0:00:02 > 0:00:07Today on Real Rescues, the skateboarders who became heroes.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11- We can't get out.- Why not? - I can't get out the stairs.
0:00:11 > 0:00:14I can't breathe. There's too much smoke.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18- We've got you. - It's all right. Nice and slowly.
0:00:18 > 0:00:23What happens when a valuable farm animal gets into trouble?
0:00:23 > 0:00:28We meet the rural rescue team who come to their aid.
0:00:52 > 0:00:57Hello. We are at the South Western Ambulance control room.
0:00:57 > 0:01:03The team here are on call all day every day to answer 999 emergencies.
0:01:03 > 0:01:06They take over 1,000 calls a day.
0:01:06 > 0:01:11They're really busy. We won't disturb them when they're on an emergency call.
0:01:11 > 0:01:18When two skateboarders headed out with a video camera hoping to get some great action shots,
0:01:18 > 0:01:22they ended up with a dramatic film, but not to do with skateboarding.
0:01:22 > 0:01:26It starred them rescuing a family from a burning house.
0:01:26 > 0:01:28Is anybody in there?
0:01:28 > 0:01:33'Leaving the camera on a car bonnet, they rush towards the building.
0:01:33 > 0:01:36'Smoke is pouring out of an upstairs flat.
0:01:36 > 0:01:41'Their thoughts immediately turn to anyone trapped in there.'
0:01:41 > 0:01:45I thought, "Well, this ain't burnt toast or anything.
0:01:45 > 0:01:51"I've got to get on to the phone. There's someone in danger here."
0:01:51 > 0:01:55By the time he'd got on to the fire crew,
0:01:55 > 0:01:58the window had gone and it was billowing out.
0:01:58 > 0:02:01'Spencer, wearing the striped jacket,
0:02:01 > 0:02:04'alerts the neighbours downstairs.
0:02:04 > 0:02:10'They've been told everyone is out, so Dave passes on the information.'
0:02:35 > 0:02:40'The fire is rapidly escalating but no-one knows what's going on inside.
0:02:40 > 0:02:44'There's a family in the flat on the left -
0:02:44 > 0:02:47'a mother, Tracey, and her two boys.
0:02:47 > 0:02:51'Her neighbours, fleeing their flat, yell to call 999.
0:02:51 > 0:02:58'She makes the call, unaware that smoke is filling the hallway.'
0:02:58 > 0:03:02As I opened the door, my smoke alarm kicked in.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05There was a lot of smoke in the communal hallway.
0:03:05 > 0:03:09He just screamed at me to phone 999.
0:03:09 > 0:03:11I shut my front door,
0:03:11 > 0:03:15screamed at my children to get some shoes and a coat on.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17I then dialled 999.
0:03:30 > 0:03:32'But the fire is waiting for no-one.
0:03:32 > 0:03:38'Thick toxic smoke is at Tracey's door, blocking her escape route.'
0:03:38 > 0:03:42I got a duvet to put over the children's heads
0:03:42 > 0:03:45to stop smoke getting into their lungs.
0:03:45 > 0:03:47I tried to open the front door.
0:03:47 > 0:03:50A blast of heat and smoke knocked me off my feet.
0:03:50 > 0:03:56I slammed it shut and realised there was no way I'd get out the front door.
0:03:56 > 0:03:58'Tracey is terrified.
0:03:58 > 0:04:02'Even now, the skateboarders are unaware she's trapped.'
0:04:02 > 0:04:06'It's really engulfed now, and the next thing'
0:04:06 > 0:04:09we hear the lady from next door screaming.
0:04:09 > 0:04:12- We can't get out.- Why not? - I can't get down the stairs.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16I can't breathe. There's too much smoke!
0:04:16 > 0:04:19'The video shows Spencer's instinctive reaction.
0:04:19 > 0:04:24'He goes upstairs, desperately trying to find her door.'
0:04:24 > 0:04:28As soon as I got to the level of the top floor, my head ran into smoke.
0:04:28 > 0:04:32I couldn't see. I took a breath of air and dropped down.
0:04:32 > 0:04:36There was a pocket of air. I shouted, "Where are you?"
0:04:39 > 0:04:44I couldn't find the door. I knew if I stayed, that would be me laying there.
0:04:44 > 0:04:46'The smoke forced Spencer back.
0:04:46 > 0:04:50'He stops anyone with thoughts of trying.'
0:04:57 > 0:05:01TRACEY: 'I did start to panic, but when the kids are there,'
0:05:01 > 0:05:04you just think, "I want them out."
0:05:08 > 0:05:13I just said to keep calm, get as far away from the smoke as possible,
0:05:13 > 0:05:16and we'll get your children out.
0:05:16 > 0:05:23'They can't get in via the stairs. They have to think of another rescue plan and work quickly.
0:05:23 > 0:05:27'The fire is getting more ferocious by the minute.'
0:05:27 > 0:05:32That situation gets even more dramatic. We'll have more later.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36We saw how Spencer couldn't breathe or see anything.
0:05:36 > 0:05:41These goggles replicate those conditions to train firefighters.
0:05:41 > 0:05:45Steve, you are a former firefighter. Now you train fire safety.
0:05:45 > 0:05:48- What are these for? - To train firefighters
0:05:48 > 0:05:52in the early stages, to get them past that fear
0:05:52 > 0:05:55of being obscured and in darkness.
0:05:55 > 0:05:59You at home will be able to see what it looks like.
0:05:59 > 0:06:05We've got them on Dan's camera. We prepared it earlier. You'll see what I can see.
0:06:05 > 0:06:09- Your vision should be quite good at the moment.- Yeah.
0:06:09 > 0:06:12You're going to change it?
0:06:12 > 0:06:16- I'll do that now. - Goodness me! That's really scary.
0:06:16 > 0:06:19It should now be quite obscure.
0:06:19 > 0:06:22I can see two lights on the cameras.
0:06:22 > 0:06:27- Nick, where are you?- I'm in this corner.- I can hear people around me.
0:06:27 > 0:06:31I can't see my feet or my hands. Where are you, Nick?
0:06:31 > 0:06:33GASPS
0:06:33 > 0:06:37- That's how close you were! - I can't see you.
0:06:37 > 0:06:40I can't even see your shadow.
0:06:40 > 0:06:45- It can't really be that lack of vision?- Unfortunately, it can.
0:06:45 > 0:06:49Depending on what's burning, the visibility can be zero.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53I could see lights, but does it get worse than that?
0:06:53 > 0:06:58You say to practise getting out of your house. I couldn't see my feet.
0:06:58 > 0:07:02- It can be that bad or worse? - It can, unfortunately.
0:07:02 > 0:07:07We tell people to get as low as possible, below the smoke layer.
0:07:07 > 0:07:14This is truly life-saving. I had no idea how to find Nick, but you have special ways of finding people.
0:07:14 > 0:07:19Yes. Firefighters have techniques for searching a room and being safe.
0:07:19 > 0:07:25You've got a story about a little girl who was hiding. How did you find her?
0:07:25 > 0:07:30We had a house fire with two persons reported, a boy and a girl.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33Mother outside screaming, very distressed.
0:07:33 > 0:07:37We quickly located the boy in the bedroom.
0:07:37 > 0:07:41We did an extensive search, couldn't find the little girl.
0:07:41 > 0:07:45Eventually, she was located hiding under the kitchen sink.
0:07:45 > 0:07:49- You would never be able to see or even perhaps hear her.- No.
0:07:49 > 0:07:53- Life-saving stuff.- Yes. - I hope I never have to do that.
0:07:53 > 0:07:58- Nick, I had no idea at all. - Absolutely extraordinary.
0:07:58 > 0:08:04This morning, we were joking that Louise always checks in a hotel the map of how to get out.
0:08:04 > 0:08:07Now that I've seen that, I think I will.
0:08:07 > 0:08:12I'm going to talk to Nick McGuinness over in the corner here, I hope.
0:08:12 > 0:08:16The other thing that's made me think - smoke alarms!
0:08:16 > 0:08:20Please check you've got one and make sure the battery's working.
0:08:20 > 0:08:27I took mine off cos I was cooking sausages and I just realised I forgot to put it back.
0:08:27 > 0:08:31- Now, I'm going to talk to Nick, if he's not on a call...?- No.
0:08:31 > 0:08:35I'm fascinated by the detective work these guys use.
0:08:35 > 0:08:41- You got a call from a girl that was at a party? - That's right. She woke up in a car.
0:08:41 > 0:08:46Morning after the night before. No idea where she was.
0:08:46 > 0:08:50We exhausted our normal measures for finding where someone is.
0:08:50 > 0:08:55Tracing her mobile, but she wasn't where it might be registered...
0:08:55 > 0:09:01She couldn't tell you where she was because of the things she'd indulged in confused her.
0:09:01 > 0:09:06- And she was ill.- She wasn't in a position to give us the information.
0:09:06 > 0:09:10We ended up getting her e-mail address and password,
0:09:10 > 0:09:15logging in to her Facebook account and finding out where the party was.
0:09:15 > 0:09:21- From the conversation?- Yeah. - Whose idea was that? - One of our call takers.
0:09:21 > 0:09:24We got the location and got her to hospital.
0:09:24 > 0:09:31- Social networking is beyond me but these guys know about that too. Thanks very much.- No worries.
0:09:31 > 0:09:35Cases involving sick children are upsetting for all emergency crews.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39They're trained, but even the most experienced paramedic
0:09:39 > 0:09:44would find it tough if the call-out is to a member of their own family.
0:09:46 > 0:09:50'Paramedic Cathy Baker is driving under blue lights to a school.
0:09:50 > 0:09:55'She's done it many times before, but this time it's very different.
0:09:55 > 0:09:59'Cathy's racing to help her own nine-year-old nephew.'
0:09:59 > 0:10:05It does increase the heart rate, which is normal for any job,
0:10:05 > 0:10:08but even more so when it's a member of the family.
0:10:08 > 0:10:12I want to know is he OK and talking when I get there?
0:10:12 > 0:10:16Which entrance do we need to come to? ..Clarendon Road.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19That's fine. OK.
0:10:19 > 0:10:22We're at Highcliff, so we'll see you in a few minutes.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25Cheers. Bye.
0:10:25 > 0:10:29'Cathy and her colleague Steve are told James has had a seizure.
0:10:29 > 0:10:32'Cathy knows it's his second in a few days.
0:10:34 > 0:10:41'They find James being looked after by his mother, Cathy's sister Sharon, as well as the school nurse.
0:10:41 > 0:10:48'He got a funny taste in his mouth, his speech started to slur and his legs went wobbly.
0:10:48 > 0:10:53'Knowing something was very wrong, his teacher quickly got him outside.
0:10:53 > 0:10:58'At least James has now recovered enough to walk to the ambulance.
0:10:58 > 0:11:04'His mum Sharon was out shopping when the school called.'
0:11:04 > 0:11:08It was the school to say that he'd had another episode.
0:11:08 > 0:11:14Could I come as quickly as possible? For a second, I was just stood there, frozen.
0:11:14 > 0:11:21'It was a great comfort to Sharon that her sister was in the nearest ambulance and on her way.'
0:11:21 > 0:11:27The relief when somebody who knows what they're talking about comes through that door.
0:11:27 > 0:11:29It takes the pressure off you.
0:11:29 > 0:11:34- Do you still feel a bit wobbly? - Yeah.- Got that funny taste...?
0:11:34 > 0:11:40'The sisters are both very worried because it's happened before.'
0:11:40 > 0:11:43'James had a funny turn on the Tuesday. He was ashen.'
0:11:43 > 0:11:50His lips started to turn blue, his face went to one side, he was dribbling and couldn't talk.
0:11:50 > 0:11:54'I thought he was choking and was shouting had he eaten anything?'
0:11:54 > 0:11:58He kept shaking his head. Eventually, he came out of that.
0:11:58 > 0:12:03'Cathy knows that her nephew will have to endure many tests.
0:12:03 > 0:12:05'They start them in the ambulance.
0:12:05 > 0:12:09'The first is to check his blood sugar levels.'
0:12:09 > 0:12:12Little sharp scratch. Ow!
0:12:12 > 0:12:14It's all done. Good lad.
0:12:16 > 0:12:19Amazed by it now, aren't you?
0:12:24 > 0:12:29'Cathy's thoughts are that James might be suffering from epilepsy.'
0:12:29 > 0:12:32The things we're concerned about this episode
0:12:32 > 0:12:38are epilepsy, but also cardiac arrhythmias we'd be worried about.
0:12:38 > 0:12:43Or a fainting episode, which is the simplest answer.
0:12:43 > 0:12:45We're hoping that it's mainly that.
0:12:45 > 0:12:49But the cardiac arrhythmia can develop later on
0:12:49 > 0:12:54and people are known to die from sudden adult death syndrome,
0:12:54 > 0:12:58or sudden child, for no reason, and find out it's cardiac arrhythmia.
0:13:02 > 0:13:06Shall I put some stickies on you, see what your heart's doing?
0:13:06 > 0:13:10This is going to feel a bit cold when these bits go on you.
0:13:10 > 0:13:14They've got a little bit of gel on there.
0:13:14 > 0:13:17So it might be a little bit cold.
0:13:17 > 0:13:20If you get a funny taste, let me know.
0:13:20 > 0:13:25'James described a funny taste in his mouth and tingling in his nose
0:13:25 > 0:13:27'on both occasions.'
0:13:27 > 0:13:31That would ring alarm bells that it could be an "aura",
0:13:31 > 0:13:37which sometimes epileptic people have as a pre-warning that they're going to have a seizure.
0:13:37 > 0:13:41'Cathy gets James to tell her as much as possible.'
0:13:41 > 0:13:45When it happened, did you have any pains in your head?
0:13:45 > 0:13:49Well, I was feeling quite warm. I just felt really weird.
0:13:49 > 0:13:52Really hot and I felt a bit shaky.
0:13:52 > 0:13:56- You didn't have any pain anywhere? - No.
0:13:57 > 0:14:02'They're at A&E. James will see a doctor and, hopefully,
0:14:02 > 0:14:07'find out what's causing these mysterious seizures.'
0:14:07 > 0:14:13We'll come back to James, to see if the medical detectives can get to the bottom of his fainting.
0:14:13 > 0:14:16Still to come on Real Rescues,
0:14:16 > 0:14:20'the car that bounced off seven vehicles at 70 miles an hour.
0:14:20 > 0:14:24'Looking at it, it's a wonder anyone got out alive.'
0:14:24 > 0:14:28Try and keep your head still, mate.
0:14:28 > 0:14:30And Annette's having a routine day
0:14:30 > 0:14:35'until she looks out the window and sees her car in flames.'
0:14:35 > 0:14:39I pulled the car into the drive. There was no warning. Nothing.
0:14:42 > 0:14:48Earlier, we watched Spencer and Dave trying to rescue a family from their burning flat.
0:14:48 > 0:14:54Flames are pouring out the window, the family's trapped. There's no time. They have to find a way out.
0:14:54 > 0:14:56'As the fire rages,
0:14:56 > 0:15:02'only a door separates Tracey and her two boys from the flames.
0:15:02 > 0:15:06'She's doing all she can to keep them all safe.'
0:15:06 > 0:15:12I went into my living room, the furthest point I could get from the front door,
0:15:12 > 0:15:14shutting all the fire doors.
0:15:14 > 0:15:17I grabbed some towels and shoved them under the door
0:15:17 > 0:15:22to stop the smoke because both my children were coughing badly.
0:15:22 > 0:15:28'Spencer and Dave are joined by a third man, who suggests another way of getting the family out.'
0:15:28 > 0:15:33- Drop the kids out the window. - Yeah. Drop the children out to us!
0:15:33 > 0:15:36'The first window doesn't open fully.'
0:15:36 > 0:15:39The side window's bigger!
0:15:39 > 0:15:44TRACEY: 'I knew I could lower the children down by their arms.'
0:15:44 > 0:15:47I could get them as low as possible before I let go.
0:15:47 > 0:15:51'Tracey's boys are aged three and 11, and it's a long drop.
0:15:51 > 0:15:56'It's going to take a bit of nerve, but they have no choice.'
0:15:56 > 0:15:58It's all right.
0:15:58 > 0:16:00- We've got you.- Come down...
0:16:01 > 0:16:04'I could see his little legs.'
0:16:04 > 0:16:10I thought it's such a little child, but they dropped him down and we put our arms up.
0:16:10 > 0:16:15'I just grabbed hold of whatever I could. I grabbed his foot.
0:16:15 > 0:16:20'Then grabbed his body and put him to the floor as safely as I could.'
0:16:20 > 0:16:24Come on, mate. You can do it, no problem. Hang by your hands.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27'Adam's safe. Now it's Robert's turn.'
0:16:27 > 0:16:30'He was older, but very hesitant.'
0:16:30 > 0:16:32He knew the dangers.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36'It was a very high window, so I encouraged him,
0:16:36 > 0:16:39'reassured him that we're going to grab him.'
0:16:39 > 0:16:43You won't even know that you've dropped. Go on!
0:16:43 > 0:16:45Come on.
0:16:45 > 0:16:49Let go, mate. Let go. Let go.
0:16:49 > 0:16:51All right. And you?
0:16:51 > 0:16:54'They think it's just Tracey to go.
0:16:54 > 0:16:59'As they try to persuade her to jump suddenly something else appears.'
0:17:03 > 0:17:07The cats! They were lethal. All the claws coming out!
0:17:07 > 0:17:11'I'm an animal lover. I've got three cats of my own.'
0:17:11 > 0:17:15All part of the family. They've all got to come down safely.
0:17:15 > 0:17:18'Tracey can't put off her own escape any longer.'
0:17:18 > 0:17:21They were shouting, "Now you! Now you!"
0:17:21 > 0:17:25I was a bit reluctant, but I thought I hadn't got a choice.
0:17:25 > 0:17:30I climbed onto the window sill and then I heard the heavenly noise
0:17:30 > 0:17:34of the fire engine turning into the road!
0:17:34 > 0:17:38I climbed back down off the window sill and said, "I'll wait."
0:17:38 > 0:17:41'The firefighters set about tackling the fire.
0:17:41 > 0:17:45'Two of them helped Tracy down one of their ladders.
0:17:45 > 0:17:49'Station commander Geoff Quince was impressed by the rescuers.'
0:17:49 > 0:17:55The skateboarders and neighbours that helped the children and cats
0:17:55 > 0:17:57did a sterling job!
0:17:57 > 0:18:01They didn't endanger themselves but took really good actions,
0:18:01 > 0:18:04which saved us an awful lot of time.
0:18:04 > 0:18:06It made the scene a lot safer
0:18:06 > 0:18:10and enabled us to focus on the firefighting.
0:18:10 > 0:18:16'Tracey can't believe the lengths Spencer and Dave went to to get her children out.'
0:18:16 > 0:18:18'The boys that came over and helped'
0:18:18 > 0:18:23and another passer-by, did decide to try and do something.
0:18:23 > 0:18:26'They could have saved my children's lives.'
0:18:26 > 0:18:29'We dealt with the situation as best we could.'
0:18:29 > 0:18:32Then we went off and had a skate.
0:18:32 > 0:18:37SPENCER: We had a thank-you from the father. He came away from work.
0:18:37 > 0:18:39We were still at the skatepark.
0:18:39 > 0:18:45'He was happy and said thank you for what we'd done for the children.'
0:18:45 > 0:18:47And the cats. Don't forget the cats.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Spencer and Dave have joined us for a chat off the back of that.
0:18:55 > 0:18:59- You're famous now, aren't you? - Seem to be. A little bit!
0:18:59 > 0:19:04- You bunged that on YouTube. How many hits?- 7,500 hits now.
0:19:04 > 0:19:09Why did you film it? Not everybody walks around with a camera.
0:19:09 > 0:19:15- Then to have the presence of mind to stick it on a bonnet and leave it running.- We're skateboarders.
0:19:15 > 0:19:19- Always got a camera with us. - Is that right?- Yeah.
0:19:19 > 0:19:23- Saw the fire and got the camera out. - Do you record everything?
0:19:23 > 0:19:28Don't answer that! Realised what a dodgy question that was.
0:19:28 > 0:19:33What did the guys say at the scene? The fire brigade come piling in.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36They saw what the scenario was, what was going on.
0:19:36 > 0:19:41As soon as they realised that people were out the building,
0:19:41 > 0:19:47apart from the lady, they made sure we were safe then got on with what they had to do.
0:19:47 > 0:19:51- You wandered back to the skatepark? - Yeah. We did.
0:19:51 > 0:19:54Let me go back over that. You've got kids.
0:19:54 > 0:19:56I've got four.
0:19:56 > 0:20:01With this little one dangling over your head, what are you thinking?
0:20:01 > 0:20:05I would hope that someone would do the same for my child.
0:20:05 > 0:20:10That child doesn't know what's going on. He's got no fear.
0:20:10 > 0:20:15And it was up to us as citizens to make sure he's safe and gets out.
0:20:15 > 0:20:21- It wasn't just the children.- No! - The dangerous catch was this one.
0:20:23 > 0:20:27The white cat, followed by a black cat as well.
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Yeah, that was a bit of an ordeal.
0:20:29 > 0:20:34It was having these claws clamp on to you, out of nowhere.
0:20:34 > 0:20:37- Tore me to pieces.- They do!
0:20:37 > 0:20:42I did have a couple of claw marks, if I remember rightly.
0:20:42 > 0:20:46When the dad found out, he came to find you, didn't he?
0:20:46 > 0:20:51He did. He came and found us. He was really grateful for what we'd done.
0:20:51 > 0:20:55He was so happy he actually bunged us a drink.
0:20:55 > 0:21:00So we went home and had a drink. It turned out to be a good day.
0:21:00 > 0:21:04Good work! Listen, guys, do you ever wear a hoodie?
0:21:04 > 0:21:07- No.- Once in a blue moon, I do wear a hoodie.
0:21:07 > 0:21:12Don't judge people just cos they wear hoodies! Thanks very much.
0:21:12 > 0:21:18Now, if you've got any footage of a rescue, why not let us know? Louise.
0:21:18 > 0:21:24Annette popped out with the kids, came back home, parked on the drive then started to cook dinner.
0:21:24 > 0:21:28A normal day, until one of her children looked outside
0:21:28 > 0:21:32to find a real emergency unfolding on the driveway.
0:21:35 > 0:21:40'The firefighters are moving swiftly through the traffic.
0:21:40 > 0:21:45'It's been reported a car fire is next to houses and other cars.
0:21:45 > 0:21:50'An entire street could be in danger of going up.'
0:21:50 > 0:21:52'Car fires. They're full of plastics.'
0:21:52 > 0:21:56It will become a really intense fire.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00'Also, next to a house, the heat and the smoke is going to impinge.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04'What would have been a small fire becomes a very large fire.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08'The smoke's full of poisonous fumes.'
0:22:08 > 0:22:10A few lungfuls make you very ill.
0:22:10 > 0:22:12I'd say it's there!
0:22:12 > 0:22:16- Just outside the house! - In attendance. Car well alight.
0:22:16 > 0:22:21'They arrived to find the front of the car engulfed in flames.
0:22:21 > 0:22:26'The fire's spread to the fence. The Land Rover is next in line.
0:22:26 > 0:22:31'Kitted-up in breathing apparatus to cope with the toxic fumes,
0:22:31 > 0:22:35'Liam Barry and Ben Carter aim a hose to stop the spread.
0:22:35 > 0:22:39'The family have been told to keep inside
0:22:39 > 0:22:43'until the fire is out and the smoke is cleared.
0:22:43 > 0:22:49'The flames are knocked back but poisonous smoke is billowing out.'
0:22:52 > 0:22:56There are people in the house. I told them to stay in.
0:22:56 > 0:22:59The fumes are obviously quite dangerous.
0:22:59 > 0:23:04'They get the bonnet up and damp down the engine.'
0:23:04 > 0:23:07There's still smoke. It's not just steam.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11They're going to make sure it's out. A lot of heat built up in there.
0:23:11 > 0:23:16The roof lining's come down. The dashboard's melted.
0:23:18 > 0:23:23'While they work, the crew look for signs of how the fire got going.'
0:23:23 > 0:23:28Has it recently been used? There's a child's car seat in there.
0:23:28 > 0:23:31They've just come back and there's a fault with it.
0:23:31 > 0:23:35Need an open mind. Start investigating in a minute.
0:23:35 > 0:23:39'The firefighters have worked quickly and efficiently.
0:23:39 > 0:23:44'All the time, the family have been kept safe behind closed doors.'
0:23:44 > 0:23:48That close to the house, that could have been quite nasty.
0:23:48 > 0:23:52'Now the smoke and steam have dwindled to a safe level,
0:23:52 > 0:23:56'Adrian goes indoors to speak to the owner, Annette.'
0:23:56 > 0:23:59- Is everybody OK?- Shaking.
0:23:59 > 0:24:02'She's stunned by what's happened.'
0:24:02 > 0:24:07I'd been out. I came home, pulled onto the drive, put the dinner on.
0:24:07 > 0:24:10Nothing unusual at all.
0:24:10 > 0:24:14My foster daughter looked out the window and said the car's on fire.
0:24:14 > 0:24:19I looked out the window. There was no warning. There was nothing!
0:24:19 > 0:24:25I'm sorry. I'm a bit shaky about it. There was no warning, nothing.
0:24:25 > 0:24:29'Annette is a foster mum and often has young children in the car.'
0:24:29 > 0:24:36What warning would there have been if I'd been driving? What if I'd had a baby in the back...?
0:24:36 > 0:24:38- That's what makes it shocking.- Yes.
0:24:38 > 0:24:42'It's upsetting looking at the burnt-out wreck.
0:24:42 > 0:24:46'Adrian reassures her it's unlikely to have happened on the road.'
0:24:46 > 0:24:51If you'd been driving, you would have had some indication.
0:24:51 > 0:24:55The engine would have spluttered or you'd have smelled it.
0:24:55 > 0:25:01It's very rare, when you're driving along, does a car just suddenly go.
0:25:01 > 0:25:05It might have been something when you pulled up
0:25:05 > 0:25:09and went in, that you weren't aware of cos it was only just starting.
0:25:09 > 0:25:14Thank goodness you're OK. That's the main thing.
0:25:14 > 0:25:16'Thanks to the firefighters' swift action,
0:25:16 > 0:25:22'there's relatively little harm done to the property.'
0:25:22 > 0:25:26This fence is...will need replacing.
0:25:26 > 0:25:30The next-door neighbour's car is fine. My friend's car is fine.
0:25:30 > 0:25:32There's damage here.
0:25:35 > 0:25:38The window's going to need replacing.
0:25:38 > 0:25:43When I think what could have happened, it's amazing.
0:25:45 > 0:25:50Gary, you're a road safety officer. Annette wasn't even in her car!
0:25:50 > 0:25:54- That can happen quite easily? - Yes it can.
0:25:54 > 0:25:59When a car's parked, heat will build up, but there's always a fault.
0:25:59 > 0:26:03- This sort of thing? - Yeah. You're surrounded by wires.
0:26:03 > 0:26:08These get pinched, and you've got fuel lines and all sorts of stuff.
0:26:08 > 0:26:12With this age of car, although it's partly electronic,
0:26:12 > 0:26:16- we'd disconnect the battery to stop that side of the fire.- OK.
0:26:16 > 0:26:21- Everything stops at that point. - And we treat it as a normal fire.
0:26:21 > 0:26:25- Fuel is obviously a problem.- Yeah. - You have a "running fuel" fire?
0:26:25 > 0:26:31Perhaps you've hit something in the road. It's ruptured your fuel tank.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36Fuel starts pouring out, or you've parked on a hill and it runs away.
0:26:36 > 0:26:40That's a running fuel fire. It's pouring down the road.
0:26:40 > 0:26:43You can see how that's incredibly dangerous.
0:26:43 > 0:26:48You've got a different car here, a much more modern car.
0:26:48 > 0:26:50It can cause problems, can't it?
0:26:50 > 0:26:55What we do now is work within the electrical system of the car.
0:26:55 > 0:27:00Why would we cut this roof off when, with the press of one button,
0:27:00 > 0:27:02we can get to the people inside?
0:27:02 > 0:27:07So we had to change the way we deal with car fires and RTCs
0:27:07 > 0:27:09as cars have evolved.
0:27:09 > 0:27:14We now use the systems of the car to help us, not to hinder us.
0:27:14 > 0:27:19My car is not as sophisticated as this, but a lot of it is electric.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23I'm worried that I could get locked in. Could that happen?
0:27:23 > 0:27:28Well, no, but you've got to remember to do what you normally do.
0:27:28 > 0:27:32What people do if they smell smoke is pull over and stop.
0:27:32 > 0:27:35You've got to do what you normally do. Don't panic.
0:27:35 > 0:27:40- With me, I have to take the keys out.- As with this one.
0:27:40 > 0:27:46Most of them have a button you can press to unlock as well, but you've got to remember to do that.
0:27:46 > 0:27:50- What about putting your hand brake on?- Yes.
0:27:50 > 0:27:55I have seen incidents where we're chasing a car fire down the road.
0:27:55 > 0:28:01The wires had shorted, the electric motor started and they'd left it in gear without the hand brake on.
0:28:01 > 0:28:06This is probably stupid, but as soon as I saw smoke from my bonnet,
0:28:06 > 0:28:09- I'd go round and open the bonnet. - No.
0:28:09 > 0:28:12That's the worst thing you could do.
0:28:12 > 0:28:15Firefighters wear the protective clothing.
0:28:15 > 0:28:19If you open it up, you get air into it and increase...
0:28:19 > 0:28:24- That fire would just... - You're drawing it towards yourself.
0:28:24 > 0:28:28Get out. Get the fire service out and keep out the way.
0:28:28 > 0:28:34- The fumes are absolutely lethal. - You've had an experience of breathing in fumes.- Yes.
0:28:34 > 0:28:39When I was a very young fireman I breathed in some plastic fumes.
0:28:39 > 0:28:44- I was in hospital for several weeks. - Do you remember it happening?- No.
0:28:44 > 0:28:48I turned over some plastic bottles that were burning
0:28:48 > 0:28:50and ended up in hospital.
0:28:50 > 0:28:54So, take the keys out. Make sure the door opens.
0:28:54 > 0:28:58- Don't open the bonnet. Do you stand near your car?- No. Away from it.
0:28:58 > 0:29:00And away from the smoke.
0:29:00 > 0:29:05Don't stand down the road in the smoke. Go to the other side.
0:29:05 > 0:29:09- But please remember to call the fire service.- It's a lot to remember.
0:29:09 > 0:29:14- You've helped me a lot. Gary, thank you.- You're welcome.- Nick.
0:29:14 > 0:29:16I've learned something.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20I would have opened the bonnet to give them access.
0:29:20 > 0:29:26Let's return to nine-year-old James, in A&E after suffering two seizures in a week.
0:29:26 > 0:29:28There's one thing on his mind.
0:29:28 > 0:29:33'James looks apprehensive as he waits in hospital
0:29:33 > 0:29:37'to find out why he had a seizure at school.
0:29:37 > 0:29:40'He has a request for his Auntie Cathy.'
0:29:43 > 0:29:46I can't promise you that. There may be.
0:29:46 > 0:29:51What they may do is they may put some numbing gel on your hand
0:29:51 > 0:29:55to do a proper blood test cos that's a tiny one.
0:29:55 > 0:29:58'His dad has now arrived at the hospital.'
0:29:58 > 0:30:02They may pop some numbing gel on there.
0:30:02 > 0:30:04- So I can't feel anything?- Yeah.
0:30:07 > 0:30:10'Cathy needs to get back on the road.
0:30:10 > 0:30:13'She leaves her nephew in the safe hands of Dr Simon Bell.'
0:30:13 > 0:30:16- This is Mum and Dad?- Yes.- Hello!
0:30:16 > 0:30:20- Hello, James.- Hello. - You look very well, which is good.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22What's brought you to see us?
0:30:22 > 0:30:28A couple of days ago... Last Tuesday, I got in the car
0:30:28 > 0:30:30and I started having a bit of a fit.
0:30:30 > 0:30:35He was very ashen, lips going blue, lots of dribbling.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39Not like an epileptic fit, it didn't seem like.
0:30:39 > 0:30:43- Not shaking?- No, but almost like panicking. Not like a...
0:30:43 > 0:30:46Then we took him to Bournemouth.
0:30:46 > 0:30:52'Throughout that first episode, James was unable to speak, but he could remember everything.'
0:30:52 > 0:30:56It happened when I got in the car. My mum opened the door.
0:30:56 > 0:31:00- It was like some sort of explosion happening.- OK.
0:31:00 > 0:31:05- Nothing has ever happened before? - No.- Fit and well?- Yeah.
0:31:05 > 0:31:08What happened today at school, then?
0:31:08 > 0:31:12- I was at school. I'm sitting down doing my work, yeah?- Mm-hm.
0:31:12 > 0:31:17When suddenly, I just felt like something came in my mouth, like...
0:31:17 > 0:31:22- A funny taste?- Yeah. Or a funny feeling in my mouth.- OK.
0:31:22 > 0:31:25It just seemed to be on my tongue.
0:31:25 > 0:31:28It was only just on my tongue this time.
0:31:28 > 0:31:33I put my hand up to tell the teacher but all I could do was,
0:31:33 > 0:31:35"N..." That sort of thing.
0:31:35 > 0:31:39- So your speech was a bit funny? - Yeah.
0:31:39 > 0:31:42'There's no problem with James's memory.
0:31:42 > 0:31:50'He can remember it all well and he's very good at telling the doctor exactly what happens.
0:31:50 > 0:31:54'Simon has got all the details so he gets down to a physical check.'
0:31:54 > 0:31:56Out, and stop.
0:32:00 > 0:32:02Don't let me pull them apart.
0:32:02 > 0:32:06- Do you feel me touch you here?- Yeah. - And here?- Yeah.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09Push into my hand.
0:32:13 > 0:32:15OK. That's fine.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19All good. Can't find anything wrong, which is always good.
0:32:19 > 0:32:23The nurse has taken your temperature, heart rate and sugar.
0:32:23 > 0:32:25They're all perfectly normal.
0:32:25 > 0:32:32'Although James is responding well in tests, Simon can't tell him what is going on.'
0:32:32 > 0:32:35How do you feel about coming into hospital?
0:32:35 > 0:32:40- Does that scare you?- Might do. - It's not too bad upstairs, is it?
0:32:40 > 0:32:45'He'll have to have more tests to get to the root of the problem.'
0:32:45 > 0:32:50'We'd worry that something's not quite right with his brain.'
0:32:50 > 0:32:52Is this a seizure? Epilepsy?
0:32:52 > 0:32:56Or is there something wrong with his heart?
0:32:56 > 0:33:00Maybe he had a funny rhythm in his heart.
0:33:00 > 0:33:03They're the two organs we're going to concentrate on.
0:33:03 > 0:33:09He's perfectly well now, except it's been three days and he's had two episodes.
0:33:09 > 0:33:14The safest thing is to get further tests on his brain and on his heart.
0:33:14 > 0:33:21We'll get all those, then hopefully come up with a diagnosis and start some treatment.
0:33:21 > 0:33:27James is doing fine but doctors are still trying to find out what's going on. Louise.
0:33:27 > 0:33:31We've all driven past a wrecked car and shuddered at the thought
0:33:31 > 0:33:35of the unfortunate passengers. Well, take a look at this car.
0:33:35 > 0:33:37Shunted by a lorry at 70mph
0:33:37 > 0:33:41then pin-balled between seven other cars.
0:33:41 > 0:33:43It's a wonder anyone survived.
0:33:47 > 0:33:49'Rush hour.
0:33:49 > 0:33:57'Ambulance medics John and Steven have been called out after a nasty collision on the A329.'
0:33:57 > 0:33:59We're going to a multiple car RTC.
0:33:59 > 0:34:03Possibly two people need to be spinal boarded.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05One walking wounded.
0:34:05 > 0:34:09We've got another ambulance on scene and one of our officers.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12So we'll see what we get.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15'What they've got is a scene of destruction.
0:34:15 > 0:34:20'Seven cars have been involved. By far worst off, a Citroen Saxo.
0:34:22 > 0:34:27'The young couple inside are being treated at the edge of the road.
0:34:27 > 0:34:30'Paramedic Heather is with the driver, Lucy.'
0:34:30 > 0:34:34Between 50 to 70 miles per hour.
0:34:34 > 0:34:39The young lady was braking. Rear-end shunted, we believe by the lorry.
0:34:39 > 0:34:43Then she hit the car in front and then a couple of others.
0:34:43 > 0:34:47'It was hit with such force that it pin-balled into several vehicles,
0:34:47 > 0:34:51'spinning over 360 degrees before coming to a standstill.
0:34:51 > 0:34:56'Lucy and her boyfriend got out of the car, but shortly afterwards,
0:34:56 > 0:35:00'they both started to feel the effects of the violent impact.
0:35:00 > 0:35:05'Lucy has pain in her neck. Jay is resting after he collapsed.
0:35:05 > 0:35:09'He finds it difficult to get back to his feet.
0:35:09 > 0:35:13'Heather is taking no chances and wants the pair to stay still
0:35:13 > 0:35:16'before they're put onto spinal boards.'
0:35:16 > 0:35:18Most people get out their cars
0:35:18 > 0:35:22because they've got an adrenaline rush.
0:35:22 > 0:35:29'They don't understand that there may be internal injuries that they won't feel pain for.'
0:35:29 > 0:35:35At the speed Lucy says that she was going and the way she was hit, and the car spun,
0:35:35 > 0:35:40we have to worry that there might be a spinal injury or head injury.
0:35:40 > 0:35:44This collar's going round your neck. It'll be a bit uncomfortable.
0:35:44 > 0:35:49Just going to feed it under. Try and keep your head still, mate.
0:35:49 > 0:35:54- We'll do everything for you.- It's a bit uncomfortable. That's the idea.
0:35:54 > 0:35:59'The team have to take a "one up, one down" approach with the couple,
0:35:59 > 0:36:04'as Lucy will need to undergo the same procedure while standing.'
0:36:04 > 0:36:07We're going to have to go slowly...
0:36:07 > 0:36:11'Jay's condition is the one the team are most concerned about.'
0:36:11 > 0:36:17He had collapsed, by eye witness accounts. We're not entirely sure why he'd collapsed.
0:36:17 > 0:36:21That could be due to head injury, the vehicle impacting his hip,
0:36:21 > 0:36:25or the fact that he's got some form of concussion.
0:36:25 > 0:36:27'Lucy and Jay arrived in one car,
0:36:27 > 0:36:31'but will leave in two separate ambulances.
0:36:31 > 0:36:38'Jay's worried about his girlfriend. For 20 minutes, he's looked at the sky and can't see if she's OK.
0:36:38 > 0:36:41'Heather reassures him about her condition.'
0:36:53 > 0:36:58'Now Jay's in the ambulance, Heather can check for internal injuries.'
0:37:00 > 0:37:02Just press on your tummy, all right?
0:37:02 > 0:37:05No pain there at all?
0:37:05 > 0:37:08- In there?- A tiny bit there.
0:37:08 > 0:37:11- Like a pressure pain?- Yeah.
0:37:11 > 0:37:13OK there?
0:37:17 > 0:37:21- I saw you wiggling your legs around, so there's no pain in your legs?- No.
0:37:21 > 0:37:27'She checks his recollection of the accident to see if he lost consciousness.'
0:37:27 > 0:37:32- What's the next thing you remember? - She said, "Get out of the car."
0:37:32 > 0:37:36The next thing I know, I was fallen over on the grass.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40- I tried to stand up. - Was standing up difficult?- No.
0:37:40 > 0:37:43- I was just shaking in the knees.- OK.
0:37:43 > 0:37:46So the first thing you remember when we arrived,
0:37:46 > 0:37:50- well, after the accident, was getting out the car?- Yeah.
0:37:50 > 0:37:54Before that, hitting the car in front. Nothing between the two?
0:37:54 > 0:37:57- No.- Right, OK.
0:37:57 > 0:38:03'Jay had pre and post amnesia. He couldn't remember the beginning nor what happened afterwards.'
0:38:03 > 0:38:05That could be down to concussion.
0:38:05 > 0:38:12Where he's had the jolt, the shunt and the spinning, his brain's just shaken inside his head.
0:38:12 > 0:38:15'A concussion can last minutes or it can last days.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18'It depends on the nature of the shaking.'
0:38:18 > 0:38:24'In spite of everything, Jay's found one consolation.'
0:38:24 > 0:38:28- Your car's wrecked. - That's all right. It's not my car!
0:38:28 > 0:38:30- Whose car is it?- Hers!
0:38:30 > 0:38:34- HEATHER LAUGHS - She's got another one at home!
0:38:34 > 0:38:39'Looking at the car, it's lucky Jay is talking at all, let alone joking.
0:38:39 > 0:38:43'He'll be reunited with Lucy in the A&E department
0:38:43 > 0:38:48'where doctors will examine them to rule out potentially serious injuries.'
0:38:51 > 0:38:55In rural areas, like many covered by South Western Ambulance,
0:38:55 > 0:38:59firefighters have to deal with unusual or unique circumstances.
0:38:59 > 0:39:06Agricultural buildings, livestock, farming machinery all provide their own challenges for rescuers.
0:39:06 > 0:39:11Welcome to Wiltshire Rural Rescue. You can see some of the kit.
0:39:11 > 0:39:14We're going to have a chat. Let's start with Tom.
0:39:14 > 0:39:16Come forward.
0:39:16 > 0:39:20- You're an animal specialist.- Yes.
0:39:20 > 0:39:24There are specific difficulties with animals, aren't there?
0:39:24 > 0:39:31I'm going to start with some footage of some cows in the water.
0:39:31 > 0:39:34Cinching is how you control animals.
0:39:34 > 0:39:38It's a technique of getting a line around an animal,
0:39:38 > 0:39:42negating the need for crews to get into the water.
0:39:42 > 0:39:45It's a safer way of doing it.
0:39:45 > 0:39:48It's directing them without swimming with them.
0:39:48 > 0:39:50How did the cows get in there?
0:39:50 > 0:39:55I believe a rambler left a gate open and the cows went in.
0:39:55 > 0:39:59- And you were able to get them out. - Yeah.
0:39:59 > 0:40:02- It's important that you understand the animals.- Yeah.
0:40:02 > 0:40:09They can represent a danger to the firefighters, but also you can lose farmers a lot of money.
0:40:09 > 0:40:11Yeah. It's two-fold.
0:40:11 > 0:40:15Firstly, we don't want them to release animals into a field
0:40:15 > 0:40:19where we've got crews performing operational duties.
0:40:19 > 0:40:23- You don't want a bull around! - We don't want large animals.
0:40:23 > 0:40:27Secondly, and nearly as importantly from a farmer's point of view,
0:40:27 > 0:40:31we don't want to release veal calves, for instance,
0:40:31 > 0:40:38into a field where there's lush grass and maybe cause internal digestion problems.
0:40:38 > 0:40:43So you have to know your animals. You work with these guys as well.
0:40:43 > 0:40:48Talk to us about the work you do. We've got a bit of kit here.
0:40:48 > 0:40:51This is the inflatable rescue pathway,
0:40:51 > 0:40:56primarily used for creating a stable platform for any operations.
0:40:56 > 0:40:58It can be used on any unstable surface,
0:40:58 > 0:41:01such as ice, mud, sand, slurry.
0:41:01 > 0:41:06We've got footage of you in action with an animal again,
0:41:06 > 0:41:10although you don't work specifically with animals.
0:41:10 > 0:41:12A sheep stuck on an island.
0:41:12 > 0:41:16In that instance, we used the emergency rescue boat.
0:41:16 > 0:41:18It's a bit easier to manoeuvre.
0:41:18 > 0:41:23They had to locate the sheep before they could perform a rescue.
0:41:23 > 0:41:27We can use either the RIB or the pathway.
0:41:27 > 0:41:31- And how did the sheep get there? - It swam across, actually.
0:41:31 > 0:41:33Why couldn't it swim back?
0:41:33 > 0:41:37It got caught, feet in the water, legs on the island.
0:41:37 > 0:41:40We were talking earlier,
0:41:40 > 0:41:44that a lot of your job is to stop people undertaking dangerous work
0:41:44 > 0:41:46to try and rescue animals.
0:41:46 > 0:41:50Yeah. What we advise people to do is not go after them.
0:41:50 > 0:41:55- Call the water rescue team out. - Because you guys are specialists.
0:41:55 > 0:41:59- Do you train together regularly? - Once or twice a month.
0:41:59 > 0:42:06We are going out to so many large animal rescues now, we need to keep on top of our skills.
0:42:06 > 0:42:11Thanks, chaps. You've caused a stir amongst the women in our office.
0:42:11 > 0:42:15They look a lot better out their rubber suits! Are they a bit warm?
0:42:15 > 0:42:19- They are!- The sun's come out! They're made for being in water.
0:42:19 > 0:42:22Over to you, Louise.
0:42:22 > 0:42:29I've been told lots of times by the fire service, that you should know the way out of your house.
0:42:29 > 0:42:33Not until I put these on did I have any idea how important that was.
0:42:33 > 0:42:37I couldn't even see my hand, let alone a door!
0:42:37 > 0:42:39Join us next time for more Real Rescues.
0:43:07 > 0:43:10Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd
0:43:10 > 0:43:13E-mail subtitling@bbc.co.uk