they're so calm.
0:21:51 > 0:21:53As you see, they're absolutely fine,
0:21:53 > 0:21:55so we just need to get them to a yard,
0:21:55 > 0:21:58and then get everything settled down
0:21:58 > 0:22:00and then transport them away back home.
0:22:01 > 0:22:04Just a short walk to the other side of the bridge,
0:22:04 > 0:22:07and Freya and Leah will be settled into the stables.
0:22:07 > 0:22:10It'll be a bit of a wait for some new transport to arrive,
0:22:10 > 0:22:13but at least they've survived the motorway fire.
0:22:14 > 0:22:18They were so calm when they came out! A quick favour for a client,
0:22:18 > 0:22:21and workman Simon has ended up shattering his heel bone.
0:22:21 > 0:22:24Doctors at A&E have now examined the X-rays,
0:22:24 > 0:22:26and his injuries are far from straightforward.
0:22:26 > 0:22:29So this is the bone, when I examined you...
0:22:29 > 0:22:35This is the anatomical position where he has got pain,
0:22:35 > 0:22:37this part,
0:22:37 > 0:22:40where the calcaneal bone is. All right?
0:22:40 > 0:22:43And this is the same bone on the X-rays.
0:22:43 > 0:22:47- And your fracture is...- Ah, yeah! - There is a disruption, yeah.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51- I can see it. - So this line is going all the way.
0:22:51 > 0:22:54So this is a calcaneal fracture.
0:22:54 > 0:22:57Simon has a fracture in the calcaneum bone, or heel bone.
0:22:57 > 0:23:01Dr Babar Mageed explains possible complications of the injury.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04I wouldn't say at the moment it's a complicated case,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07but it needs to be treated appropriately.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11If it is not treated appropriately, then the complications,
0:23:11 > 0:23:15like compartment syndrome or many other things, that can occur.
0:23:15 > 0:23:20Compartment syndrome can result in tissue dying off in the foot.
0:23:20 > 0:23:24It's basically when there is so much compression
0:23:24 > 0:23:26around the bone,
0:23:26 > 0:23:29and there could be... The vessels can be compressed,
0:23:29 > 0:23:33and, er, it's an emergency.
0:23:33 > 0:23:36It's so serious, Simon will need an orthopaedic specialist,
0:23:36 > 0:23:38and possibly an operation. In the meantime,
0:23:38 > 0:23:40he just has to cope with the pain.
0:23:40 > 0:23:44- Do you need any painkillers? - Not at this precise moment in time,
0:23:44 > 0:23:48- but I'll keep you posted. - OK. All right.
0:23:48 > 0:23:51So it's off to see the specialist, where Simon will find out
0:23:51 > 0:23:54how long he'll be out of action.
0:23:55 > 0:23:58Simon is here. Despite the pain, you just kept on smiling, didn't you?
0:23:58 > 0:24:02- Got to, haven't you?- You've had an operation. How are you doing now?
0:24:02 > 0:24:05Not so bad. It's getting there slowly. Just hobbling about now,
0:24:05 > 0:24:09- waiting for it to sort itself out. - And you're a really busy person.
0:24:09 > 0:24:14- What's it like, being at home for the last few months?- Er, interesting!
0:24:14 > 0:24:18- Just not used to being sat around all day.- What about the missus?
0:24:18 > 0:24:22- She's suddenly got you at home. How's she coping?- She's been an angel.
0:24:22 > 0:24:25She's done everything, waited on me hand and foot,
0:24:25 > 0:24:28especially whilst I was laid up with a cast and everything
0:24:28 > 0:24:32and I couldn't walk anywhere. It was absolutely spot-on.
0:24:32 > 0:24:35It's quite tough, though. When are you hoping to be back at work?
0:24:35 > 0:24:37God, as soon as possible, really.
0:24:37 > 0:24:42When I get to the point where I can jump about and carry heavy things,
0:24:42 > 0:24:46- more than anything else. - You're slightly accident prone,
0:24:46 > 0:24:49to have a job like... You've done your elbow, as well.
0:24:49 > 0:24:52A few years ago I had a bit of glass fall on the back of my elbow,
0:24:52 > 0:24:55- which cut through to the bone. - Just a bit!
0:24:55 > 0:24:57Yeah, that was a goodie.
0:24:57 > 0:25:00Um, I just seem to not have little accidents.
0:25:00 > 0:25:03Keep saving up and have big ones instead.
0:25:03 > 0:25:06You cut your funny bone, which is not funny at all.
0:25:06 > 0:25:09Tell me, you're hoping to be back by Christmas,
0:25:09 > 0:25:12and things will get better. You were doing a favour, though.
0:25:12 > 0:25:15That's what must be really disturbing.
0:25:15 > 0:25:19Yeah. I'd fitted the gentleman's front door and his back door,
0:25:19 > 0:25:22explained how it works and everything,
0:25:22 > 0:25:24- went on to the next job. - And he shut the door.
0:25:24 > 0:25:26And the door shut on him, yes.
0:25:26 > 0:25:29So he come round and asked if he could borrow a ladder,
0:25:29 > 0:25:32and I said, "No problem," and got one from the van.
0:25:32 > 0:25:36His back door was open, and to get to there, you had to go over...
0:25:36 > 0:25:39- Will you do a favour for somebody else again?- Oh, God, yeah.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42- Ahh...- Yeah. Can't change a man's nature, unfortunately.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45- Good luck and thank you, Simon. - You're welcome.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49We're talking about slippery roads today. Driving a car with a trailer
0:25:49 > 0:25:53is not easy, whether you're going round corners or in a straight line.
0:25:53 > 0:25:57Joseph Perkins was towing a trailer when it started swerving out of control.
0:25:57 > 0:26:01He was slammed into the safety barrier, and when you see his truck,
0:26:01 > 0:26:03you'll agree it's a miracle no-one was killed.
0:26:07 > 0:26:11PC Phil Robertson has been called to what sounds like a serious accident
0:26:11 > 0:26:13on the M27.
0:26:13 > 0:26:18There's a 4x4 overturned into the central reservation,
0:26:18 > 0:26:22and a trailer of some sort parked on the hard standing
0:26:22 > 0:26:24next to the crash barriers.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28There's only a small amount of traffic coming the other way,
0:26:28 > 0:26:32which, for this time of day, might mean that there's a real build-up
0:26:32 > 0:26:33further on down the road.
0:26:33 > 0:26:37Phil arrives just ahead of an ambulance and fire engine.
0:26:37 > 0:26:40He soon discovers the cause of the tailback.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43It's an upside-down pickup truck.
0:26:43 > 0:26:47It's smashed into the crash barrier and completely flipped over.
0:26:47 > 0:26:50Its contents are strewn all over the road.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- I'm sorry about this. - No worries. We'll get it sorted out.
0:26:54 > 0:26:59Amazingly, the driver, Joseph, seems to have escaped without any injuries.
0:27:00 > 0:27:02I was just going along steady, towing that,
0:27:02 > 0:27:06and it just started to snake. It snaked, turned me over.
0:27:06 > 0:27:10The trailer is a heavy industrial tarmac heater.
0:27:10 > 0:27:13It still has the tow-bar attached after it sheared off the truck.
0:27:13 > 0:27:17Looking at it, the driver is incredibly lucky.
0:27:17 > 0:27:21We're on a very, very busy stretch of road.
0:27:21 > 0:27:24He's got a small wobble on the trailer, then, like a pendulum effect,
0:27:24 > 0:27:27that's pushed the van, which is possibly lighter,
0:27:27 > 0:27:31to wiggle even further. The vehicle's lost all control,
0:27:31 > 0:27:34has come straight across and hit the central reservation,
0:27:34 > 0:27:37and he's walked away with a couple of scratches
0:27:37 > 0:27:41from the shards of glass coming from his windscreen.
0:27:41 > 0:27:44In order for the emergency services to work safely,
0:27:44 > 0:27:47Phil has coned off the fast lane on both sides of the barrier.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50Now our priority is to get these roads back again.
0:27:50 > 0:27:53There's two miles of traffic down towards Chichester.
0:27:53 > 0:27:56To get them going. Problems tend to happen in a tailback.
0:27:56 > 0:27:59He wants to get the road cleared as soon as he can.
0:27:59 > 0:28:02Hello, mate. Do you have a recovery garage,
0:28:02 > 0:28:04or do you want us to arrange recovery for you?
0:28:04 > 0:28:08- I'll ring my boss and find out. - OK. We can't leave it here too long.
0:28:08 > 0:28:11While Joseph phones his boss to break the news of the accident,
0:28:11 > 0:28:15Phil and the firefighters continue to sweep up the scattered debris.
0:28:15 > 0:28:18- How'd you get on with your boss? - I can't reach him,
0:28:18 > 0:28:21- so you better take it away. - All right.
0:28:21 > 0:28:24Could we arrange recovery, please? It's upside down on its roof,
0:28:24 > 0:28:29and there's approximately a ton- and-a-half vehicle on the trailer.
0:28:29 > 0:28:33After seeing the state of the truck, the ambulance crew have decided
0:28:33 > 0:28:37it's best to take Joseph in for a check-up. He could have hidden injuries.
0:28:37 > 0:28:40He doesn't need to go to hospital by the looks of him,
0:28:40 > 0:28:44but looking at that, you'd say he probably needed to go, wouldn't you?
0:28:44 > 0:28:48Yeah. Probably. I'd probably go down the hospital.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53They've cleared the debris on the other side of the road,
0:28:53 > 0:28:55and can start to open both lanes.
0:28:55 > 0:28:59The barrier did its job in preventing a far worse accident,
0:28:59 > 0:29:02but it's been left with a huge dent.
0:29:02 > 0:29:04We'll await the Highways Agency to come.
0:29:04 > 0:29:08They've damaged quite a considerable amount of barrier,
0:29:08 > 0:29:10but it's done what it's supposed to do.
0:29:10 > 0:29:13It's taken all the pressure out the crash.
0:29:13 > 0:29:16Joseph has now left for hospital in the ambulance.
0:29:16 > 0:29:18Phil's colleague, PC Jim Chapman,
0:29:18 > 0:29:21is worried about the condition of the trailer.
0:29:21 > 0:29:25Bits of metal are falling off that, big bits.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28It literally just came off. If that had bounced on the road,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31someone could be seriously hurt. There's no play on it,
0:29:31 > 0:29:35and underneath, they've just got a braking system that doesn't...
0:29:35 > 0:29:38It's just got bits of putty and rubbish holding it together!
0:29:38 > 0:29:42Recovery have arrived, and start work on the wrecked pickup.
0:29:46 > 0:29:50Before it's taken away, Phil wants to look at the trailer for himself.
0:29:52 > 0:29:55It should be braked. It's such a heavy trailer,
0:29:55 > 0:29:58when this moves back and forward, it would apply the brakes.
0:29:58 > 0:30:00But as you can see, can't right-lock.
0:30:00 > 0:30:03Hopefully when they pick it up we'll be able to see
0:30:03 > 0:30:07where the problems are where the braking area is.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10That...is locked solid with roofing tar.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15And that really should...move.
0:30:15 > 0:30:18Because there's some mechanical deficiencies on it,
0:30:18 > 0:30:22we'll get that looked at, and take a full mechanical report from it.
0:30:22 > 0:30:24After seeing how the accident happened,
0:30:24 > 0:30:29Phil is still amazed that neither Joseph nor anyone else got hurt.
0:30:29 > 0:30:31This is normally a fairly busy route,
0:30:31 > 0:30:34and not another vehicle has been hit
0:30:34 > 0:30:36by either his swerving vehicle
0:30:36 > 0:30:40or with the trailer coming off and hitting anyone else.
0:30:40 > 0:30:43Really... Well. Work of God.
0:30:45 > 0:30:49No further action was taken, but the police did give the company some training,
0:30:49 > 0:30:52so it shouldn't happen again. Louise.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56In the last few years, a brand-new ambulance service has arrived -
0:30:56 > 0:30:58a group of elite medics trained to enter
0:30:58 > 0:31:00what is known as the inner cordon. That's the area
0:31:00 > 0:31:03close to the centre of chemical spills,
0:31:03 > 0:31:07terrorist attacks, or areas where treating someone is dangerous.
0:31:07 > 0:31:09Joe Crowley watched them in action
0:31:09 > 0:31:12at a recent international training exercise.
0:31:12 > 0:31:15Now, you may not have heard of HART.
0:31:15 > 0:31:17It stands for Hazardous Area Response Team.
0:31:17 > 0:31:20It's a group of specialists in the ambulance service,
0:31:20 > 0:31:23and it's a new addition to the emergency services.
0:31:23 > 0:31:27- Sloane, you're a HART paramedic. - Yes.- What exactly is HART?
0:31:27 > 0:31:32Hazardous Area Response Team. We've been set up in various locations
0:31:32 > 0:31:34around the UK, strategic places.
0:31:34 > 0:31:37We've been trained to work alongside the Fire and Rescue Service
0:31:37 > 0:31:40and provide paramedic care during an incident.
0:31:40 > 0:31:43- Instead of casualties being brought out to you, you go to them?- Yes.
0:31:43 > 0:31:47You've got some specialist kit. You don't look like a paramedic!
0:31:47 > 0:31:51- What is all this?- This is all our safe-working-at-height equipment.
0:31:51 > 0:31:54So if there was someone caught up in this caravan,
0:31:54 > 0:31:57and they were secure, you could go to them,
0:31:57 > 0:32:01- be lowered down to them? - We would work with Fire and Rescue.
0:32:01 > 0:32:03Obviously they would lead it.
0:32:03 > 0:32:06But if that was the scenario, we could do that.
0:32:06 > 0:32:09Can you also use breathing equipment and go into fires?
0:32:09 > 0:32:13Yes. We've been trained, and can go into smoke-filled environments
0:32:13 > 0:32:17and gas-filled ones where you couldn't go in without apparatus.
0:32:17 > 0:32:20I know HART is a new addition to the emergency services.
0:32:20 > 0:32:24This is the perfect sort of exercise to test your skills, isn't it?
0:32:24 > 0:32:28Definitely. We've been up on that collapsed roadway up there today
0:32:28 > 0:32:30with two patients that were up there.
0:32:30 > 0:32:35We were able to start providing them with paramedic care very quickly,
0:32:35 > 0:32:38and stabilised them before they were extricated down.
0:32:38 > 0:32:43- You're all kitted up. I won't take up any more of your time. I'll let you get on with it.- Thank you!
0:32:43 > 0:32:47HART is the most advanced addition to the ambulance service,
0:32:47 > 0:32:50but things haven't always been so high-tech.
0:32:50 > 0:32:53Soon we'll have a look at one of the first-ever ambulances.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57Three vehicles collide at just ten miles an hour,
0:32:57 > 0:33:01but one of the drivers, Sayeeda, has developed a sharp pain in her neck,
0:33:01 > 0:33:03and may have suffered serious spinal injuries.
0:33:03 > 0:33:07Within moments, 11 firefighters, two ambulance crew,
0:33:07 > 0:33:11one specialist spinal-injury medic and a policeman are cutting her from the car.
0:33:17 > 0:33:19Green Watch are on a callout.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22- SIREN WAILS - There it is. Police cars.
0:33:25 > 0:33:27Just pull up on the fend-off.
0:33:28 > 0:33:32Three cars have collided on a city high street.
0:33:32 > 0:33:37The driver of one car is complaining of severe pain in her neck.
0:33:37 > 0:33:40Crew manager Steve Evans is brought up to speed
0:33:40 > 0:33:43by the paramedic who's treating her inside the car.
0:33:43 > 0:33:45- Hello, there. All right? - Yeah. Not so bad.
0:33:45 > 0:33:50We have a lady here who's been involved in a fairly minor shunt,
0:33:50 > 0:33:54approximately ten miles an hour. She has some neck pain at the moment,
0:33:54 > 0:33:57so whether it's whiplash... She said it feels central,
0:33:57 > 0:34:01- so I'm waiting for a colleague... - To do the spinal clearance.- Yeah.
0:34:01 > 0:34:05- No-one else is hurt?- No other casualties or other injuries.
0:34:05 > 0:34:07Just this one lady.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12The ambulance crews are waiting for a colleague to arrive
0:34:12 > 0:34:16who can say if it's safe to carry the woman out through the car door.
0:34:16 > 0:34:18Once he comes down and clears the spine,
0:34:18 > 0:34:21we either twist her and bring her straight out,
0:34:21 > 0:34:23or we may need to remove the roof.
0:34:23 > 0:34:27So if we've just got the stuff ready to go... But don't go too mad.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30It won't be a hurry-up job, I don't think.
0:34:32 > 0:34:36We're waiting for the ambulance service's specially trained personnel
0:34:36 > 0:34:39who can do what they call neck clearance, spinal clearance.
0:34:39 > 0:34:42And they will assess to see whether she can be brought out,
0:34:42 > 0:34:46under supervision, through the door, or whether we need to take the roof off.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50On a further look, the paramedic already on the scene
0:34:50 > 0:34:52decides that there is no way this woman can be rescued
0:34:52 > 0:34:55through the doorway. Her pain is too intense.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59If she's in that much pain, there is one sure way of getting her out.
0:34:59 > 0:35:03If you want us to remove that roof, we'll remove that roof.
0:35:03 > 0:35:06We'll deal with it as final removal, yeah?
0:35:06 > 0:35:08We'll go for the full roof removal.
0:35:08 > 0:35:09She's not saying a lot.
0:35:09 > 0:35:12When they're quiet, that's not a good sign.
0:35:12 > 0:35:15When people are more vocal, that's quite a good sign
0:35:15 > 0:35:18that their health is better, but because she's so quiet,
0:35:18 > 0:35:22I would say she's in a lot of pain and grinning and bearing it.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26Sayeeda's daughter was in the car with her,
0:35:26 > 0:35:30but she was properly strapped in and has escaped unharmed.
0:35:30 > 0:35:32The first step is stabilising the car.
0:35:32 > 0:35:37The crew do this by placing blocks behind and in front of the tyres.
0:35:37 > 0:35:41All the time, the ambulance crew are keeping Sayeeda's head as still as possible.
0:35:42 > 0:35:46We're doing a roof removal. We'll have the dedicated stuff off.
0:35:46 > 0:35:50Let's do the glass ones now. If you can get that off and sorted, that's all we're doing.
0:35:53 > 0:35:55The fire crews then put up cloth screens
0:35:55 > 0:35:58which will protect the injured woman from any broken glass
0:35:58 > 0:36:02as they cut through the windscreen and roof supports.
0:36:02 > 0:36:06It's partly the driver's build which is making it difficult to get her out.
0:36:06 > 0:36:10Because she's such a small lady, she's very tightly packed
0:36:10 > 0:36:13against the steering wheel, and to remove her safely,
0:36:13 > 0:36:18with suspected spinal injuries, could cause her additional problems.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21For that reason, the paramedics have decided she needs to come out
0:36:21 > 0:36:24with a spinal board, and the safest way to do that
0:36:24 > 0:36:29is to effect a full roof removal and bring her out in a nice straight line on a board.
0:36:29 > 0:36:31SAW BUZZES
0:36:31 > 0:36:34Within minutes, the roof is ready to be removed.
0:36:34 > 0:36:37Fellas, once it's free,
0:36:37 > 0:36:40come over, back, and then over there out the way.
0:36:40 > 0:36:42OK. One, two, three. Up!
0:36:49 > 0:36:53With the roof off, the fire crews can now get the long board in.
0:36:53 > 0:36:57As soon as the roof's off, we'll create enough space
0:36:57 > 0:37:00to get a spine board down behind the back of the lady.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03We'll slot it in there, wind the seat away,
0:37:03 > 0:37:06and then nice and gently we'll lower her and the board
0:37:06 > 0:37:08to the horizontal position and slide her up.
0:37:08 > 0:37:13What that does is keep all of her spinal cord in a nice straight line
0:37:13 > 0:37:16and make sure we don't aggravate any injuries she's got.
0:37:16 > 0:37:17Yeah, I've got it.
0:37:17 > 0:37:20Adam Bundle sits alongside Sayeeda, keeping her calm
0:37:20 > 0:37:23as they start to bring her out.
0:37:23 > 0:37:26When I'm with a casualty, it's best to reassure them.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29There's a lot of noise, especially when we're manoeuvring her
0:37:29 > 0:37:32and she's got back and neck pain. I was just letting her know
0:37:32 > 0:37:35when she was about to move, telling her why,
0:37:35 > 0:37:39and just to squeeze my hand if the pain got too much.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42It's just that helping hand. You just want someone there
0:37:42 > 0:37:44to tell you you're going to be all right.
0:37:44 > 0:37:48The main purpose is to calm people down and reassure them.
0:37:48 > 0:37:51Handling both sides to get her up the board now. Lift and drop.
0:37:51 > 0:37:54All these moves are carefully choreographed
0:37:54 > 0:37:57to cause as little discomfort to the patient as possible.
0:37:57 > 0:38:00Lean against the board.
0:38:00 > 0:38:02On a count, they start to slide her.
0:38:02 > 0:38:05Ready, steady, lower.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08- That's good.- Sayeeda, relax.
0:38:08 > 0:38:11You need to relax. OK. Well done.
0:38:13 > 0:38:16Well done. We're just laying you backwards.
0:38:16 > 0:38:19Sayeeda is still in a lot of pain.
0:38:20 > 0:38:23And slide. Ready, steady, slide.
0:38:23 > 0:38:25SAYEEDA MOANS
0:38:25 > 0:38:27Lever the board up. Lever the board up.
0:38:29 > 0:38:34At last she's out and on the stretcher, ready to be taken to hospital for a full check-up.
0:38:35 > 0:38:38There's just a bit of tidying up to do for the fire crews.
0:38:38 > 0:38:41Unfortunately, with the amount of vehicles on the road,
0:38:41 > 0:38:43this is becoming a common job for us.
0:38:43 > 0:38:48We are getting very technically skilled in removing people from vehicles,
0:38:48 > 0:38:51and we've got some fantastic equipment to do it with, as well.
0:38:53 > 0:38:57We saw a pretty new ambulance being used in that rescue.
0:38:57 > 0:39:00We have one here. Not all of us have seen inside an ambulance,
0:39:00 > 0:39:05- so I want to show you round this brand-new one. Sarah is a paramedic inside. Hello!- Hello.
0:39:05 > 0:39:09Kit here works for us. He's fine, but he's pretending to be a patient.
0:39:09 > 0:39:13Amazing equipment. Tell me about this. It's really sophisticated.
0:39:13 > 0:39:17Yeah. This is our MobiMed system, our patient-monitoring system.
0:39:17 > 0:39:20It records blood pressure, ECG,
0:39:20 > 0:39:24oxygen saturation and respiratory rate.
0:39:24 > 0:39:28And that information goes straight to hospital, to A&E?
0:39:28 > 0:39:31That's right. For example, if the patient's having a heart attack,
0:39:31 > 0:39:34we can send their information, their ECG primarily,
0:39:34 > 0:39:38to the hospital directly, which means they don't have to go to A&E.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41- We can take them directly... - To where they need to go to.
0:39:41 > 0:39:44Amazing. Let's look at what Kit's got on here.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47If he'd broken his leg, you'd use this.
0:39:47 > 0:39:51This is a traction splint. Rather than just immobilising a limb,
0:39:51 > 0:39:54we can put some traction on a broken bone to put it back in alignment.
0:39:54 > 0:39:59I'll show you how it works. We've connected it to the patient's leg,
0:39:59 > 0:40:03- and we just apply the traction, which looks very painful...- Was it?
0:40:03 > 0:40:06- No.- It actually reduces the pain,
0:40:06 > 0:40:10because by putting the bones back into the right place,
0:40:10 > 0:40:13we minimise the muscle contraction around the bone,
0:40:13 > 0:40:16- and that helps the pain. - So you're really treating them
0:40:16 > 0:40:19- on the way to hospital. He's doing fine, isn't he?- He's fine.
0:40:19 > 0:40:22I'm glad to hear it! That's what we've got these days.
0:40:22 > 0:40:26It's like a mobile hospital. I've got a real treat for you now, though.
0:40:26 > 0:40:31Look at this! This is a 1948 Austin, and this is what they used to drive.
0:40:31 > 0:40:34It's absolutely beautiful. They didn't use to have blue lights.
0:40:34 > 0:40:37They used to have a red light. Look at the front of this,
0:40:37 > 0:40:41the headlamps. Amazing piece of kit. It belongs to Paul, who's here.
0:40:41 > 0:40:44- He used to be a paramedic. Hi, Paul. And John...- Hello.
0:40:44 > 0:40:46..one of the longest-serving paramedics.
0:40:46 > 0:40:50They've done some statistics on you. How many lives have you helped save?
0:40:50 > 0:40:54Well, they say I've saved 17,000 or something like that.
0:40:54 > 0:40:56That's amazing. So thousands of people.
0:40:56 > 0:41:00- Things have really changed, though, haven't they?- Certainly, yes.
0:41:00 > 0:41:04- When you first started, you just needed a first-aid certificate. - That's what we needed,
0:41:04 > 0:41:07from St John or the Red Cross Society.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11- And you didn't even use to do mouth-to-mouth in those days.- No.
0:41:11 > 0:41:18If we had anyone unconscious or drowning, we laid them on their stomach and pulled their arms up,
0:41:18 > 0:41:22to move them up, making them look like a pair of bellows,
0:41:22 > 0:41:27- and press into your back. - So CPR's quite different to that.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31- But that was good in those days. - We've seen a modern-day ambulance.
0:41:31 > 0:41:35Show me yours. It's a little bit different, isn't it?
0:41:35 > 0:41:39- Yes, slightly.- What kind of equipment did you carry on board?
0:41:39 > 0:41:41- Well...- Look at this!
0:41:41 > 0:41:44This is your friend Terry. Show me the equipment.
0:41:44 > 0:41:47The basic equipment was our first-aid kit.
0:41:47 > 0:41:50- And that is it! That's the extent of it?- That's it.
0:41:50 > 0:41:55A few bandages, some scissors, wooden splints to put on fractures.
0:41:55 > 0:41:58- Quite different from what I've just seen.- Slightly, yes!
0:41:58 > 0:42:01Dressings for burns, a little airway...
0:42:01 > 0:42:05And your patient hasn't quite been here since the 1940s.
0:42:05 > 0:42:08How would you get her out of the ambulance?
0:42:08 > 0:42:10- Do you want to show me?- Yes, I will.
0:42:10 > 0:42:14- Are you ready?- Are you ready, Terry? - Yep.- Mind your head.
0:42:14 > 0:42:16CREAKING
0:42:17 > 0:42:20- Which is quite hard work for you! - It certainly is.
0:42:20 > 0:42:25This is very different, but people saved lives in these, didn't they?
0:42:25 > 0:42:28Course we did! Just as many as they do today.
0:42:28 > 0:42:32That's the thing I'm interested in. What was this used for?
0:42:32 > 0:42:34That's a Neil Robertson stretcher.
0:42:34 > 0:42:39That was used for lowering people down from a cliff top
0:42:39 > 0:42:42- or a tower or a building... - Made of bamboo?- Yes.
0:42:42 > 0:42:46Perfectly safe unless you're getting someone out of a panda enclosure.
0:42:46 > 0:42:49- THEY LAUGH - In which case you're a human taco!
0:42:49 > 0:42:54- This is amazing!- How many babies have been born in this ambulance?
0:42:54 > 0:42:57I was told that seven or eight babies were born in here,
0:42:57 > 0:43:00and also Princess Anne was carried in this ambulance
0:43:00 > 0:43:03- when she was at the dressage. - We've run out of time!
0:43:03 > 0:43:07Princess Anne was in this! We could talk for ages. We have to go now.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10- We'll see you for more Real Rescues soon.- Bye bye.
0:43:10 > 0:43:14Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:14 > 0:43:18E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk
0:43:18 > 0:43:19.