Episode 17

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0:00:02 > 0:00:05Today, the moment a trapped horse becomes a deadly kicking machine.

0:00:09 > 0:00:12- SHE WHINNIES UNHAPPILY - Don't pull, don't pull.

0:00:12 > 0:00:14Jinx is in danger of drowning in the ditch.

0:00:14 > 0:00:18She's doing everything in her power to fight her way out.

0:00:18 > 0:00:21A Polish family cut off by the tide.

0:00:21 > 0:00:24They've been stranded on rocks for six hours

0:00:24 > 0:00:27as they don't know to dial 999. The lifeboat has to navigate

0:00:27 > 0:00:31over huge underwater rocks to get to them.

0:00:55 > 0:00:58Hello and welcome. Today we're at the ambulance-control centre

0:00:58 > 0:01:01near Winchester. When people are hurt, scared

0:01:01 > 0:01:05and in need of medical attention, this is where their call is answered

0:01:05 > 0:01:07and the rescue work can begin.

0:01:07 > 0:01:11Shall we find out what's happening today? It's a bit busy over there.

0:01:11 > 0:01:14Can we come through? Don't want to get in anyone's way.

0:01:14 > 0:01:18Thank you. We're going to have a word with Julie first,

0:01:18 > 0:01:21if she's free, and she is because she hasn't got her headset on.

0:01:21 > 0:01:24- I'm free. - Dog-bites today, for some reason.

0:01:24 > 0:01:28Yeah, lots more than we normally have in such a short space of time.

0:01:28 > 0:01:34One incident was three people bitten by two dogs,

0:01:34 > 0:01:37and then another lady bitten by two dogs.

0:01:37 > 0:01:40So unusual to have it all on one day, really.

0:01:40 > 0:01:44- It's weird how things go in spates, isn't it?- It's really strange.

0:01:44 > 0:01:48- We haven't had any for ages. - So ambulances to both, presumably?

0:01:48 > 0:01:51- Ambulances to both, police to one. - All right.

0:01:51 > 0:01:54On one of them the dog was still loose,

0:01:54 > 0:01:56so we had to get police to secure the dog.

0:01:56 > 0:01:59So police out looking for one dog.

0:01:59 > 0:02:02Isn't it funny how it comes in batches? Louise.

0:02:02 > 0:02:05Trapped in a ditch, Jinx, a retired racehorse,

0:02:05 > 0:02:08has been struggling for nearly four hours.

0:02:08 > 0:02:11Rescuing this tired and scared horse, weighing 600 kilos,

0:02:11 > 0:02:16was going to take at least 16 fire crew and a brave vet.

0:02:18 > 0:02:21Animal-rescue specialist Jim Green has been called out

0:02:21 > 0:02:24to a trapped horse.

0:02:25 > 0:02:28It's a distressing sight. Nine- year-old Jinx is stuck in a ditch.

0:02:28 > 0:02:32This is a much-loved mare as well as a valuable former racehorse.

0:02:32 > 0:02:35But now most of her body is under water.

0:02:35 > 0:02:38She can't do anything to free herself.

0:02:40 > 0:02:43OTHER HORSES WHINNY NERVOUSLY

0:02:43 > 0:02:45A local fire crew are already on the scene,

0:02:45 > 0:02:48but any rescue attempt would be dangerous

0:02:48 > 0:02:50without Jim's expert knowledge.

0:02:50 > 0:02:52She's in quite a bit of shock.

0:02:52 > 0:02:54Yeah.

0:02:54 > 0:02:57Jinx's owner, Wendy, found her like this

0:02:57 > 0:02:59as she made her daily check.

0:02:59 > 0:03:04'She looked very tired, and very sort of broken, if you like.'

0:03:04 > 0:03:07She knew she wasn't going to be able to get out on her own.

0:03:09 > 0:03:13I immediately knew at that point that, if we hadn't seen her,

0:03:13 > 0:03:16by the next morning she would have drowned.

0:03:16 > 0:03:20They can't make any attempt to rescue her until she's sedated by the vet.

0:03:20 > 0:03:23It would be too dangerous for the fire crews.

0:03:23 > 0:03:26Wendy gets straight on to her.

0:03:26 > 0:03:30I've got the fire brigade here and animal rescue,

0:03:30 > 0:03:34and obviously I'd like you to come. She's in quite a bit of shock,

0:03:34 > 0:03:37exhausted. So where are you now?

0:03:37 > 0:03:41As they wait for the vet, Jim and his team prepare the equipment

0:03:41 > 0:03:43they'll need to pull Jinx free.

0:03:43 > 0:03:46If we can get all the rescue kit here we've got on that truck,

0:03:46 > 0:03:50we'll probably put it over here so that we've got a clear route out

0:03:50 > 0:03:53when we do take her out. We need to be able to control her,

0:03:53 > 0:03:57and if we're in there working, as soon as we put strops around her,

0:03:57 > 0:03:59that will stimulate her a lot.

0:03:59 > 0:04:02Yeah. Let's see if she'll stay like that till the vet gets here,

0:04:02 > 0:04:05because I don't want anyone to get hurt.

0:04:08 > 0:04:10It's a mystery why Jinx has ended up like this.

0:04:10 > 0:04:13She knows the field well.

0:04:13 > 0:04:16On and off, she's been in that field for two and a half years.

0:04:16 > 0:04:19Who knows why she fell in the ditch?

0:04:19 > 0:04:23It's a bit like going up and down your stairs every day,

0:04:23 > 0:04:25then one day you trip.

0:04:25 > 0:04:28Jim will be in charge of coordinating this rescue attempt.

0:04:28 > 0:04:33The plan I had in my head was for a fairly simple extrication,

0:04:33 > 0:04:36pulling the horse out. Anyone can pull a horse out.

0:04:36 > 0:04:40But the way you pull it out is important, because you don't want to damage the animal.

0:04:40 > 0:04:44Vet Francesca Caporelli has arrived. Jim briefs her.

0:04:44 > 0:04:50So what I'd like to do is to sedate, um, heavily,

0:04:50 > 0:04:53so that we can then do all our procedures,

0:04:53 > 0:04:55get her out, and once she's in a place of safety,

0:04:55 > 0:04:58then we can let her come round.

0:04:58 > 0:05:00Jim's priority must be the safety of his crew.

0:05:00 > 0:05:03Firefighters going in to do the best they can

0:05:03 > 0:05:08may cause a sequence of events that would lead to them getting very badly injured by hooves,

0:05:08 > 0:05:11by being crushed, being struck in some way, perhaps by the head,

0:05:11 > 0:05:15and so that environment is far too dangerous

0:05:15 > 0:05:18without the correct control measures.

0:05:22 > 0:05:26I reckon if you can give us half an hour

0:05:26 > 0:05:29- of really good...- OK.

0:05:29 > 0:05:33So on a scale of one to ten, with ten being anaesthetised,

0:05:33 > 0:05:35we're looking about eight or nine.

0:05:36 > 0:05:40As Francesca prepares the sedative, the animal-rescue team

0:05:40 > 0:05:43start to lay the inflatable platform for her to work on.

0:05:45 > 0:05:48OK, nice and gently. Rescue path, spine tight,

0:05:48 > 0:05:52so we can get the vet in there. Nice and gently, fellas.

0:05:52 > 0:05:55HORSE WHINNIES

0:05:56 > 0:06:00Good girl. Good girl. OK, I want you to go in behind Fran,

0:06:00 > 0:06:02just get hold of that and make sure that she's safe.

0:06:05 > 0:06:09Injecting a 600-kilo distressed horse from a floating platform

0:06:09 > 0:06:12will require plenty of skill and nerve.

0:06:12 > 0:06:15A fire officer is ready to pull Francesca out of the danger zone.

0:06:15 > 0:06:19She's going to try to get close enough to inject into a vein.

0:06:22 > 0:06:25Right, Fran. Out we go.

0:06:25 > 0:06:27- All right. - SHE WHINNIES UNHAPPILY

0:06:27 > 0:06:30Don't pull. Don't pull. OK. Don't pull on her.

0:06:30 > 0:06:34Don't pull on her. Everyone just keep back over here.

0:06:36 > 0:06:38We don't want to pull her by the head,

0:06:38 > 0:06:41because she will have an opposition reflex to that.

0:06:41 > 0:06:43She will really baulk at that.

0:06:44 > 0:06:48And Jinx is having none of it. To her, the rescue crew

0:06:48 > 0:06:52are a potential threat. Francesca will have to inject into the muscle,

0:06:52 > 0:06:54which requires less accuracy.

0:06:54 > 0:06:57Steady, girl. Steady, girl.

0:06:57 > 0:07:00Steady, girl.

0:07:01 > 0:07:04Steady, girl. Give her a little bit.

0:07:05 > 0:07:07Steady, girl.

0:07:08 > 0:07:11Right. She's as...

0:07:11 > 0:07:13She's as lively as a lively thing.

0:07:14 > 0:07:18If they can't sedate her soon, her chances of rescue and survival are slim.

0:07:18 > 0:07:22This stricken horse is a deadly kicking machine,

0:07:22 > 0:07:25and it's too dangerous to attempt a rescue with her in this state.

0:07:25 > 0:07:29The longer Jinx is in the water, the greater the risk of injury.

0:07:29 > 0:07:32The team will have to change tactics.

0:07:33 > 0:07:36Imagine that! She weighs as much as a small car,

0:07:36 > 0:07:38and somehow they've got to get her out.

0:07:38 > 0:07:42- We'll see how that rescue goes later. - It was quite upsetting, wasn't it?

0:07:42 > 0:07:47Best move on. The Redcar Rocks sit on the northeast coast of England.

0:07:47 > 0:07:50Do you know it? Here's what they look like from the sea.

0:07:50 > 0:07:53It's a treacherous area with rocks as big as houses.

0:07:53 > 0:07:58The tides are swift and deep, cutting off the beach in moments.

0:07:58 > 0:08:01When Redcar lifeboat were called there to rescue a family of three,

0:08:01 > 0:08:05they needed the Cleveland police helicopter to light the scene.

0:08:05 > 0:08:07This is what they found.

0:08:07 > 0:08:10It's a chilly night in early June at Huntcliff,

0:08:10 > 0:08:13just south of Redcar. In the darkness,

0:08:13 > 0:08:17the Cleveland police helicopter uses an infrared camera

0:08:17 > 0:08:21to search the base of the cliffs looking for any sign of the family.

0:08:21 > 0:08:23Two lifeboats stand by.

0:08:25 > 0:08:28Then a bright object catches the eye of the camera operator.

0:08:28 > 0:08:32It's a man clambering over the large boulders.

0:08:35 > 0:08:37He's with two others, a woman and a child.

0:08:41 > 0:08:43They've found them.

0:08:44 > 0:08:47This Polish family are tourists, and were cut off by the tide

0:08:47 > 0:08:50after going for a walk. They have a mobile phone,

0:08:50 > 0:08:53but didn't know any emergency numbers.

0:08:53 > 0:08:56They had to get through to an English friend before the alarm could be raised.

0:08:56 > 0:09:00But it's been a long wait. They've been out for over six hours,

0:09:00 > 0:09:02and are only dressed for a summer's day.

0:09:02 > 0:09:06They may have been seen, but they're far from being rescued yet.

0:09:06 > 0:09:08The only way in is from the sea,

0:09:08 > 0:09:10and this is a treacherous stretch of water.

0:09:10 > 0:09:13The police guide the lifeboat crew to the family,

0:09:13 > 0:09:16who are now moving down to the edge of the sea.

0:09:16 > 0:09:20When the tide's in, the water completely covers rocks

0:09:20 > 0:09:22the size of houses. They could do serious damage

0:09:22 > 0:09:25to the hull of a boat.

0:09:25 > 0:09:27That's why the RNLI have brought two.

0:09:27 > 0:09:32The larger Atlantic 75 class is used to convey casualties at speed,

0:09:32 > 0:09:36while the smaller D class is able to get in over the rocks.

0:09:37 > 0:09:41While the family try to keep warm, the lifeboat volunteers move in.

0:09:41 > 0:09:45Two of them, Paul Calvert and Tony Wheater,

0:09:45 > 0:09:48have plunged into the sea in their drysuits.

0:09:48 > 0:09:51They carefully make their way over the hidden rocks.

0:09:51 > 0:09:54Paul's at the front. As well as being an RNLI volunteer,

0:09:54 > 0:09:57he's an ambulance technician, and is keen to get to the family

0:09:57 > 0:10:00to check for any signs of hypothermia.

0:10:00 > 0:10:02He's met by a very thankful mum.

0:10:04 > 0:10:07The smaller lifeboat is brought in as close as possible.

0:10:07 > 0:10:10Paul and Tony put lifejackets on the family.

0:10:10 > 0:10:13They're ready to get down to the waiting boat.

0:10:14 > 0:10:17To help, the police helicopter lights the area.

0:10:18 > 0:10:20One by one, they make their way.

0:10:25 > 0:10:29Once they're all in the boat, it's pushed out to clear water.

0:10:30 > 0:10:33They pull alongside the larger, faster RIB...

0:10:35 > 0:10:39..and the family are transferred, ready to be whisked to safety.

0:10:43 > 0:10:47Mark Reeves here was piloting the smaller of the two RIBs

0:10:47 > 0:10:50that you can see attending there. Difficult situation, that,

0:10:50 > 0:10:54a really difficult stretch of coast to get your boats to the shore.

0:10:54 > 0:10:57Yeah, really difficult. The size of the rocks

0:10:57 > 0:11:01and the location, and with the tide, it's such treacherous...

0:11:01 > 0:11:03That's why we do a lot of training in that area,

0:11:03 > 0:11:07to make sure we can get there in any situation that's called on.

0:11:07 > 0:11:10I have to ask you, that Polish family... What were they doing,

0:11:10 > 0:11:13- stuck on the rocks? - As far as we're aware,

0:11:13 > 0:11:16they went for a walk underneath the cliffs,

0:11:16 > 0:11:20not aware of the tide or the oncoming conditions or anything.

0:11:20 > 0:11:24And they were a long time out there. How cold were they?

0:11:24 > 0:11:28They were shivering, which is the first sign of hypothermia,

0:11:28 > 0:11:31so obviously there'd been a lovely warm day,

0:11:31 > 0:11:35but as night-time approaches, it was getting rather cold.

0:11:35 > 0:11:38- They were dressed for a warm day, not for a chilly night.- No.

0:11:38 > 0:11:42They'd been there a long time. Did you find out from them why?

0:11:42 > 0:11:45Er, I'm not quite sure why.

0:11:45 > 0:11:47And why didn't they call 999 sooner?

0:11:47 > 0:11:51Apparently they didn't know, so they called a friend at Darlington

0:11:51 > 0:11:56- who then called the 999 services. - I see. If you come from Poland, you don't necessarily know.

0:11:56 > 0:11:59- I wouldn't know what to dial in Poland. Would you?- No.

0:11:59 > 0:12:02Well, there you go. We saw two of your guys

0:12:02 > 0:12:05actually just jump out of the boat,

0:12:05 > 0:12:08so at that stage they're wading in complete darkness.

0:12:08 > 0:12:10Yes. Uneven conditions, as well.

0:12:10 > 0:12:12The rocks could be two foot, three foot.

0:12:12 > 0:12:16That's why we do a lot of training in and around the rocks

0:12:16 > 0:12:20in conditions... Obviously the police helicopter with the -

0:12:20 > 0:12:23Isn't there a danger you would drop down a hole

0:12:23 > 0:12:26- or walk into a boulder? - There is possibilities of that,

0:12:26 > 0:12:29so like I say, that's why we do it with all the right gear.

0:12:29 > 0:12:32It's an amazing job you do. You're a former fisherman

0:12:32 > 0:12:35- that's moved into the lifeboats afterwards.- Yes. I am, yeah.

0:12:35 > 0:12:38It's a good job? You enjoy what you do?

0:12:38 > 0:12:42Yeah. I love what I do. I enjoy giving a little bit back.

0:12:42 > 0:12:45Do you know, to be fair, they're not the first ones to get stuck there.

0:12:45 > 0:12:4935 families in ten years have got stuck on that particular...

0:12:49 > 0:12:52- Looks like you're going to be busy for a while.- Looks like it.

0:12:52 > 0:12:56And a lot of people pleased that you're around. Thanks for coming in to chat to us.

0:12:56 > 0:13:00If you ask anyone here in this ambulance-control room,

0:13:00 > 0:13:03they'll have their own tale of a nuisance caller. Matt's had a few.

0:13:03 > 0:13:06- Er, yeah. - What particular one stands out?

0:13:06 > 0:13:10A man called you who was having trouble with golden syrup.

0:13:10 > 0:13:13Yeah. I took an unusual call in the early hours of the morning.

0:13:13 > 0:13:16He claimed his drink had been spiked,

0:13:16 > 0:13:19and he'd gone home and covered himself head to toe in syrup.

0:13:19 > 0:13:23We tried to calm him down, explained we can't send an ambulance

0:13:23 > 0:13:26- for treacle... - Treatment yes, treacle no.

0:13:26 > 0:13:30Yes, pretty much. There was nothing wrong with him.

0:13:30 > 0:13:32He was just in a bit of a tizz.

0:13:32 > 0:13:36We calmed him down and advised him that we can't send an ambulance,

0:13:36 > 0:13:41and he said, "OK, I'll be stuck till morning, but I'll go to bed and sort it out myself."

0:13:41 > 0:13:44Very sensible advice, but not necessarily a call you need to take.

0:13:44 > 0:13:48No. His shower was broken, so he thought we could help with that.

0:13:48 > 0:13:50- Fair enough!- Unfortunately not.

0:13:50 > 0:13:55I thought I'd bring you over here, because Hollie has a similar thing.

0:13:55 > 0:13:58- You ask anyone if they've had a hoax-call experience...- Yeah.

0:13:58 > 0:14:02- Almost everybody has.- They have. - Give us an example of one of yours.

0:14:02 > 0:14:06Quite recently a guy phoned up saying his friend wasn't breathing

0:14:06 > 0:14:09and wasn't awake, so we did CPR over the phone.

0:14:09 > 0:14:13- Obviously we take this very seriously.- Of course, yeah.

0:14:13 > 0:14:17And he presumably was doing CPR, and the crew got there,

0:14:17 > 0:14:20and it turned out to all be a hoax and he was making it up.

0:14:20 > 0:14:23He was the only one there. There was no-one in trouble.

0:14:23 > 0:14:25- The crew arrived to help him... - Yeah.

0:14:25 > 0:14:29But he's responding to you on the phone as if he's doing CPR.

0:14:29 > 0:14:32Exactly. He's pretending to do CPR over the phone,

0:14:32 > 0:14:35and the crew got there and noticed it,

0:14:35 > 0:14:38and usually we send the police out to deal with it from there.

0:14:38 > 0:14:42Quite right too, although you have to wonder about the mental state

0:14:42 > 0:14:45of people who do this kind of thing. Almost everyone you talk to

0:14:45 > 0:14:49- has got a story.- Absolutely. Let's continue with the survey.

0:14:49 > 0:14:52You have one, Julian, about a man who called,

0:14:52 > 0:14:54worried about a pigeon, and they phoned you.

0:14:54 > 0:14:57Yes. A chap had arrived home in his car.

0:14:57 > 0:15:01He spoke to one of our call-takers, and I was listening to the call.

0:15:01 > 0:15:04He'd arrived home in his car, and was concerned,

0:15:04 > 0:15:07phoned 999, because there was a distressed pigeon on the driveway.

0:15:07 > 0:15:12I can understand he was distressed, but he didn't need to call you!

0:15:12 > 0:15:15We considered alerting the Autumnwatch team,

0:15:15 > 0:15:18but in the end we decided to advise RSPCA.

0:15:18 > 0:15:21- Autumnwatch were probably a bit busy as well.- Possibly.

0:15:21 > 0:15:24Thank you. Later in the programme,

0:15:24 > 0:15:27we'll see how much trouble and expense these kinds of calls cause,

0:15:27 > 0:15:31and play you a call that sparked a four-and-a-half-hour stand-off

0:15:31 > 0:15:34involving 30 police officers.

0:15:46 > 0:15:48A very serious hoax call. Also still to come,

0:15:48 > 0:15:52a young cyclist has crashed into a stationary car.

0:15:52 > 0:15:55He can't move his arms or legs and has no idea where he is.

0:15:59 > 0:16:01You remember what, darling?

0:16:02 > 0:16:05It's all right. Don't worry about anything. You're fine.

0:16:08 > 0:16:11Going to chat to you now about community responders.

0:16:11 > 0:16:15We've talked about them a few times, and a community or first responder

0:16:15 > 0:16:18is somebody who gets to an accident first.

0:16:18 > 0:16:23Matt here is one of those people. Community, first responder,

0:16:23 > 0:16:25- or the same thing? - They are.- How does it work?

0:16:25 > 0:16:29Anyone can do it, get trained up, get given a kit

0:16:29 > 0:16:33and a phone pager, and get sent out to local emergencies in their area.

0:16:33 > 0:16:36We're not talking about anybody in the ambulance service.

0:16:36 > 0:16:40- Anybody can do it.- Absolutely. - You can be a shop assistant

0:16:40 > 0:16:43- or a garage technician or whatever. - Anybody can apply to do it,

0:16:43 > 0:16:46- do the training and - - Give us an example of something

0:16:46 > 0:16:50you've attended where, because you were local, it made a difference.

0:16:50 > 0:16:52I got sent to somebody that had fallen

0:16:52 > 0:16:55and put his hand through a window, but it was a fire window

0:16:55 > 0:16:59- with the grated metal in it. - With the little lines through it.

0:16:59 > 0:17:03He had a severe finger injury. I was really concerned, when I got there,

0:17:03 > 0:17:07he might lose the finger. So what I did basically was bandage him up.

0:17:07 > 0:17:11Loss of blood's a difficulty there, and having somebody who knows...

0:17:11 > 0:17:15We were talking about how you stem a heavy blood flow, as well.

0:17:15 > 0:17:18Absolutely. I bandaged it up, held the finger in place

0:17:18 > 0:17:21and elevated it. Also put him on some oxygen, as well,

0:17:21 > 0:17:24stop him going into shock. Helped the ambulance crew

0:17:24 > 0:17:27get him into the ambulance and take him to hospital.

0:17:27 > 0:17:31- Do you ever get to find out how these things have gone?- This time,

0:17:31 > 0:17:34I was out shopping a few weeks later and he came up to me,

0:17:34 > 0:17:36shook my hand, thanked me for everything I did,

0:17:36 > 0:17:39- and they'd saved the finger. - They sewed it back on?- Yeah.

0:17:39 > 0:17:43It's nice to find out. Interesting point, though, isn't it?

0:17:43 > 0:17:46If you would like to become a community responder,

0:17:46 > 0:17:49and you can do that so you are available for your local community,

0:17:49 > 0:17:53just contact your local ambulance service and they'll tell you how,

0:17:53 > 0:17:56or look up on their website. You could really help someone,

0:17:56 > 0:17:59save someone's life, which would be a cool thing to do.

0:17:59 > 0:18:03Earlier on we saw vet Francesca showing a lot of nerve

0:18:03 > 0:18:06as she tried to sedate a very agitated horse.

0:18:06 > 0:18:09Jinx is trapped in a deep ditch. It's very upsetting, this.

0:18:09 > 0:18:11Only her head and neck are free,

0:18:11 > 0:18:15and there's no way of getting her out unless she's tranquillised.

0:18:16 > 0:18:20Back at the ditch, the rescuers are having to rethink their rescue plan.

0:18:20 > 0:18:24It's proving very difficult to get an intravenous injection into Jinx.

0:18:24 > 0:18:26FRANCESCA SPEAKS

0:18:31 > 0:18:33They say she's been trying for a while.

0:18:33 > 0:18:36- We can try that end. - Go on. See how deep it is.

0:18:36 > 0:18:39We did consider then whether it would be possible

0:18:39 > 0:18:42to apply the strops and assist it out,

0:18:42 > 0:18:44rather than sedating and then skidding it out.

0:18:44 > 0:18:47So the firefighters were just using their crooks

0:18:47 > 0:18:51to test the bottom of the ditch

0:18:51 > 0:18:56to see whether the horse was sinking in the mud or on a firm surface.

0:18:57 > 0:18:59It's not good news.

0:18:59 > 0:19:02The only way is to pull Jinx out.

0:19:02 > 0:19:05They'll have to have another go at sedating her.

0:19:05 > 0:19:07The problem is that, if you don't sedate,

0:19:07 > 0:19:11- and I'm putting my firefighters in - - I agree with you.

0:19:11 > 0:19:14- I would prefer that she was - - Yeah. Let's sedate her.

0:19:14 > 0:19:16- I will try once more.- OK.

0:19:16 > 0:19:19This could be Jinx's last chance.

0:19:19 > 0:19:21Steady.

0:19:21 > 0:19:23Steady, girl. Steady, girl.

0:19:23 > 0:19:26Steady, girl.

0:19:26 > 0:19:27Steady, girl.

0:19:27 > 0:19:29Steady...

0:19:29 > 0:19:31Steady, girl.

0:19:31 > 0:19:34Wonderful! Well done. Now what we've got to do

0:19:34 > 0:19:38is move out the way, chill out and let it take its effect.

0:19:38 > 0:19:42Because you have access to a lot of muscle in a horse,

0:19:42 > 0:19:46you can inject the sedation anywhere, really.

0:19:46 > 0:19:48So in the neck,

0:19:48 > 0:19:51it's quite easy to just stab the needle quickly

0:19:51 > 0:19:54and just run away.

0:19:54 > 0:19:56'The problem is that you have to wait longer.'

0:19:56 > 0:19:59Slowly the sedative starts to take effect.

0:19:59 > 0:20:03The lip goes right down, the head goes down.

0:20:03 > 0:20:07But the problem is that, if the sedation hasn't taken full effect,

0:20:07 > 0:20:11and we start working, then the horse can be stimulated,

0:20:11 > 0:20:15produces adrenaline, and the adrenaline counteracts that sedative

0:20:15 > 0:20:17and we end up with a lively horse again.

0:20:17 > 0:20:20Jinx is finally quiet enough for Fran to move in

0:20:20 > 0:20:23and get more tranquilliser directly into a vein.

0:20:27 > 0:20:30Within minutes, Jinx is completely out.

0:20:32 > 0:20:35Horse-owner Wendy knows she has to remain calm,

0:20:35 > 0:20:37but it's not easy.

0:20:37 > 0:20:40As much as you want her to get out of the ditch quickly,

0:20:40 > 0:20:43it is about being patient

0:20:43 > 0:20:47and waiting until the next step can be taken.

0:20:47 > 0:20:49Let's all go and I'll show you the back.

0:20:49 > 0:20:53It's now safe for the fire crews to move in close.

0:20:53 > 0:20:58Pete and Jason start putting the wide canvas straps,

0:20:58 > 0:21:00called strops, in place.

0:21:01 > 0:21:04Right. Here we go. We're nearly there.

0:21:04 > 0:21:06We're over here. Crook, please.

0:21:07 > 0:21:11- Push it up one more time like you did just then.- Lovely. Right, OK.

0:21:11 > 0:21:14You at spine, are you? That's it. Don't pull it round its leg.

0:21:14 > 0:21:17Francesca keeps a careful eye on Jinx

0:21:17 > 0:21:20for any signs that the sedative is wearing off.

0:21:20 > 0:21:24- Steady, girl.- It's just the head. It's going back down.

0:21:24 > 0:21:27HORSE MOANS

0:21:29 > 0:21:34Listen in. She's coming round now, so we're going to top her up, OK?

0:21:35 > 0:21:38Steady, girl. Good girl.

0:21:39 > 0:21:43With Jinx safely immobilised, they can make the final adjustments

0:21:43 > 0:21:47to the strops, and move on to the next stage of the rescue.

0:21:50 > 0:21:54Everyone gather round, and we'll explain what's going to happen.

0:21:54 > 0:21:56Rather than pull, stop, pull, stop,

0:21:56 > 0:21:59try and keep going in one movement.

0:21:59 > 0:22:01Once we're out, we'll take her round over there.

0:22:01 > 0:22:05We want as many people as we can muster on that one.

0:22:05 > 0:22:09OK, everyone. All right. Just start easing it that way.

0:22:13 > 0:22:17It's like a massive tug-of-war, with 11 firefighters

0:22:17 > 0:22:20taking on 600 kilos of sedated horse.

0:22:21 > 0:22:23Go on, boys. Keep pulling.

0:22:23 > 0:22:26They also have a strop around her hindquarters

0:22:26 > 0:22:29to make sure her back legs slide easily onto the pathway.

0:22:33 > 0:22:36Jinx is finally on dry land.

0:22:36 > 0:22:39The fire crew who pulled her out can now be stood down.

0:22:39 > 0:22:42But because of the heavy sedation,

0:22:42 > 0:22:45it's impossible to tell yet whether she's injured

0:22:45 > 0:22:48or too traumatised to ever get over this.

0:22:48 > 0:22:51We'll be back in a few minutes to see what happens

0:22:51 > 0:22:53when Jinx comes round.

0:22:53 > 0:22:57It's a sunny afternoon. 12-year-old Jack has crashed on his bike.

0:22:57 > 0:23:00He's hit a car with such speed that he's knocked himself out.

0:23:00 > 0:23:04Dr Paul Rees, a critical-care specialist from the BASICS charity,

0:23:04 > 0:23:06is on his way.

0:23:06 > 0:23:08SIREN WAILS

0:23:09 > 0:23:12I've been called out to a road accident,

0:23:12 > 0:23:14car versus a 12-year-old cyclist.

0:23:14 > 0:23:16We don't have any details of injuries.

0:23:16 > 0:23:19There's an ambulance crew a couple of minutes away.

0:23:19 > 0:23:24Because there's potential for serious injury, we're going to go and have a look as well.

0:23:27 > 0:23:32He finds Jack lying in the middle of the crossroads and groaning in pain.

0:23:32 > 0:23:35- Agh! I don't know what happened! - All right. Don't worry.

0:23:35 > 0:23:38An ambulance crew is already with him,

0:23:38 > 0:23:41and police have cordoned off the accident site.

0:23:41 > 0:23:43Jack's bike has left quite a dent in the car.

0:23:43 > 0:23:45The collision was at speed.

0:23:45 > 0:23:48He's come down the hill on his pushbike,

0:23:48 > 0:23:52and a car has come across here, and he can't remember what happened.

0:23:52 > 0:23:55His main problem seems to be his right shoulder.

0:23:55 > 0:23:59- He's saying he can't lift his head. - We don't want him to move anyway.

0:23:59 > 0:24:02No, but he's panicking because he can't.

0:24:02 > 0:24:04You're Dad, are you? Dr Rees...

0:24:04 > 0:24:07Jack's dad Paul drove straight to the scene

0:24:07 > 0:24:10when he heard the terrible news that his son had been in an accident.

0:24:12 > 0:24:15As I drove over the brow of the hill, I could just see blue lights

0:24:15 > 0:24:19and the road all cordoned off. It's quite, er...quite distressing.

0:24:19 > 0:24:24You don't know what you'll find when you get there. And Jack's laid in the middle of the road.

0:24:24 > 0:24:26'He couldn't remember what had happened,

0:24:26 > 0:24:29'couldn't move his arms and legs, and seemed very scared.'

0:24:29 > 0:24:33Obviously quite upsetting to see him in that condition.

0:24:33 > 0:24:37Jack seems to be in a state of shock and confusion.

0:24:37 > 0:24:39Tell me what hurts.

0:24:41 > 0:24:44- What hurts you now? - My neck.- Is it sore? OK.

0:24:44 > 0:24:48- Is that sore?- I found a bit of blood but I can't see anything.

0:24:48 > 0:24:50- What happened? - You just came off your bike, fella.

0:24:50 > 0:24:52How?

0:24:52 > 0:24:55Jack's behaviour is giving Paul serious cause for concern.

0:24:55 > 0:24:59This young man's been cycling down a hill at reasonably high speed,

0:24:59 > 0:25:02and he's been knocked out. He's repeating himself.

0:25:02 > 0:25:06Doesn't remember what happened. He's had a bump on the head.

0:25:06 > 0:25:10He's probably got other fractures as well, so we're immobilising him.

0:25:10 > 0:25:14Jack has obviously received quite a knock to his head,

0:25:14 > 0:25:17but they need to keep him calm and as still as possible

0:25:17 > 0:25:19so they can secure his neck.

0:25:19 > 0:25:22This doctor's going to give you some nice...

0:25:22 > 0:25:24Can we just cut that away?

0:25:24 > 0:25:27Jack's amnesia is quite severe.

0:25:30 > 0:25:32You remember what, darling?

0:25:35 > 0:25:37Don't worry about anything. You're fine.

0:25:37 > 0:25:40- I- can't remember much further than that!

0:25:40 > 0:25:44Jack was very confused and didn't understand where he was,

0:25:44 > 0:25:47how he'd got there, and he had no recollection of the accident

0:25:47 > 0:25:51or any considerable time before the accident, even.

0:25:51 > 0:25:54It was a very hot day, as well. The sun was beating down on his eyes,

0:25:54 > 0:25:57confusing him even more. He was in quite a lot of distress.

0:25:57 > 0:26:01From a parent's point of view, it makes you feel very helpless.

0:26:01 > 0:26:04The main worry here is what's causing this confusion

0:26:04 > 0:26:06and agitation. Could be some damage to the brain.

0:26:06 > 0:26:10That could be contusions, bruising of the brain tissue

0:26:10 > 0:26:13suffered in the accident, or, possibly more sinister,

0:26:13 > 0:26:15a bleed within the brain tissue.

0:26:15 > 0:26:18We need a close eye on the patient's conscious level

0:26:18 > 0:26:20over the next few hours, and a scan of the brain

0:26:20 > 0:26:23to make sure there's nothing sinister.

0:26:23 > 0:26:27Open and close your hand for me. Make a fist. Bit tighter than that,

0:26:27 > 0:26:30proper fists. And again. Keep going. Proper fists. Good man.

0:26:30 > 0:26:34Paul gives Jack some morphine to ease his discomfort.

0:26:34 > 0:26:36That should take the pain away.

0:26:36 > 0:26:38Might make him a bit sleepy,

0:26:38 > 0:26:41so if he wants to have a doze, that's fine.

0:26:41 > 0:26:45Soothing Jack's pain and agitation makes it easier for Paul to fully check him over

0:26:45 > 0:26:48for any broken bones or internal injuries.

0:26:48 > 0:26:51Take a big deep breath in for me. Good man. And again.

0:26:51 > 0:26:55Good boy. OK. I'm going to have a feel of your tummy. Is it sore?

0:26:55 > 0:26:58- Doesn't hurt when I touch you there? - No.- Good lad.

0:26:58 > 0:27:01- Is there any pain here at all?- No.

0:27:01 > 0:27:03'Children are built differently to adults.'

0:27:03 > 0:27:07Their bodies are still developing and their bones are flexible,

0:27:07 > 0:27:10so often they can suffer severe internal injuries

0:27:10 > 0:27:12without having injuries overlying them

0:27:12 > 0:27:15that in an adult would cause fractures,

0:27:15 > 0:27:18so you've got to look carefully for internal injury,

0:27:18 > 0:27:21and we examined him at the scene and monitored his blood pressure

0:27:21 > 0:27:24to establish that this probably wasn't the case.

0:27:24 > 0:27:27The team carefully place Jack onto a scoop stretcher

0:27:27 > 0:27:30so that they can lift him safely into the ambulance.

0:27:30 > 0:27:33We're going to strap you to this special bit of kit,

0:27:33 > 0:27:36give you a onceover at the hospital, given that you've had a big whack

0:27:36 > 0:27:41into the car. OK? You've made a bit of a dent in the car, I think!

0:27:41 > 0:27:44We're going to put a couple of pads next to your head

0:27:44 > 0:27:46so you don't jiggle around.

0:27:48 > 0:27:52Don't know where you are? We'll ask you those questions later.

0:27:52 > 0:27:54There's no outward sign of injury to Jack's head,

0:27:54 > 0:27:58but such is his continued confusion, Paul wants to examine

0:27:58 > 0:28:01exactly how he hit the car.

0:28:01 > 0:28:05He's made a significant dent in that. His bike could have made some of it.

0:28:05 > 0:28:08He's actually managed to pierce the metal there,

0:28:08 > 0:28:13or something involved in the collision has done that. That's a fair whack, isn't it?

0:28:13 > 0:28:16A closer look at the bike allows PC Tony

0:28:16 > 0:28:19to shed more light on what may have happened.

0:28:19 > 0:28:21That mark on the wing is where the tyre struck,

0:28:21 > 0:28:25and the tyre's gone round, and the nut for the wheel pierced the metal.

0:28:25 > 0:28:28- So it's probably more the bike than...- Thank you for that.

0:28:28 > 0:28:31Despite the bicycle taking the brunt of the impact,

0:28:31 > 0:28:34Paul is still worried about Jack's condition.

0:28:34 > 0:28:37He is confused, so it's important to take him to hospital,

0:28:37 > 0:28:42assess him more thoroughly and give him a scan of the brain if he doesn't settle down quickly.

0:28:47 > 0:28:51Jack is taken to the A&E department at Southampton General Hospital

0:28:51 > 0:28:53with his dad at his side.

0:28:54 > 0:28:57Give him a onceover. There'll be a lot of people around him

0:28:57 > 0:28:59that will just make sure he's OK.

0:28:59 > 0:29:03Jack will have a series of tests and X-rays to check him from top to toe

0:29:03 > 0:29:06for any serious injury.

0:29:07 > 0:29:10Oh, you had me really worried there, Jack!

0:29:10 > 0:29:13You were injured quite badly. Tell me what had happened.

0:29:13 > 0:29:19- I'd come down the hill... - But what kind of injury had you got?

0:29:19 > 0:29:22- I'd broken my right collar bone. - Was it painful?- Very.

0:29:24 > 0:29:29And when you were on the road, you couldn't remember where you were.

0:29:29 > 0:29:32What did it feel like? Was it frightening for you?

0:29:32 > 0:29:34It was very frightening.

0:29:34 > 0:29:37Why? Because you didn't know where you were?

0:29:37 > 0:29:41I didn't know what happened or where I was.

0:29:41 > 0:29:44Oh, goodness me! When Dad turned up, did you feel a bit better?

0:29:44 > 0:29:46Felt a bit better, yeah.

0:29:46 > 0:29:51As a parent, getting that phone call must really stop your heart,

0:29:51 > 0:29:55but you were incredibly calm. How did you keep so calm on the road?

0:29:55 > 0:29:58I didn't think I was that calm, to be fair, but I don't know.

0:29:58 > 0:30:01It's horrible to get that phone call, like you say.

0:30:01 > 0:30:03I just got there as quick as I could.

0:30:03 > 0:30:06- You just deal with it, don't you? - And a bit strange,

0:30:06 > 0:30:09that he couldn't remember stuff. Was that worrying you?

0:30:09 > 0:30:12It worried me that he'd had a bang on the head.

0:30:12 > 0:30:15To not remember what happened is quite worrying.

0:30:15 > 0:30:17One person who does remember is you, Harvey,

0:30:17 > 0:30:21because you were right behind him. What did you see happen?

0:30:21 > 0:30:22Um, well...

0:30:22 > 0:30:26- Did you see him hit the car?- No.

0:30:26 > 0:30:29What did you see? Did you see him on the ground?

0:30:29 > 0:30:31Well, I saw him fall to the ground,

0:30:31 > 0:30:34and then...

0:30:34 > 0:30:37- That must have got you a bit worried. - Yeah.

0:30:37 > 0:30:40And you were really helpful, weren't you?

0:30:40 > 0:30:42You were really sensible. What did you go and do?

0:30:42 > 0:30:46Well, I went to my nanny and granddad's house

0:30:46 > 0:30:49that was just down the road,

0:30:49 > 0:30:52and I went to knock on the door,

0:30:52 > 0:30:56and my granddad came to the door.

0:30:56 > 0:30:59So you did the really clever thing. You went to get help,

0:30:59 > 0:31:02which you needed. Now, what about your friends?

0:31:02 > 0:31:04You're a bit accident prone. What else have you done?

0:31:04 > 0:31:10A few weeks earlier I'd just broken my left wrist.

0:31:10 > 0:31:13You'd just got out of plaster. What do your friends say about you?

0:31:13 > 0:31:15- Do they think you're accident prone? - Yeah.

0:31:15 > 0:31:19Thank you very much. Do you bounce a bit better than your brother?

0:31:19 > 0:31:21Do you have accidents?

0:31:21 > 0:31:24Well, I only fall to the ground, not...

0:31:24 > 0:31:28That is very clever! Lovely to meet you,

0:31:28 > 0:31:31and I'm glad you're better. Thank you.

0:31:31 > 0:31:34Oh, they're all shy! I bet at home they're, like, "Aagh!"

0:31:34 > 0:31:36And then...

0:31:36 > 0:31:40Back now to Jinx. Actually, before we go to Jinx the horse,

0:31:40 > 0:31:43over here, Lauren, the one with the blonde hair...

0:31:43 > 0:31:46We can't interrupt her. There's something very special going on.

0:31:46 > 0:31:49I only mention it because it's coming to a positive end,

0:31:49 > 0:31:52and we'll let you know what it is later. Pretty exciting!

0:31:52 > 0:31:55Anyway, back to Jinx the horse. She's free from the ditch,

0:31:55 > 0:31:59and the vet needs to check her over. This is the most dangerous time

0:31:59 > 0:32:02for the rescue team. When a horse wakes from a sedative,

0:32:02 > 0:32:05no-one can predict how they'll react.

0:32:05 > 0:32:07Now out of the ditch and in the field,

0:32:07 > 0:32:11Jinx is still under heavy sedation. She's safe from drowning,

0:32:11 > 0:32:14but they still don't know if she has injured herself.

0:32:14 > 0:32:16Will she be able to get up?

0:32:16 > 0:32:19When I saw her being pulled out of the ditch

0:32:19 > 0:32:22and being under sedation,

0:32:22 > 0:32:25and just completely dead to the world, it seemed...

0:32:25 > 0:32:28She wasn't really moving. Her eyes looked awful.

0:32:28 > 0:32:33My worry then was, you know, how is she going to be?

0:32:34 > 0:32:38Vet Francesca gets straight down to assessing her.

0:32:38 > 0:32:41I just checked the legs properly

0:32:41 > 0:32:45for severe fractures, because in that sort of a case,

0:32:45 > 0:32:48there is nothing really that we can do to save the horse.

0:32:51 > 0:32:55Not much reaction, because we've had to give her a huge amount of sedative

0:32:55 > 0:32:59to make it safe for us in that work environment.

0:32:59 > 0:33:01The local fire crews can be stood down.

0:33:02 > 0:33:06Francesca is doing her utmost to bring Jinx around safely.

0:33:06 > 0:33:10I just put a catheter into the vein straight away,

0:33:10 > 0:33:13to have an easy access to a vein,

0:33:13 > 0:33:15and then I started to pass some colloids.

0:33:15 > 0:33:19Colloids are just a particular type of fluids

0:33:19 > 0:33:22that we normally administrate in this sort of cases

0:33:22 > 0:33:25when the blood pressure quite low.

0:33:26 > 0:33:29And suddenly Jinx starts to wake up.

0:33:31 > 0:33:34SHE WHINNIES

0:33:34 > 0:33:38This is a critical moment. If she can't get on her legs,

0:33:38 > 0:33:40her future is bleak.

0:33:43 > 0:33:46Steady, steady.

0:33:46 > 0:33:48Good girl.

0:33:48 > 0:33:50SHE WHINNIES

0:33:50 > 0:33:52Good girl!

0:33:52 > 0:33:56Good girl. Stand. Stand. Stand.

0:33:56 > 0:33:58Although she's understandably wobbly,

0:33:58 > 0:34:01her legs are supporting her and she can walk.

0:34:01 > 0:34:04- Well done, Jim.- OK!

0:34:08 > 0:34:11Steady, girl. Steady, girl.

0:34:11 > 0:34:15It's straight into a stable and plenty of TLC for Jinx.

0:34:15 > 0:34:18Steady, girl.

0:34:19 > 0:34:21The actual reality of it hits you,

0:34:21 > 0:34:24and if...

0:34:24 > 0:34:27You know, there is no question she would have drowned

0:34:27 > 0:34:29if we hadn't got her out that evening.

0:34:29 > 0:34:34The way the animal rescue and the fire brigade strapped her,

0:34:34 > 0:34:36the vet sedated her,

0:34:36 > 0:34:40she was pulled out of that ditch with no injury to herself...

0:34:40 > 0:34:44It's just amazing, and I can't thank them enough.

0:34:46 > 0:34:50Success at last! Hurray! And a few days later,

0:34:50 > 0:34:52we visited Jinx to see how she was getting on.

0:34:57 > 0:35:01Just days after her ordeal, Jinx is back out in her field,

0:35:01 > 0:35:03enjoying her freedom.

0:35:05 > 0:35:09And yes, it is the same field where she came a cropper,

0:35:09 > 0:35:11but now there's a fence between her and the water.

0:35:12 > 0:35:16Jinx is very well. She was very well that evening,

0:35:16 > 0:35:20and the next day it was as though nothing had happened.

0:35:20 > 0:35:22- JINX WHINNIES - That's her.

0:35:24 > 0:35:28Amazingly, she has no ill effects whatsoever from the accident.

0:35:30 > 0:35:34'No muscle strains, no marks where the straps were.'

0:35:35 > 0:35:38She wasn't upset or stressed or anything,

0:35:38 > 0:35:42so very, very happy that it's all been fine.

0:35:44 > 0:35:48She's very happy to be in the field,

0:35:48 > 0:35:50and she's relaxed,

0:35:50 > 0:35:54and even, probably, better than she was before.

0:35:58 > 0:36:01We've been talking about nuisance calls to control rooms

0:36:01 > 0:36:04like this one. They waste time and risk lives.

0:36:04 > 0:36:08One hoax call to Merseyside police led to a four-hour armed siege

0:36:08 > 0:36:11involving 30 police officers. Let's hear it.

0:37:25 > 0:37:28Chief Superintendent Dave Lewis is here to talk to us about this.

0:37:28 > 0:37:32Um... A, an idiot, and B, even if they haven't got a gun,

0:37:32 > 0:37:36- you've got to send out armed response to that.- Absolutely.

0:37:36 > 0:37:39They can't take any chances with a call like that.

0:37:39 > 0:37:43He said there's a gun in the house. There's a person potentially going to use that gun,

0:37:43 > 0:37:47- so we can't take chances. - You have to send out armed response.

0:37:47 > 0:37:51If anybody comes out with anything concealed in their jacket, Lord knows what will happen.

0:37:51 > 0:37:55The officers are highly trained in dealing with these situations.

0:37:55 > 0:37:58If someone came out and pointed what appeared to be a weapon at them,

0:37:58 > 0:38:02- the consequences can be horrendous. - In this case, when you got there,

0:38:02 > 0:38:06there wasn't anybody with a weapon. It was just somebody being an idiot.

0:38:06 > 0:38:09- Did you catch up with him? - We did.- And?

0:38:09 > 0:38:12- And he got a six-week prison sentence.- He did?

0:38:12 > 0:38:15- Yeah.- And his colleague? - His colleague got a fine,

0:38:15 > 0:38:17and I think they totally justified it.

0:38:17 > 0:38:21That's very serious. You can't mess about with things like this.

0:38:21 > 0:38:24You've broken these nuisance calls down into categories.

0:38:24 > 0:38:27That was a malicious call. The call we're about to hear

0:38:27 > 0:38:30you would call a social-service call. Have a listen.

0:39:02 > 0:39:06778 times, they called! How many hours of police time

0:39:06 > 0:39:09- did they take up?- Just short of 20 hours' police call time.

0:39:09 > 0:39:1220 hours of police time taken up with something like that!

0:39:12 > 0:39:15That sounds like a mental-health issue.

0:39:15 > 0:39:18We may have a lonely person at the end of the telephone there.

0:39:18 > 0:39:21They don't ring 999. They ring the non-emergency number.

0:39:21 > 0:39:24But that still takes call-handler time away.

0:39:24 > 0:39:27- They just want someone to talk to. - You need another number

0:39:27 > 0:39:31for people to call up and have a chat. If you take up police time,

0:39:31 > 0:39:36- you may put people at risk. - That call-handler could have been handling an emergency call.

0:39:36 > 0:39:39They do care about that individual. He's well known to us.

0:39:39 > 0:39:42You can hear that. You can hear the caller's concern.

0:39:42 > 0:39:46And when you mention it, they say, "Well, we do worry about him,

0:39:46 > 0:39:50and we want to make sure he's OK," but we can't really afford him

0:39:50 > 0:39:53- to be on the emergency system. - The person making the next call

0:39:53 > 0:39:56we're about to hear is clearly ignorant

0:39:56 > 0:39:58of what 999 calls should be used for.

0:39:58 > 0:40:03You can make up your own mind, but we're calling them dopey calls.

0:40:44 > 0:40:49Why would anybody call 999 about getting paint on a handbag?

0:40:49 > 0:40:52I'll be honest with you - because they're daft.

0:40:52 > 0:40:54- Is that the reason?- Absolutely.

0:40:54 > 0:40:59Why these people think the police are going to solve that problem is beyond me at times.

0:40:59 > 0:41:01Some people need to get a bit of a life-check, really,

0:41:01 > 0:41:04and consider what they're doing when they're ringing us.

0:41:04 > 0:41:08When people... Whatever way you look at these calls,

0:41:08 > 0:41:12whether they're the dopey calls or the mental-health issues

0:41:12 > 0:41:15or the person that we heard at the beginning,

0:41:15 > 0:41:18which is a malicious hoax call,

0:41:18 > 0:41:21how does that affect people who genuinely need

0:41:21 > 0:41:23to have calls answered?

0:41:23 > 0:41:27The simple fact is, it ties up police call-handler time,

0:41:27 > 0:41:29and dealing with calls we shouldn't receive

0:41:29 > 0:41:32stops the real emergency getting through,

0:41:32 > 0:41:34because sometimes all the lines are full

0:41:34 > 0:41:37because we may be dealing with calls we shouldn't be.

0:41:37 > 0:41:40And are you actively going after these people,

0:41:40 > 0:41:43- especially the malicious ones? - Absolutely.

0:41:43 > 0:41:46I appreciate some people don't understand the system

0:41:46 > 0:41:49and genuinely need some help, and we'll provide it when we can

0:41:49 > 0:41:51even though it's come to the wrong number,

0:41:51 > 0:41:54but we will prosecute those who deserve it,

0:41:54 > 0:41:57and, like that first caller, they may spend time in prison.

0:41:57 > 0:42:00Well, there you go. You need to bear that in mind

0:42:00 > 0:42:04next time you think it might be funny to ring 999

0:42:04 > 0:42:07and have a laugh. They will come after you, and they will prosecute.

0:42:07 > 0:42:10Thank you for coming and chatting to us. Louise.

0:42:10 > 0:42:13Earlier you said something exciting was happening. It was!

0:42:13 > 0:42:17Congratulations to Lauren. A little baby was born

0:42:17 > 0:42:21while we were doing the programme, and you were there. What happened?

0:42:21 > 0:42:26The call came in. The gentleman said his wife was having a baby,

0:42:26 > 0:42:29- then eight minutes later it arrived. - Eight minutes!

0:42:29 > 0:42:33- That's absolutely crazy.- Yeah. - They were OK, were they?

0:42:33 > 0:42:36- Everything was fine? - Yeah. Very, very calm,

0:42:36 > 0:42:40- and second baby... - And second baby that was born

0:42:40 > 0:42:43- to a call-taker here. Is that right? - That's correct.- Amazing!

0:42:43 > 0:42:47Same family? Had two children born via the telephones here?

0:42:47 > 0:42:50- Yes, that's right. - Was it a boy or a girl?- A girl.

0:42:50 > 0:42:53- Oh, congratulations! - Will they call it Lauren?

0:42:53 > 0:42:57- No, unfortunately. - More Real Rescues soon.- Bye bye.

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0:43:04 > 0:43:08E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk

0:43:08 > 0:43:08.