0:00:02 > 0:00:06Today, swept down a river in his car. The driver's keeping calm, but is in grave danger.
0:00:12 > 0:00:20And a Jack Russell has fallen down a steep bank. One false move and she may crash onto rocks 50 feet below.
0:00:36 > 0:00:41Hello and welcome to Real Rescues. Today we are at the Police Contact Centre in Lewes.
0:00:41 > 0:00:43Sussex has over 80 miles of coast.
0:00:43 > 0:00:48Today we're featuring some dramatic rescues at sea and on the rivers.
0:00:49 > 0:00:55This room is the first point of call for all sorts of emergencies, but it's not just calls.
0:00:55 > 0:01:00Emails and texts reporting non-emergency crimes also come in at a rate of more than 200 a day.
0:01:00 > 0:01:03- Donovan's looking at those.- Hello.
0:01:03 > 0:01:08- You get lots of emails and texts. What kind of things?- Well, em,
0:01:08 > 0:01:14for instance, one time we've had a lady text us to say that she was going into labour.
0:01:14 > 0:01:18- Right. Probably not the most appropriate thing to do.- No, no.
0:01:18 > 0:01:23- We also had someone emailing to say they were being burgled.- OK. - At the time.
0:01:23 > 0:01:29- In both of those cases, should they have done that?- No. We think they should really ring 999.
0:01:29 > 0:01:33- They need an immediate response. - That's the guide, yeah.
0:01:33 > 0:01:41And our favourite email here is the one about the distressed sheep that they thought we should assist.
0:01:41 > 0:01:47- I don't really know what they expected us to do.- Right, OK. But you do look at them all?- Yes.
0:01:47 > 0:01:54- They're all actioned as soon as we receive them. 21st century... - That's the way it has to be.
0:01:54 > 0:01:56OK, Donovan, thank you.
0:01:56 > 0:02:02Thanks, Lou. Go to any seaside resort and you can buy an airbed or a blow-up dinghy for under 20 quid.
0:02:02 > 0:02:06Used properly in sheltered water they can provide hours of fun,
0:02:06 > 0:02:13but a strong tide or offshore wind can easily pull them off-course, leading to a full-scale emergency.
0:02:19 > 0:02:23It's five o'clock in Porthcawl, South Wales.
0:02:23 > 0:02:29Helmsman Alex Denny has launched the RNLI ribbed boat down the slipway.
0:02:31 > 0:02:35A 12-year-old boy has been swept out to sea on an inflatable dinghy.
0:02:35 > 0:02:41The lifeboat crew need to get to him quickly. Alex guns the motor to maximum power.
0:02:41 > 0:02:45They're now travelling at 40mph on the choppy surface.
0:02:48 > 0:02:5312-year-old Michael had ventured into the water unaware of a strong offshore wind
0:02:53 > 0:02:57and within seconds was pushed out of his depth.
0:02:57 > 0:03:01But there's now a heart-stopping moment for the family and crew.
0:03:03 > 0:03:08The news has come through that Michael has made a life-threatening decision.
0:03:08 > 0:03:11He's leapt from the dinghy into the sea.
0:03:14 > 0:03:18There's even more pressure to find the boy quickly.
0:03:25 > 0:03:30Chris Missen at the back of the boat radios Control to help pinpoint Michael's location.
0:03:34 > 0:03:38With new information, he rushes forward to let Alex know the way.
0:03:40 > 0:03:44Once again, Alex powers the boat at full throttle.
0:03:45 > 0:03:50They've been told Michael can swim, but he's never been out of his depth before
0:03:50 > 0:03:53and it's a cold, energy-sapping sea.
0:04:01 > 0:04:07The family are watching from the shore. They're determined to keep him in sight.
0:04:07 > 0:04:13They feed directions to Coastguard Control, who pass them straight to the boat.
0:04:16 > 0:04:22At first, the crew can just make out a small, dark shape bobbing in the water ahead.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28It's Michael. They've found him.
0:04:33 > 0:04:37It's taking all his strength to keep his head above water.
0:04:48 > 0:04:54Cold and exhausted, as soon as he's pulled out on board, he momentarily falls unconscious.
0:04:59 > 0:05:02Alex starts the journey back to base.
0:05:03 > 0:05:06It's been a close call for Michael.
0:05:06 > 0:05:10He might not have lasted much longer in the cold sea water.
0:05:10 > 0:05:15An ambulance is already waiting to meet him at the lifeboat station.
0:05:15 > 0:05:19For the RNLI crew, it's another life saved.
0:05:22 > 0:05:26It's great to see Mike, Pete and Sam with us here.
0:05:26 > 0:05:31- I'll come to you first. Are you fit and well now?- Yeah, I'm fine.- Yeah?
0:05:31 > 0:05:35- Feeling good?- Yeah.
0:05:35 > 0:05:38- It must have been a traumatic time. - Extremely.
0:05:38 > 0:05:44Yeah, just paint the picture for us. When we think about a little lad in a dinghy,
0:05:44 > 0:05:50come on, Dad, you could have waded in and got the dinghy! But it all happened so quickly.
0:05:50 > 0:05:56Yeah, we'd been on the beach trying to fly the kites. There was no wind at all.
0:05:56 > 0:05:59Pete went down with the dinghy into the water,
0:05:59 > 0:06:04had a little paddle round, brought it back in. Mike had a go.
0:06:04 > 0:06:08And within the space of Mike getting in, us sitting down to eat,
0:06:08 > 0:06:10he just took off in it.
0:06:10 > 0:06:14One minute you were paddling around, then you were whizzing out there.
0:06:14 > 0:06:18- Yeah.- Could you sense how quickly it was all happening?- Yeah.
0:06:18 > 0:06:26- It was going pretty fast.- Yeah. And could you hear Mum, Sam and your brother going, "Come back!"?
0:06:26 > 0:06:32Eh, for a little bit and then it just stopped. You couldn't hear them any more.
0:06:32 > 0:06:36And then...emergency! This is a serious situation.
0:06:36 > 0:06:39- You start running up and down the coast?- To see where he was.
0:06:39 > 0:06:44Then I rang the coastguard And I was, like, panicking,
0:06:44 > 0:06:49telling him to hurry up, my brother's drowning. Yeah.
0:06:49 > 0:06:56I know it's an emotional time, but it's a good time because we can celebrate you're here safely.
0:06:56 > 0:06:59Now the danger point and the time we start sensing panic
0:06:59 > 0:07:05is when, quite understandably, Mike thinks, "I've got to get out." And he jumps out.
0:07:05 > 0:07:12- Then you really start to panic. - Yeah. Well, at that point all you could see was Mike in the water.
0:07:12 > 0:07:18I don't know how far out he was, 400, 500 yards out. I could just see his head, then it'd disappear.
0:07:18 > 0:07:25- The waves were going over his head. - Thankfully, you kept seeing him. - Yeah, I'd see his head every minute.
0:07:25 > 0:07:30I was telling the coastguard to tell them where to go.
0:07:30 > 0:07:36- And then the lifeboat people found him, dragged you out. Do you remember being dragged out?- Yeah.
0:07:36 > 0:07:41- They did a great job, the crew. - Absolutely. We went to the station
0:07:41 > 0:07:47and they said when they picked him out of the water he had a couple of minutes at most left
0:07:47 > 0:07:51to tread on water before he'd have struggled.
0:07:51 > 0:07:55So we can't thank them and the job they do enough.
0:07:55 > 0:07:59And to think that they volunteer to do that job is unbelievable.
0:07:59 > 0:08:05- Amazing men and women. - You've been raising money? - Yeah, I ran the London marathon
0:08:05 > 0:08:08to try and help them a little bit.
0:08:08 > 0:08:13It can never repay what they've done for us, keeping Mike safe.
0:08:13 > 0:08:17- It's a small thing.- I heard he took a bit of time, though. Six hours?
0:08:17 > 0:08:22- Yeah, something like that. - Dodgy hamstring, he said.- My excuse!
0:08:22 > 0:08:25Well done, you. And keep yourself safe.
0:08:28 > 0:08:32From an open sea rescue to an inland water emergency.
0:08:32 > 0:08:35The River Neb flows through the Isle of Man out to the Irish Sea.
0:08:35 > 0:08:42Visitors to its banks can expect to see salmon, sea trout and the odd heron. A different sight, though,
0:08:42 > 0:08:47met rescuers after a woman made this 999 call about her father-in-law.
0:09:56 > 0:10:02So the call taker has to find out if there's more than one person in the car. She calls the driver.
0:11:05 > 0:11:07HORN BEEPS
0:11:19 > 0:11:23Well, here he is, Alf Omar and Tony Duncan, who went to rescue him.
0:11:23 > 0:11:29Alf, we can look at the pictures of what happened. You weren't under just a couple of inches of water.
0:11:29 > 0:11:36- Where did it come up to? - About eighth of the way up the car. - All the way up?- About an eighth.
0:11:36 > 0:11:41Amazing, in fact, that the horn worked. It was under the bonnet.
0:11:41 > 0:11:47- So what happened? You were driving through somewhere you'd been before. - That's right.- What happened?
0:11:47 > 0:11:51I just went down. I knew the water was going a bit quick.
0:11:52 > 0:11:57But it were too late. It had just whisked the back end round.
0:11:57 > 0:12:05- And I were going down t'river! - Were you trying to steer?- A bit. But I was just spinning round!- Gosh!
0:12:05 > 0:12:08Fast-flowing river.
0:12:08 > 0:12:13It was a swift water rescue. It was a good flow.
0:12:13 > 0:12:19- Obviously, the water levels had gone right up. - So what were your priorities?
0:12:19 > 0:12:25Basically, we were sent from Douglas Fire Station. There were already crews from Peel Fire Station
0:12:25 > 0:12:31which had arrived, located Mr Omar and his vehicle in the river. They gave us a more precise location.
0:12:31 > 0:12:37- Obviously where he'd gone down... - How far had it gone?- The best part of 400 metres downstream
0:12:37 > 0:12:42- from where he originally went in across the ford.- 400 metres!
0:12:42 > 0:12:46I didn't know how far I'd gone I knew I'd gone a fair way!
0:12:46 > 0:12:52- I know that you tied ropes to the car.- Yes.- To make it secure.- Yes.
0:12:52 > 0:12:58When we got in attendance, Peel crews had already made the vehicle safe
0:12:58 > 0:13:05by securing a line across the river and then it was us turning up, securing Mr Omar,
0:13:05 > 0:13:09making sure he was safe in the vehicle, securing the vehicle
0:13:09 > 0:13:15and Mr Omar was able to balance himself on his stick and use that to aid his way out of the river
0:13:15 > 0:13:23with us obviously securing him and making sure he was safe as we moved across to the riverbank.
0:13:23 > 0:13:29- Quite an adventure for a day out! - It were that!- Tell me about the car. Did it get out the river?
0:13:29 > 0:13:36I got it out of t'river, the farmer got it out and it's waiting to go to the graveyard.
0:13:36 > 0:13:42It's going to go to the graveyard? Oh, I'm sorry. I'm glad you're OK! Thanks for coming to see us.
0:13:42 > 0:13:44All right.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48Now a walk with the family dog has turned into an emergency.
0:13:48 > 0:13:54A Jack Russell has fallen down a steep bank. Directly below is a 50-foot drop onto the rocks.
0:13:54 > 0:14:00A crowd has gathered and the coastguard must reach the dog before an onlooker attempts a rescue.
0:14:00 > 0:14:04Lucy, an 11-year-old Jack Russell, is stuck in a very dangerous place.
0:14:04 > 0:14:10She can't move up or down. The dog ended up in this predicament after chasing after a rabbit
0:14:10 > 0:14:14during a walk on Rocky Island in Northumberland.
0:14:14 > 0:14:18Now Lucy is 30 feet down a cliff edge, stuck in brambles.
0:14:18 > 0:14:23One false move and she could fall down another 50 feet onto the rocks below.
0:14:23 > 0:14:29Although Lucy seems unaware of the danger, she's drawn quite a crowd on the bridge above.
0:14:29 > 0:14:34Her only hope of survival lies with the local coastguard rescue team.
0:14:34 > 0:14:40John Whitehall is going to lower himself down the cliff on ropes to try to pluck Lucy to safety.
0:14:53 > 0:14:57But Lucy's none too keen on this stranger getting up close to her.
0:14:57 > 0:15:02She's doing her best to get away from him, which could be disastrous.
0:15:02 > 0:15:04Lucy, stay!
0:15:04 > 0:15:06Lucy...stay!
0:15:06 > 0:15:08Stay, Lucy.
0:15:08 > 0:15:12Thankfully, her owner's words of encouragement do the trick.
0:15:12 > 0:15:17Lucy stays perched long enough for John to grab hold of her.
0:15:22 > 0:15:26It's not a dignified way to get out of this tricky situation,
0:15:26 > 0:15:29but Lucy's not putting up a fight.
0:15:34 > 0:15:40And in less than a minute, John's got her inside a bag, much to the delight of the crowd.
0:15:40 > 0:15:42APPLAUSE
0:15:50 > 0:15:56Once back up the cliff, Lucy's owners are overjoyed at having her back with them.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00We haven't got Lucy, but we've got John here, who rescued Lucy there.
0:16:00 > 0:16:04Well done, sir. Is that your first rescue in front of a big crowd?
0:16:04 > 0:16:09- I think it probably is, yes. - It's a weird sort of thing.
0:16:09 > 0:16:13Everybody's watching you, every single move you made.
0:16:13 > 0:16:20- Did that make it extra nerve-racking?- It did. It puts you under more pressure.
0:16:20 > 0:16:27It was a really hot Saturday afternoon outside a pub which was full. Everybody came from the pub.
0:16:27 > 0:16:32- So it does put you under enormous pressure.- You were great viewing.
0:16:32 > 0:16:36What were you more scared of? The dog moving away from you?
0:16:36 > 0:16:40You could see when you first approached, she wanted to move away.
0:16:40 > 0:16:48I think so. Because you didn't want the dog to move any further along because of where we'd come down.
0:16:48 > 0:16:54You would be traversing along a cliff if you were chasing the dog. You just don't want to do it.
0:16:54 > 0:17:01And obviously you only had a foot or so and then she'd have been over the top and 20-25 foot.
0:17:01 > 0:17:07- I've got to say, you must have a head for heights.- Yes. - Of course, you are a volunteer.
0:17:07 > 0:17:11- What do you do full-time?- I install TV systems and satellite systems.
0:17:11 > 0:17:17- So you're up a ladder, you're always used to being up high.- Yeah. Height is not a problem.
0:17:17 > 0:17:25- OK, the bag question. It wasn't very dignified for poor old Lucy. This is the bag you used.- It was.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28It says "animal bag" there. Can you see that?
0:17:28 > 0:17:33- But you've moved on since then. - We have.- What have you got here?
0:17:33 > 0:17:35This baby.
0:17:35 > 0:17:40The coastguard are rolling out new equipment all the time.
0:17:40 > 0:17:46It's much superior to what we've ever had and this is now a dedicated animal bag,
0:17:46 > 0:17:48- which as you can see... - You'd get a Doberman in there!
0:17:48 > 0:17:55You probably would. It's got a zip top on, so once your animal's in,
0:17:55 > 0:18:00- there's no fear of it coming out. - No.- And it's designed to hook on to your equipment
0:18:00 > 0:18:06so you're not physically holding the dog. It's fastened on to you.
0:18:06 > 0:18:11And you're both pulled up together. I tell you something, Lou, this is a real doggie bag.
0:18:15 > 0:18:21It's lunchtime. Fire engines from two stations in Southampton are heading to a house fire
0:18:21 > 0:18:26- in a residential area.- At the first roundabout, turn right.
0:18:26 > 0:18:31The Green Watch crew from St Mary's arrive at the street to find the air thick with smoke.
0:18:31 > 0:18:35Five Four Poppa One in attendance, over.
0:18:35 > 0:18:43The priority is more water and fast. Smoke is spreading all over the house.
0:18:43 > 0:18:47A crew from nearby Redbridge station are already on the scene.
0:18:47 > 0:18:50Two of their crew are inside.
0:18:50 > 0:18:55- Basically, what we've got is a fire in the garage, which is converted into a room.- OK.
0:18:55 > 0:19:02I've sent them into the kitchen. They've taken a right. The woman says there's no petrol in there.
0:19:02 > 0:19:08But the garage is crammed full of very combustible materials, plenty to feed the flames.
0:19:08 > 0:19:12Adam, get some tools off. We're going to get that door open.
0:19:12 > 0:19:17Once the door's open, there is plasterboard behind it. Rip it out.
0:19:17 > 0:19:22Over the radio, an update comes through from the fire fighters inside.
0:19:22 > 0:19:28- It's well alive in the garage. - Want to look at level two? - Yeah, tell them to sit tight...
0:19:28 > 0:19:32The plan is to keep the fire just where it is. Using a fan inside,
0:19:32 > 0:19:36they'll push the dangerous super-heated gases away from the house,
0:19:36 > 0:19:42but the smoke needs a way out. Adam Bundle and Mark Caplan are working quickly.
0:19:42 > 0:19:46When using the fan, you are pushing a lot of air into that compartment,
0:19:46 > 0:19:53which can dramatically increase the size of the fire. You need everything in place to make it safe.
0:19:53 > 0:19:57It can be very dangerous if done badly.
0:19:57 > 0:20:03The lintel of the garage is bowed. There's a risk the brick wall could collapse as well.
0:20:03 > 0:20:09And there's news of another potential hazard inside the house - a liquid propane gas cylinder.
0:20:09 > 0:20:16The crew have been told it's empty, but even a small amount of gas could pose a risk of explosion.
0:20:16 > 0:20:20He's informed me there's an empty Calor gas cylinder on the landing.
0:20:20 > 0:20:25- Right, OK.- If they can get to it safely, and remove it, just get it out.
0:20:25 > 0:20:31They've made it through the garage door. Behind the smoke, the flames are burning fiercely.
0:20:31 > 0:20:36Inside and out, fire crews are training water onto the garage
0:20:36 > 0:20:39to stop the blaze spreading to the house.
0:20:39 > 0:20:41Just looking at the roof.
0:20:41 > 0:20:46The fire is creating so much pressure that smoke is seeping out between the bricks.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48They need to send a crew up to look.
0:20:48 > 0:20:54Make sure the loft has not got anything affected. I want to confirm the loft is not affected.
0:20:54 > 0:20:59Just so you're aware, they're retrieving the LPG and they'll check the roof space.
0:20:59 > 0:21:05The smoke is now so thick, even the crew working outside need breathing apparatus.
0:21:05 > 0:21:10Adam, get yourself a set. Get yourself a set, Mark!
0:21:11 > 0:21:16But one of the dangers is over. They retrieved the cylinder.
0:21:16 > 0:21:20They're managing to keep the fire confined to the garage extension,
0:21:20 > 0:21:26- but suddenly the ventilation causes the flames to leap up. - Has it broken through the top?
0:21:26 > 0:21:32We've got white smoke appearing on the rear elevation, but we have got black smoke and flames
0:21:32 > 0:21:34appearing from the gable end.
0:21:34 > 0:21:40The fire crews have to step up the battle. The flames are now right up against the wall
0:21:40 > 0:21:42dividing the garage roof space from the loft.
0:21:42 > 0:21:46We need the teams outside that door to stop the fire coming in.
0:21:46 > 0:21:52- We've got a team on the first floor. - No, they're in the lounge, but I can send them up.- Loft hatch.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55Open it up, with a jet.
0:21:55 > 0:21:59'For the guys that were inside, it would have been quite hot.'
0:21:59 > 0:22:05It was a hot day anyway and to be in a developed fire, it can get up to serious temperatures
0:22:05 > 0:22:07and quickly saps you of energy.
0:22:07 > 0:22:12They're still working in clouds of smoke. It's turning lighter in colour,
0:22:12 > 0:22:18telling the fire crews they are getting on top of the flames, but there are still dangers.
0:22:18 > 0:22:24Access via the side is now too dangerous. We've got tiles slipping off the roof.
0:22:24 > 0:22:30The tiles from the garage roof are falling off, so Adam and Mark get to work stripping them back.
0:22:30 > 0:22:38Small fires are still bursting out, but the crews are successfully keeping them confined to the garage.
0:22:38 > 0:22:45Just charred timbers remain in the garage, but this fire can reignite at any moment.
0:22:46 > 0:22:52The aerial platform moves into position. It's there in case the crew identify any hotspots,
0:22:52 > 0:22:55areas which could later ignite.
0:22:57 > 0:23:02Because of the roof tiles, it traps a lot of heat. We need to watch it.
0:23:02 > 0:23:06It's still reigniting, so it's not out as such.
0:23:06 > 0:23:14But the main danger is over. It's taken just 15 minutes to stop this fire in its tracks.
0:23:15 > 0:23:17We were happy with the stop.
0:23:17 > 0:23:23We managed to get it under control quite quickly. It didn't spread to the rest of the house. Good result.
0:23:23 > 0:23:28We were always going to lose the garage, but we didn't affect the house too much.
0:23:28 > 0:23:33It's now for the Fire Investigation team to discover what caused it.
0:23:33 > 0:23:37Early indications are it was an electrical fault.
0:23:44 > 0:23:50On Real Rescues we're used to bringing you good news stories and sometimes bad news is good.
0:23:50 > 0:23:56- Confused? Well, you won't be. Let's see if I can chat to James. - Hello, Chris.
0:23:56 > 0:24:00You had a call from a rather distressed gentleman. What happened?
0:24:00 > 0:24:04A chap had attended hospital to see his daughter.
0:24:04 > 0:24:10He already had quite a lot on his mind, but when he came out, his car was missing.
0:24:10 > 0:24:16- He thinks it's stolen, he rings you. - Absolutely. Called us up. We did some checks, took his details,
0:24:16 > 0:24:22- ran the registration through. We discovered we were already aware of the situation.- It was stolen?- No!
0:24:22 > 0:24:29That was the good thing. The car had come to our attention because it had actually rolled down the road,
0:24:29 > 0:24:33collided with another vehicle and was now blocking the roads.
0:24:33 > 0:24:37It had been towed and been recovered safely,
0:24:37 > 0:24:43- but the good thing for him was it was actually still his and it hadn't been stolen.- What happened?
0:24:43 > 0:24:47- He'd left the handbrake off. - Right. Simple as that.
0:24:47 > 0:24:53- The poor guy was just a bit wound up with everything going on.- What did he say when you said, "Yes,
0:24:53 > 0:25:01- "it's been in a bit of a crash"? - He went from the most devastated person to the most relieved.
0:25:01 > 0:25:06There you are. "Well done, sir. Your car has been found. It's smashed up." "Brilliant!"
0:25:06 > 0:25:09- Thanks, James.- No problem.
0:25:13 > 0:25:18When it comes to the safety of young children, the emergency services take no chances.
0:25:18 > 0:25:24Ambulance technician Jamie Stubbington has just received a worrying emergency call.
0:25:24 > 0:25:31We got a treble nine call to a three-car RTA. According to Control, we've a 12-year-old girl
0:25:31 > 0:25:34with central neck pain and can't move out of the car.
0:25:34 > 0:25:40The injured girl is in the Vauxhall at the front of a three-car shunt.
0:25:40 > 0:25:45At the time of the impact, she was sitting in the rear seat and now has pain in her back.
0:25:45 > 0:25:51What's your name again? Summer? That's a nice name, isn't it? My name's Bertie Bassett. No, Jamie.
0:25:51 > 0:25:57She's complaining of pins and needles both sides of the spine.
0:25:57 > 0:26:03Without letting on to her, the team discuss whether Summer will have to be cut out of the car.
0:26:03 > 0:26:06I think we'll have to.
0:26:06 > 0:26:12- Mum and Dad...- Yes.- Because of the way she's complaining of her pain and of pins and needles,
0:26:12 > 0:26:19- we're just not going to take any chances.- OK.- So we'll have to get the Brigade and lose the car roof.
0:26:19 > 0:26:23- It's a Mobility car.- Is it? Do you know what I mean?
0:26:23 > 0:26:29- If it has to be...- She's complaining of pins and needles in her hands. It might be nothing,
0:26:29 > 0:26:33but we can't X-ray her and we'd rather be safe than sorry.
0:26:33 > 0:26:40If it's just nothing and just the way she's feeling, you can replace the car, but not your daughter.
0:26:40 > 0:26:44The Mobility car is usually used for Summer's disabled grandfather,
0:26:44 > 0:26:50but today her need is greater and the fire crews have to be sent for.
0:26:50 > 0:26:56The experience of being extricated from a car can be daunting for an adult, let alone a 12-year-old.
0:26:56 > 0:27:00The team will have to soft pedal every stage of the process.
0:27:00 > 0:27:04First, they need to fit a protective neck collar.
0:27:04 > 0:27:09Say to Mummy when you go to hospital that you need sweets to feel better. She's a bit worried about you.
0:27:09 > 0:27:12She'll give you anything!
0:27:12 > 0:27:17- How does that feel? Does that feel really strange?- Yeah.- Does it?
0:27:17 > 0:27:20And how old are you now?
0:27:20 > 0:27:22- 12.- 12?
0:27:22 > 0:27:23Wow!
0:27:24 > 0:27:26I was 12 once.
0:27:26 > 0:27:29About 500 years ago.
0:27:29 > 0:27:32- I don't believe that.- Don't you?
0:27:32 > 0:27:36With the arrival of the Fire Brigade, one lane is coned off
0:27:36 > 0:27:40to allow space for the eight-strong crew to start work on the car.
0:27:42 > 0:27:47Jamie and emergency care practitioner Mark will sit in the car with Summer
0:27:47 > 0:27:51and keep up the patter to distract her...
0:27:51 > 0:27:56Just keep nice and still for us, Summer. You're doing ever so well.
0:27:56 > 0:28:02..while the fire crews use powerful hydraulic cutting tools to remove the roof from around them.
0:28:14 > 0:28:19Reaching the end of their well-drilled routine, the fire crews prepare to lift the roof.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23Here we go. Look at that. Instant convertible.
0:28:23 > 0:28:26Summer's now out in the open, but not out of trouble.
0:28:26 > 0:28:31Summer, what we're going to do is get a spinal board behind your back.
0:28:31 > 0:28:33It's like a big ironing board.
0:28:33 > 0:28:39OK? And we're going to hold on to you and grab you all up and down your body and slide you onto it.
0:28:39 > 0:28:43And then strap you in position. All right? Nothing to worry about.
0:28:43 > 0:28:47- You've done really well so far. - Will it hurt?- No, not at all.
0:28:47 > 0:28:51For Summer, this has turned into an eventful lift home from school.
0:28:51 > 0:28:53You all right, Summer?
0:28:53 > 0:28:59- The board's coming down behind you now.- I'm touching the bottom of the seat.- Lay back against it.
0:28:59 > 0:29:04Taking great care to keep her spine straight at all times,
0:29:04 > 0:29:09the team uses many hands to spring Summer from the car.
0:29:09 > 0:29:12One, two, three, lift. There we go, Summer.
0:29:12 > 0:29:16And can we go again? One, two, three, lift.
0:29:16 > 0:29:20- Put the board down. - Drop the board gently. Perfect.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23We'll try to go to horizontal.
0:29:23 > 0:29:27Summer's safely out of the car, much to everyone's relief.
0:29:27 > 0:29:29Fantastic.
0:29:30 > 0:29:35- Is Mum all right?- Yeah, she sort of fainted, so I sat her up.- All right?
0:29:35 > 0:29:43- We'll get you on the ambulance now and give you a check over. Still hot?- Yes.- OK, take a deep breath.
0:29:43 > 0:29:44OK.
0:29:44 > 0:29:50Seeing their daughter at the centre of this amount of medical attention has been an uncomfortable watch.
0:29:52 > 0:29:58Mum will also go in the ambulance to the Emergency Department at Southampton General Hospital
0:29:58 > 0:30:04where doctors will thoroughly check Summer for any sign of serious injury.
0:30:04 > 0:30:09Well, Summer is back home, but is still in pain and Mum's new Mobility car is on order
0:30:09 > 0:30:15and arrives very soon. We wish them well. I want to chat with Jo who is on the email desk.
0:30:15 > 0:30:21- Can I disturb you?- Yeah. - You had a call from a father really concerned about his son.
0:30:21 > 0:30:27He called us to say that his estranged wife, who was from a different country,
0:30:27 > 0:30:32was kidnapping his son, taking him to the country she was from originally.
0:30:32 > 0:30:37- You can't take a child out of the country without the parent's permission?- Of both parents.
0:30:37 > 0:30:43- So quite an urgent situation.- Yes. And he said she was doing it now, so we literally had 15 minutes.
0:30:43 > 0:30:50- So you found out... He knew the flight?- Yeah, he knew, so we had to phone up Gatwick to check.
0:30:50 > 0:30:54- And they were?- They were on it. And it was on the tarmac,
0:30:54 > 0:30:59- so everyone was boarded and it was about to take off. - So what do you do?- Scary!
0:30:59 > 0:31:04But we phoned the inspectors and they gave permission to stop the flight.
0:31:04 > 0:31:10And they did, they stopped it. She was arrested, but the child was safe.
0:31:10 > 0:31:16- Not something that you would do lightly, is it?- No, because obviously the flight is full.
0:31:16 > 0:31:20- It's pretty scary. - And they didn't go.- They didn't go.
0:31:20 > 0:31:24- OK, quick action, isn't it?- Yeah! - Jo, thank you.- That's OK.
0:31:28 > 0:31:34Getting people to hospital has been constantly improving ever since the days of the horse and cart.
0:31:34 > 0:31:38Nowadays, ambulances can almost double up as mobile A&E units.
0:31:38 > 0:31:42But there are even more hi-tech designs being dreamt up.
0:31:42 > 0:31:46It's not very often that a paramedic gets to design their own ambulance,
0:31:46 > 0:31:52but this is a prototype in the Design Museum and the people who designed it are here -
0:31:52 > 0:31:55Dixie the paramedic and Gianpaolo, an industrial designer.
0:31:55 > 0:32:01Lots of changes you've made together. There's one key one here that you can show me.
0:32:01 > 0:32:07Yeah. By observing how paramedics work, they access their equipment at different times.
0:32:07 > 0:32:13For instance, the carry chair, at the moment they have to open the ambulance and go in to get it.
0:32:13 > 0:32:19But now we've provided access form the outside as well. You don't have to open the ambulance.
0:32:19 > 0:32:21You just open this door and take it.
0:32:21 > 0:32:25Brilliant. And you've done that with their bags as well.
0:32:25 > 0:32:30- Yeah.- Dixie, show me round.- Yes. - You're proud of this ambulance. - Yes, I am.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34So, for starters, stretcher in the middle.
0:32:34 > 0:32:40Now you have 360-degree access to the patient. In London at present the trolley bed is on the side.
0:32:40 > 0:32:45You have to stretch across the patient to get access to your equipment, your consumables.
0:32:45 > 0:32:52Having it in the middle is far better. You've got more access if you have paramedics or doctors on.
0:32:52 > 0:32:58- You've got more room for everyone to deal with the patient.- And if they're injured on a different side,
0:32:58 > 0:33:04- it can have quite an impact to be squashed.- That's right. To cannulate, I have to lean across.
0:33:04 > 0:33:08Now I can just come here and do it. Better for the patient and for me.
0:33:08 > 0:33:13One thing you notice immediately is this. What's this up here?
0:33:13 > 0:33:18This is monitoring and diagnostic equipment with links to hospital.
0:33:18 > 0:33:24Here we can monitor the patient, get his heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, ECG.
0:33:24 > 0:33:30- Depending on where the patient is in the ambulance, we can bring the equipment to them.- Brilliant.
0:33:30 > 0:33:34- And that info goes straight to hospital.- That's so much better.
0:33:34 > 0:33:40At the moment you talk to Control who contact the hospital. Now everything goes straight there.
0:33:40 > 0:33:46- They know the condition of the patient at all times.- I know you changed their bags, didn't you?
0:33:46 > 0:33:50And where they have their bags. Why was a change needed there?
0:33:50 > 0:33:56Well, basically, at the moment the bag is there, and you take it into the house.
0:33:56 > 0:34:02But if somebody has a cardiac arrest on board, we've taken key bits of equipment and put it in a cupboard
0:34:02 > 0:34:07so that you have instant access. It makes it much quicker, much better for the patient.
0:34:07 > 0:34:14I know you worked really hard on this. How soon before we can see one of these out on the streets?
0:34:14 > 0:34:20That's the current challenge for the project. We need to get buy-in from NHS people
0:34:20 > 0:34:27- and also from manufacturers. That's what we're working on. - You got buy-in from the paramedics.
0:34:27 > 0:34:33- How much difference did it make that you trialled it with them? - That was essential.
0:34:33 > 0:34:37With their input, we could alter and change through the iterations.
0:34:37 > 0:34:42- At the beginning, we presented a project that wasn't liked by them. - Oh, really?- We took their feedback
0:34:42 > 0:34:46and made a second one, and now the third, which they love.
0:34:46 > 0:34:50OK. How much would you love to actually have this on the roads?
0:34:50 > 0:34:53I'd really like it now.
0:34:53 > 0:34:58- And it would make a big difference? - Huge. All the people that took part in it are paramedics.
0:34:58 > 0:35:05And it runs the way you like it. Gianpaolo, you did something special. This really proves, Dixie,
0:35:05 > 0:35:11- that you were very much involved. Look, it's so sweet! - A special licence plate.
0:35:11 > 0:35:15- DIXI3. Thank you both for showing me round.- Thank you.- Thanks.
0:35:18 > 0:35:24Earlier we heard how Alf Omar coped so well after his car was swept down a river as he crossed a ford.
0:35:24 > 0:35:31This is not a rare event for the emergency services and it's not the first river rescue we've had.
0:35:31 > 0:35:36Here's a driver who is terrified for her own life as water flowed into her vehicle.
0:36:17 > 0:36:23Well, a pretty horrific phone call, but I should tell you that the lady in question was rescued
0:36:23 > 0:36:28and she's now safe and sound. I've been joined by Chief Officer Brian Draper of Fire Rescue.
0:36:28 > 0:36:34Pretty alarming stuff, but when we come across water, what should be going through our minds?
0:36:34 > 0:36:38How deep should the water be before we say no?
0:36:38 > 0:36:44Well, every circumstance is different and what you need to do is recognise the hazards involved
0:36:44 > 0:36:47before you make the decision to drive through it.
0:36:47 > 0:36:53Presenting a car at 90 degrees to fast-flowing water is completely different
0:36:53 > 0:36:59from driving through static water, for example, so it depends on the depth, the speed of the water
0:36:59 > 0:37:03and, in particular, the type of vehicle that you're driving.
0:37:03 > 0:37:08- For myself, as a rule of thumb, if it's higher than the depth of my tyre, I wouldn't do it.- Sure.
0:37:08 > 0:37:12And if there's any doubt, don't go through. Find an alternate route.
0:37:12 > 0:37:18OK, I've made the wrong decision. I'm now caught in water, the car is beginning to move.
0:37:18 > 0:37:22We just heard that argument. Should I stay in the car or get out?
0:37:22 > 0:37:26OK, the most important thing to do is think about the situation.
0:37:26 > 0:37:32Every circumstance is going to be different, so there's no hard and fast rules to this.
0:37:32 > 0:37:38There are some key things to do to help yourself. First and foremost, ring the emergency services,
0:37:38 > 0:37:42or sound the horn of the car. Make it known you're in distress,
0:37:42 > 0:37:47that the car has now left the road and is being carried down river.
0:37:47 > 0:37:50Secondly, I would open a window
0:37:50 > 0:37:54on the basis that a lot of cars now are electric throughout.
0:37:54 > 0:37:59You don't know how long you'll have that power for. By opening at least one window,
0:37:59 > 0:38:05that presents an emergency exit if for any reason the circumstances get really difficult
0:38:05 > 0:38:09- and you have to escape.- And people can hear you if you're shouting.
0:38:09 > 0:38:14- Exactly.- If you do get out, you've made that decision,
0:38:14 > 0:38:20- is there any advice you can give us? Sometimes the water is so strong. - Exactly. A couple of things.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24You need to be very aware that if the car is grounded,
0:38:24 > 0:38:27it's grounded including your weight.
0:38:27 > 0:38:33In getting out of the car, you may reduce the weight sufficiently that it refloats.
0:38:33 > 0:38:39Cars do float. So if you're with other passengers, one person getting out and leaving the vehicle
0:38:39 > 0:38:43may cause it to refloat and continue on its journey.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46Similarly, you need to think about getting out on the upstream side
0:38:46 > 0:38:51because if getting out and off the vehicle does cause it to refloat,
0:38:51 > 0:38:56you don't want it to trap you and potentially roll over you.
0:38:56 > 0:39:01Plenty to think about. Let's hope none of us are caught in that.
0:39:01 > 0:39:06That's fascinating. Really good advice. Paramedic Lloyd Day has been called to a man
0:39:06 > 0:39:13who is fitting and foaming at the mouth. It's happened in a car and the patient can't be moved.
0:39:14 > 0:39:20Paramedic Lloyd Day is working alone in the rapid response car when the call comes in.
0:39:20 > 0:39:27We need to get there reasonably quickly because it could be a number of things causing it.
0:39:27 > 0:39:30We need to get there and find out.
0:39:30 > 0:39:34Fortunately, Alex wasn't driving the car when he became ill.
0:39:34 > 0:39:41His daughter's partner John had just taken him to the cash point. Moments later, he started to convulse.
0:39:41 > 0:39:42Alex?
0:39:42 > 0:39:47Alex? Alex? Can you open your eyes?
0:39:47 > 0:39:50But Alex is not responding.
0:39:50 > 0:39:53Is Alex normally fit and well?
0:39:55 > 0:39:57Is he on medication?
0:39:58 > 0:40:03Has he ever had an episode like this before?
0:40:04 > 0:40:07Is he diabetic or...?
0:40:07 > 0:40:10Not epileptic?
0:40:10 > 0:40:15He's stopped shaking now, but the fit lasted for about a minute.
0:40:15 > 0:40:18Lloyd gives him oxygen to ease his breathing.
0:40:18 > 0:40:22Just pop this mask round your face, Alex.
0:40:23 > 0:40:28Can you open your eyes at all? Can you say hello to me at all?
0:40:31 > 0:40:38The ambulance crew has arrived to take Alex to hospital. They need to get to the bottom of this.
0:40:38 > 0:40:40He's not diabetic, BM's normal.
0:40:43 > 0:40:47This gentleman says he might have had something similar
0:40:47 > 0:40:53- some time ago.- About six months ago. - But you can't remember quite what they put that down to.
0:40:53 > 0:40:57They'll use the stretcher to get Alex into the ambulance,
0:40:57 > 0:41:01- but first they have to get him onto it.- Alex?
0:41:01 > 0:41:07Do you think we can step you out of the car for a minute? Can you swing your legs round for us?
0:41:08 > 0:41:12See if we can get him either side and see if he'll stand up quickly.
0:41:19 > 0:41:25But Alex isn't going to be able to help himself out. They'll have to use their long board as a bridge
0:41:25 > 0:41:27between the car seat and stretcher.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30- There we go, Alex. - Just helping you out the car.
0:41:33 > 0:41:36OK? One, two, three.
0:41:39 > 0:41:43- He must go on the board from there. - One, two, three.
0:41:43 > 0:41:46Can we have a little bit more slack with this?
0:41:46 > 0:41:51- Are you ready to hold him just while I get this out?- Go on.
0:41:51 > 0:41:54Let go of that, my darling. Let go of the board.
0:41:54 > 0:42:02It's an awkward manoeuvre. John lends a hand to remove the board once Alex is on the stretcher.
0:42:05 > 0:42:11Once inside the ambulance, they're able to carry out more medical checks.
0:42:11 > 0:42:14ECG seems normal now, does it?
0:42:14 > 0:42:19- Feeling a bit better now, Alex? - Yeah.- Do you know where you are?
0:42:19 > 0:42:22- Not at the moment, no.- No, OK.
0:42:22 > 0:42:29He's now making a recovery and we just need to get to the bottom of why he's had this unexplained fit.
0:42:29 > 0:42:36The readings that we're taking are obviously fairly normal, but he'll need to go to hospital
0:42:36 > 0:42:38just to get checked over.
0:42:40 > 0:42:44Alex feels fine now and was soon back to his usual self.
0:42:44 > 0:42:50- Doctors have run tests to find out what may have happened, but so far can't say what caused the fit.- Ah.
0:42:50 > 0:42:54- Well, that's it for Real Rescues. See you next time.- Bye-bye.
0:43:10 > 0:43:12Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd