0:00:02 > 0:00:05On Real Rescues, firefighters from across a county are called to tackle a fire
0:00:05 > 0:00:07racing through a commercial laundry.
0:00:07 > 0:00:11A stack of clean washing has set alight spontaneously.
0:00:11 > 0:00:13That's got quite a developed fire in there
0:00:13 > 0:00:14threatening the other units.
0:00:14 > 0:00:18When a driver is trapped in an overturned car by a collapsed wall,
0:00:18 > 0:00:24even the police are surprised when they learn just how close to home this accident had happened.
0:00:31 > 0:00:32- Oh, she's next door?- Yeah!
0:00:32 > 0:00:34And it was a pleasure walking up the hill,
0:00:34 > 0:00:37coming down's proving just a little harder.
0:00:37 > 0:00:39So are you ready for a rest?
0:00:39 > 0:00:41OK, ready, raise, lower.
0:00:58 > 0:01:02Hello, and welcome to the Sussex police control room in Lewis.
0:01:02 > 0:01:0440 staff are on duty dealing with
0:01:04 > 0:01:09almost 1,500 calls a day and many turn into full-scale emergencies.
0:01:09 > 0:01:11When fire traps you in your house,
0:01:11 > 0:01:13the advice is to get the family into another room,
0:01:13 > 0:01:16shut the door, put blankets against it to stop the fumes coming in.
0:01:16 > 0:01:20One mum kept her head and saved her two young daughters
0:01:20 > 0:01:23by going one step further. This is the call she made.
0:02:09 > 0:02:10SHE COUGHS
0:02:11 > 0:02:14Any fire in the house is serious
0:02:14 > 0:02:18but from the information Abbi was giving me
0:02:18 > 0:02:24the fact that she couldn't see and she had difficulty breathing,
0:02:24 > 0:02:30I know the fire had taken real hold and she was in real danger.
0:03:02 > 0:03:07Suddenly, after an uncontrollable fit of coughing... silence.
0:03:12 > 0:03:16When Abbi stopped talking to me, that was really the worst part of the call.
0:03:16 > 0:03:20It was the uncertainty, the not knowing
0:03:20 > 0:03:23what had actually happened to her.
0:03:23 > 0:03:27And, I did actually think the worst at some point.
0:03:30 > 0:03:35I kept calling her in the hope that she was near the telephone
0:03:35 > 0:03:39and she could actually hear me but she didn't answer.
0:03:39 > 0:03:42At the other end of the call, unbeknown to John,
0:03:42 > 0:03:44Abbi Mann has left the relative safety of her bedroom
0:03:44 > 0:03:47to reach her two-year-old daughter in the other bedroom,
0:03:47 > 0:03:49taking her older daughter with her.
0:03:56 > 0:04:01Despite the choking smoke, Abbi manages to grab her youngest daughter from the other room.
0:04:01 > 0:04:03The family are now hiding in the bathroom
0:04:03 > 0:04:06where Abbi is quick thinking enough to soak a blanket with water.
0:04:06 > 0:04:11Crouching over her children, she covers them all with a blanket.
0:04:11 > 0:04:13It's now a waiting game.
0:04:13 > 0:04:16I got to the point where I thought if I took one more breath
0:04:16 > 0:04:18that would be it.
0:04:18 > 0:04:22I honestly didn't know how many more breaths I could take of it.
0:04:22 > 0:04:25And at that point, the firefighters arrive.
0:04:25 > 0:04:28I didn't hear any sirens or anything like that.
0:04:28 > 0:04:30The first thing I heard was a fireman's voice saying,
0:04:30 > 0:04:33"They're in here. They're here. They're all here."
0:04:33 > 0:04:37At that point, I blacked out and the next thing I know
0:04:37 > 0:04:40is I'm outside being given mouth-to-mouth.
0:04:40 > 0:04:45Against all the odds, Abbi and both of her children were safe.
0:04:45 > 0:04:47There's no way I could leave a child.
0:04:47 > 0:04:50You can't choose between your children.
0:04:50 > 0:04:54At which point, was a snap decision to go and grab Poppy, as well.
0:04:54 > 0:04:57As I went to go and get Poppy, Ellie stuck to me.
0:04:57 > 0:05:01She was by my side. She did exactly as I asked her to do.
0:05:01 > 0:05:04I'd taken the cover with me that had covered me and Ellie
0:05:04 > 0:05:07and as I grabbed Poppy, and put them on the floor,
0:05:07 > 0:05:12I wet it in the bath and put that over the girls.
0:05:12 > 0:05:16Then just covered them up, basically.
0:05:16 > 0:05:20Ellie put herself almost on top of her sister, as well,
0:05:20 > 0:05:22to look after her baby sister.
0:05:22 > 0:05:25For five years old, she was absolutely incredible.
0:05:25 > 0:05:27She listened to everything. She stayed calm.
0:05:27 > 0:05:32They both did exactly, at two and five, exactly what I asked them to do.
0:05:32 > 0:05:36After 12 hours on oxygen and a short stay in hospital,
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Abbi and her girls were allowed out to stay with relatives.
0:05:40 > 0:05:43By getting both children under the wet blanket,
0:05:43 > 0:05:47Abbi played a big part in saving their lives.
0:05:47 > 0:05:51To look at my little girls now, you know, running about, playing,
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Ellie's back at school, it is just a miracle.
0:05:53 > 0:05:59It's an absolute miracle that we all survived.
0:05:59 > 0:06:01If Abbi's smoke alarm hadn't woken her,
0:06:01 > 0:06:04it could of been a very different story.
0:06:04 > 0:06:07She knows that the call taker, John Dunkley
0:06:07 > 0:06:10and the firefighters also had a big part to play.
0:06:10 > 0:06:11If it wasn't for them then...
0:06:11 > 0:06:14Yeah, they're absolutely amazing.
0:06:14 > 0:06:16They really are my heroes.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23I want to have a quick chat with Janice
0:06:23 > 0:06:27- about a lady who phoned up concerned for some jewellery, wasn't she?- Yeah, absolutely.
0:06:27 > 0:06:32She had had a burglary earlier and she'd had some jewellery stolen
0:06:32 > 0:06:34and she really wanted these items back.
0:06:34 > 0:06:36They were treasured items, you know.
0:06:36 > 0:06:40So, she went around to the local pawnbrokers and jewellers...
0:06:40 > 0:06:42- And described to them what it was like?- Absolutely!
0:06:42 > 0:06:47To see if anybody was coming in to try and sell them any jewellery that fitted the description.
0:06:47 > 0:06:51We had another call into the contact centre from a pawnbrokers
0:06:51 > 0:06:56to say that somebody had been in with the items, or what looked like the items
0:06:56 > 0:06:58and, quick thinking on their part,
0:06:58 > 0:07:01they gave them, the jewellers gave them half the money
0:07:01 > 0:07:04and asked them to come back a little bit later on
0:07:04 > 0:07:07- for the rest of the money for the jewellery.- Then called you?
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Then called us to let us know what was going on.
0:07:09 > 0:07:15We then advised them, when the people came into the shop to get the rest of the money,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18to give us a call on 999, obviously discreetly,
0:07:18 > 0:07:21and we would get officers there. That's exactly what happened.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23Officers arrived and arrested the persons
0:07:23 > 0:07:26and got all the jewellery back for the lady.
0:07:26 > 0:07:27So thanks to them, as well.
0:07:27 > 0:07:30Yeah, absolutely. Quick thinking on the jeweller's part.
0:07:30 > 0:07:33- What an excellent story. - Brilliant. Thank you. No problem.
0:07:33 > 0:07:34Brilliant stuff!
0:07:34 > 0:07:38I have just discovered my favourite story of the day so far.
0:07:38 > 0:07:42Natalie is about to tell me. It involves a squirrel going nuts,
0:07:42 > 0:07:44in a toilet, what was going on?
0:07:44 > 0:07:47We received a call from a very distressed female
0:07:47 > 0:07:49who said she had gone into her bathroom
0:07:49 > 0:07:52and found a squirrel down the toilet, which was still alive,
0:07:52 > 0:07:56- so she was quite upset.- So scrambling, making a bit of a mess, trying to get out?
0:07:56 > 0:07:58Trying to get out, bit of panic, itself.
0:07:58 > 0:08:03She was quite scared so we advised her to get a towel, wet it,
0:08:03 > 0:08:08drape it around the toilet and then have the towel going out the window, which is what she did.
0:08:08 > 0:08:11She closed the door, left it for a few minutes,
0:08:11 > 0:08:14went back in and the squirrel had escaped.
0:08:14 > 0:08:18- Fantastic! So it had climbed up the old wet towel?- It certainly did, yes.
0:08:18 > 0:08:21Is that in part of your training? Is that part of the manual, page 3?
0:08:21 > 0:08:24"If there is any squirrel stuck in the toilet, get a towel wet."
0:08:24 > 0:08:26That's the one, yeah. It is in the manual, yes.
0:08:26 > 0:08:29Amazing, I must get a copy of that. Natalie, thank you very much.
0:08:29 > 0:08:31You're more than welcome, thank you.
0:08:31 > 0:08:34Accidents can and do happen on the shortest of journeys
0:08:34 > 0:08:38and in the next rescue a woman is trapped in an overturned car,
0:08:38 > 0:08:41only a few feet from her own front door.
0:08:42 > 0:08:47Littlehampton, all the emergency services including traffic officer, Bob Blair,
0:08:47 > 0:08:49have been sent to a road accident.
0:08:49 > 0:08:50SIRENS
0:08:50 > 0:08:53We just had a call to a report of a vehicle which has overturned.
0:08:53 > 0:08:55It's a residential area.
0:08:55 > 0:08:59The lady driver of the car is still trapped within the vehicle.
0:08:59 > 0:09:02We are a few minutes away and the first units
0:09:02 > 0:09:04are just arriving on scene by the sound of it.
0:09:10 > 0:09:14A quiet road has been taken over by a fleet of emergency vehicles,
0:09:14 > 0:09:16all responding to this.
0:09:18 > 0:09:23The overturned vehicle, a mobility car, lies near a smashed garden wall.
0:09:23 > 0:09:26Fully conscious, the woman trapped inside has been communicating
0:09:26 > 0:09:29with ambulance staff and fire crews.
0:09:29 > 0:09:30We have the details of this lady.
0:09:30 > 0:09:33- She hit the wall and ended up at the side of the vehicle.- Right.
0:09:33 > 0:09:35- There's no witnesses.- OK.
0:09:35 > 0:09:39Bob and his colleagues need to try and piece together what's happened
0:09:39 > 0:09:43when no other person, or vehicle, appears to have been involved.
0:09:43 > 0:09:46- Who's the unfortunate wall owner?- Me.
0:09:46 > 0:09:48That's you, is it? Right.
0:09:48 > 0:09:51I looked out of my kitchen window and I saw something move.
0:09:51 > 0:09:53At least you weren't doing your garden at the time.
0:09:53 > 0:09:55It's a good job I wasn't!
0:09:57 > 0:10:00That young lad was just coming around the corner on his bike
0:10:00 > 0:10:03and he saw the bricks and when I came out, he was on his mobile.
0:10:03 > 0:10:07- I said, "are you ringing the emergency services?" He said, "Yes." - Are you OK?
0:10:07 > 0:10:09- No, I'm a little bit shook up. - You're shocked.
0:10:09 > 0:10:11- Especially seeing her. - Yeah, absolutely.
0:10:11 > 0:10:15- And she's a next-door neighbour, as well.- Oh, she's next-door?!
0:10:15 > 0:10:17Yeah. Number one.
0:10:17 > 0:10:21- Oh, right. OK.- Didn't you know? - No, wow!
0:10:21 > 0:10:25Crumpled against the left-hand door of her car, that's lying on the road,
0:10:25 > 0:10:28Lorraine is trapped in an uncomfortable position
0:10:28 > 0:10:32after falling across from the driver's seat.
0:10:32 > 0:10:35She hasn't been able to answer yet as to how
0:10:35 > 0:10:39she managed to travel from her driveway, via neighbour, Christine's wall,
0:10:39 > 0:10:42to end up in this position.
0:10:42 > 0:10:46But she does have a favour to ask of Bob.
0:10:48 > 0:10:51Lorraine was only heading out for a moment,
0:10:51 > 0:10:55so she asked Bob if he can fetch her a change of clothes for hospital.
0:10:55 > 0:11:00She needs some bottoms from the house, would you be happy to come with me to the house?
0:11:00 > 0:11:03- Yeah, but the front door's locked. - Apparently the back one's open.
0:11:03 > 0:11:07It might be more suitable for you to go through her drawers.
0:11:07 > 0:11:10Firefighters have removed the back seats of the car for access.
0:11:10 > 0:11:14As she hasn't complained of any neck or back pain,
0:11:14 > 0:11:17the medical team are happy that she can be gently lifted and eased out
0:11:17 > 0:11:19to the waiting stretcher.
0:11:26 > 0:11:29But Lorraine does have some nasty cuts to her right arm
0:11:29 > 0:11:34and shoulder. They definitely will need some further medical attention.
0:11:43 > 0:11:45Bob brings her a change of clothes.
0:11:45 > 0:11:48The house is completely insecure.
0:11:48 > 0:11:52Christine agrees to watch over her neighbour's property
0:11:52 > 0:11:55until Lorraine's husband can come back to lock up properly.
0:11:56 > 0:12:00Lorraine will be patched up at Worthing Hospital.
0:12:00 > 0:12:03Christine's wondering who will now patch up her wall?
0:12:03 > 0:12:07- Will the fireman clear all this? - We'll make it safe.
0:12:07 > 0:12:10Otherwise I'll have to come out and do it, you see.
0:12:10 > 0:12:14As Lorraine was driving a brand-new automatic car,
0:12:14 > 0:12:17Bob's suspects that after reversing out of her drive
0:12:17 > 0:12:21she may have made a common mistake of hitting the accelerator
0:12:21 > 0:12:24rather than the brake when she started to move forward.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27It's an automatic vehicle, so whether she's accidentally
0:12:27 > 0:12:30pressed the accelerator instead of the brake.
0:12:30 > 0:12:32Literary, she's come from the house next door
0:12:32 > 0:12:36and within a space of 20 yards managed to turn the vehicle over.
0:12:36 > 0:12:40We're not sure exactly what happened but we'll make some enquiries and work it out.
0:12:41 > 0:12:44Lorraine's got off lightly considering
0:12:44 > 0:12:46to topple the wall and tip over suggests
0:12:46 > 0:12:50she must have accelerated at some speed.
0:12:50 > 0:12:54In the meantime, the operation to clean up the neighbourhood continues.
0:13:00 > 0:13:04- So new it hasn't even had time to get dirty yet!- No.
0:13:12 > 0:13:15Back on its wheels, Lorraine's mobility car will now be
0:13:15 > 0:13:18delivered to the recovery yard where it will wait until
0:13:18 > 0:13:21she can get back on her feet.
0:13:25 > 0:13:30Lorraine needed several stitches in her arm. Her car was a write-off.
0:13:32 > 0:13:36Now, a little bit earlier on we heard from Liz who was promising us
0:13:36 > 0:13:41she was going to tell us about how she helped a man in a house stuck in the bath.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44I want some more details. How did it all start?
0:13:44 > 0:13:47We took a call from a GP
0:13:47 > 0:13:50who had been contacted by the man's neighbours.
0:13:50 > 0:13:53They'd been trying to contact him for a couple of days,
0:13:53 > 0:13:55knocking on the door.
0:13:55 > 0:13:59Although, he'd been speaking to them, they couldn't get him to actually open the door.
0:13:59 > 0:14:02He was saying to let themselves in and he was in the bath.
0:14:04 > 0:14:07The GP attended the address and contacted us
0:14:07 > 0:14:10because she was getting the same response from him
0:14:10 > 0:14:14and wanted to access the property and check on his welfare.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17It sounds as if the elderly man was confused, maybe injured.
0:14:17 > 0:14:20What did you do? You sent the boys in, did you?
0:14:20 > 0:14:23We assigned it for a unit to attend the address.
0:14:23 > 0:14:25The officers went.
0:14:25 > 0:14:28They also spoke to him, could speak to him through the door
0:14:28 > 0:14:31but couldn't get him to come and open the door.
0:14:31 > 0:14:36We contacted the Fire Brigade and asked them to assist us for gaining entry to the address.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40- They attended and entry was gained through the kitchen window.- Right.
0:14:40 > 0:14:45Once they were in the property, they did find the man.
0:14:45 > 0:14:47Unfortunately, he was in the bath.
0:14:47 > 0:14:51He had a fall and had a laceration to his head.
0:14:51 > 0:14:53He had head injuries. How long had he been there?
0:14:53 > 0:14:58- They think he was there for at least a day, probably more.- Oh, poor man.
0:14:58 > 0:14:59And so the paramedics went in?
0:14:59 > 0:15:04The paramedics attended and fortunately, because of the neighbours' concern,
0:15:04 > 0:15:08we were able to get there and assist him and the paramedics were able to look after him.
0:15:08 > 0:15:11It just shows you if the neighbour hadn't been concerned,
0:15:11 > 0:15:13- he could have been there for days, couldn't he?- Yeah.
0:15:13 > 0:15:17The neighbours realised that it was out of character for him,
0:15:17 > 0:15:20the way that he was responding when they were knocking on the door
0:15:20 > 0:15:24and from our point of view, if there is that kind of concern,
0:15:24 > 0:15:27we would rather someone let us know and we checked it out.
0:15:27 > 0:15:30We can do as we did in this situation and help someone.
0:15:30 > 0:15:32Well done you, and well done the neighbours.
0:15:35 > 0:15:39It's late on a weekday evening when police officer on patrol
0:15:39 > 0:15:42spots smoke pouring out of a commercial laundry.
0:15:42 > 0:15:46The fire is so big crews are called in from several stations.
0:15:46 > 0:15:49There are no signs of arson or any other obvious cause.
0:15:49 > 0:15:54The firefighters are tackling a fire that appears to have started itself.
0:15:54 > 0:15:55SIRENS
0:15:59 > 0:16:01It's the early hours of the morning.
0:16:01 > 0:16:05Southampton's Green Watch have been called across the city
0:16:05 > 0:16:07to tackle a large fire on an industrial estate.
0:16:09 > 0:16:12We're going on what's called eight pumping appliances
0:16:12 > 0:16:15and water tenders already in attendance.
0:16:17 > 0:16:19The fire service are taking no chances.
0:16:19 > 0:16:23When Green Watch arrive there are ten appliances in all
0:16:23 > 0:16:24with 60 firefighters.
0:16:24 > 0:16:27They'll work in relay to knock back the fire.
0:16:27 > 0:16:30It's in a large commercial laundry,
0:16:30 > 0:16:34washing hotel linen as well as heavy duty industrial overalls.
0:16:34 > 0:16:36Plenty of material to feed the flames
0:16:36 > 0:16:38which are threatening the units next door.
0:16:41 > 0:16:44Green Watch manager, Sean, signs his crew in with control.
0:16:44 > 0:16:493BA, suited and booted in your sector. Ready to go.
0:16:49 > 0:16:52- OK, as they all down there? - They're down there, yeah.
0:16:52 > 0:16:53OK, thanks very much.
0:16:53 > 0:16:56With so many fire crews on site,
0:16:56 > 0:16:59this has to be a highly organised attack on the flames.
0:16:59 > 0:17:02The position of every firefighter recorded.
0:17:02 > 0:17:05The first crews arrived to find the building locked up,
0:17:05 > 0:17:08allowing the flames to super heat the inside.
0:17:08 > 0:17:11When we turned up, the building was all sealed up.
0:17:11 > 0:17:14Our initial actions were to try make a forced entry.
0:17:14 > 0:17:18We've removed the roller shutter door to gain access into the loading bay.
0:17:18 > 0:17:20With a new supply of oxygen, through the opening,
0:17:20 > 0:17:23the fire surged and flames soon breached the roof.
0:17:25 > 0:17:28But it also provided an escape for the super heated gases,
0:17:28 > 0:17:31making it easier for the firefighters to work.
0:17:32 > 0:17:35An aerial ladder platform's in place
0:17:35 > 0:17:38to pour thousands of gallons of water through the holes in the roof.
0:17:40 > 0:17:43Dan Tasker is in charge of the operation.
0:17:43 > 0:17:46That's got quite a developed fire in there
0:17:46 > 0:17:48which is threatening the other two units.
0:17:48 > 0:17:51For that reason we've got a lot of crews deployed in there,
0:17:51 > 0:17:53just basically holding the fire in check.
0:17:53 > 0:17:56We've got an aerial ladder platform that's also keeping the fire in check from above,
0:17:56 > 0:17:59just stopping it from spreading through the rest of the building.
0:17:59 > 0:18:03We've got crews in the other buildings, just checking there's nobody inside.
0:18:03 > 0:18:05Making sure that's clear and there's no fire spread.
0:18:05 > 0:18:08At the moment, it seems to be going quite well.
0:18:08 > 0:18:09We've got the fire in check.
0:18:09 > 0:18:11We're making good progress on that.
0:18:11 > 0:18:16All things being good, we should be able to get a fire surround message quite soon.
0:18:18 > 0:18:20Fire surround means they've contained the fire,
0:18:20 > 0:18:22stopping it in its tracks.
0:18:22 > 0:18:25The next job is extinguishing the remaining flames
0:18:25 > 0:18:27but it's not going to be easy.
0:18:27 > 0:18:29There's masses of laundry materials.
0:18:29 > 0:18:33There's clothing, textiles, that sort of thing. That's what we got to fight at the moment.
0:18:33 > 0:18:34Quite awkward as far as extinguishing it
0:18:34 > 0:18:38because there's a lot of it and it's quite tightly bundled.
0:18:38 > 0:18:40We're going to be here a little while, I think.
0:18:40 > 0:18:44Anxiously watching the drama unfold is the laundry manager, Scott.
0:18:44 > 0:18:49He was the first to tell his boss, David, his business was on fire.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51When I first got the call about the fire,
0:18:51 > 0:18:54the first thing that goes through your mind is,
0:18:54 > 0:18:56this is not going to be a small fire.
0:18:56 > 0:18:59You don't have a small fire in a laundry, not in the middle of the night.
0:19:01 > 0:19:03In a funny way, I was prepared when I got there.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05I knew what I was going to see.
0:19:05 > 0:19:07Still smoke coming out.
0:19:07 > 0:19:13A lot of laundry smoking outside on the yard
0:19:13 > 0:19:16and on the cages that we keep the laundry in.
0:19:16 > 0:19:18Spreading it out on the floor, dousing it down,
0:19:18 > 0:19:21making sure there was no chance of further fire.
0:19:21 > 0:19:23I was rather sad.
0:19:25 > 0:19:28David's company prides itself on cleanliness and safety.
0:19:28 > 0:19:30It's tough to watch the stock in such a state
0:19:30 > 0:19:33but everything must be damped down.
0:19:33 > 0:19:36This is very difficult to get into, without pulling it all out
0:19:36 > 0:19:41and going through it all. It does create a lot of mess.
0:19:44 > 0:19:47It's now 3am, there's still the odd flare-up,
0:19:47 > 0:19:49but the fire is mostly out.
0:19:49 > 0:19:52Rich Green and Adam Bundle have finished their stint inside.
0:19:52 > 0:19:55Yet, just loads of cages of laundry, mate.
0:19:57 > 0:19:58There was fire on the ground floor
0:19:58 > 0:20:01and then there was a mezzanine floor, as well.
0:20:01 > 0:20:03That was well alight.
0:20:03 > 0:20:07We just started up front and worked our way to the back and put it out.
0:20:07 > 0:20:11Incident commander, Dan, is pleased with the way things have gone.
0:20:11 > 0:20:13We've made a really good stop on the fire.
0:20:13 > 0:20:15The good news is we've had no injuries to firefighters.
0:20:15 > 0:20:18There's no other further damage to the other two units,
0:20:18 > 0:20:20or the surrounding environment.
0:20:20 > 0:20:24Hopefully, come tomorrow morning, business continuity will resume
0:20:24 > 0:20:26for all the other units in this area.
0:20:31 > 0:20:32Now the fire's dealt with,
0:20:32 > 0:20:35they can begin their investigation into how it started.
0:20:36 > 0:20:42Their findings are not conclusive but all evidence suggests the fire started itself.
0:20:42 > 0:20:44We believe they've ruled out arson.
0:20:44 > 0:20:47They've ruled out electrical, they've ruled out chemical.
0:20:47 > 0:20:48There was nobody on site.
0:20:48 > 0:20:53Therefore, the only conclusion we've reached at the moment is what they call spontaneous combustion.
0:20:53 > 0:20:57Which given the right degree of contamination in garments,
0:20:57 > 0:21:03and the right degree of heat and the inability of the garments easily dissipate the heat,
0:21:03 > 0:21:07can give rise to what they call self heating.
0:21:07 > 0:21:11In the sense a garment can not just get cooler
0:21:11 > 0:21:16but it can get hotter, until it may reach a point of charring
0:21:16 > 0:21:19and then more oxygen being drawn in, it can eventually ignite.
0:21:20 > 0:21:25The fire has destroyed £250,000 of machinery.
0:21:25 > 0:21:26That'll be covered by insurance
0:21:26 > 0:21:28but David's main concern was his customers.
0:21:28 > 0:21:33Thanks to the firefighters swift action, not all was lost.
0:21:34 > 0:21:37Raking through what the firemen had pulled out,
0:21:37 > 0:21:39we rescued about 70 to 75%
0:21:39 > 0:21:44of customer stock and customer garments.
0:21:44 > 0:21:49I think their response, and the speed that the fire crews got out
0:21:49 > 0:21:53and the number of vehicles they had available to them, was amazing.
0:21:56 > 0:22:00It appears this fire started itself. A case of spontaneous ignition.
0:22:00 > 0:22:04Last series, we heard how this church was gutted by fire
0:22:04 > 0:22:09after a rag soaked with linseed oil was left in a rubbish bin.
0:22:09 > 0:22:12Well, we've got Mark Hobbs, an expert I should say
0:22:12 > 0:22:17- in linseed oil fires, no fire and rescue service. - If you say so, Chris.
0:22:17 > 0:22:19I'm not a scientist, I don't quite understand the details
0:22:19 > 0:22:22but how does this happen?
0:22:22 > 0:22:25I'm not a scientist either, Chris. In technical terms, it's oxidation.
0:22:25 > 0:22:29It's a reaction with oxygen in the atmosphere all around.
0:22:29 > 0:22:32Certain oils, in particular linseed oil, is particularly prone,
0:22:32 > 0:22:34will react with oxygen in the air
0:22:34 > 0:22:38and the way it dries itself out as a by-product, it creates heat.
0:22:38 > 0:22:44If you use the product on a rag, and you don't lay it out for the heat to get away, dissipate,
0:22:44 > 0:22:48there's a chance that it can create so much heat it can cause a fire.
0:22:48 > 0:22:51Which must surprise a lot of people at home.
0:22:51 > 0:22:55What I don't understand, in this laundry, the clothes, the materials were clean.
0:22:57 > 0:22:59Even after washing, in a washing machine,
0:22:59 > 0:23:01there will be a residue of oil.
0:23:01 > 0:23:04I'm not sure what was on these clothes in this particular case,
0:23:04 > 0:23:07it could have been linseed oil, it could have been vegetable oil or any other oil.
0:23:07 > 0:23:11There will, invariably, be some sort of residue left.
0:23:11 > 0:23:14Once they've been cleaned, presumably they're put into a tumble dryer
0:23:14 > 0:23:19and that will create heat and if they take them out of the tumble dryer and stack them tightly,
0:23:19 > 0:23:23that heat can't escape, it could cause a situation where a fire could occur.
0:23:23 > 0:23:26I'm panicking now because I've oiled my cricket bat with my linseed oil rag.
0:23:26 > 0:23:29I'm thinking, I might have knocked up a whole load of vegetable oil
0:23:29 > 0:23:32that I spilt in the kitchen and I just throw it in the bin, should I be worried?
0:23:32 > 0:23:34With linseed oil, you need to take precautions
0:23:34 > 0:23:37and if you read the back of the bottle when you next use it,
0:23:37 > 0:23:39you'll find there is a warning on the quite clearly,
0:23:39 > 0:23:42which tells you how to safely dispose of the rags.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46With the vegetable oil, it's not such a product to the same extent as linseed oil
0:23:46 > 0:23:48but it's not so likely to cause a fire.
0:23:48 > 0:23:53And generally, in my experience in the fire service experience with vegetable oil in laundries,
0:23:53 > 0:23:57its commercial laundries where you've got large amounts of tea towels
0:23:57 > 0:23:59which are stacked tightly together.
0:23:59 > 0:24:04In your own home environment, you're not going have a large pile of tea towels, no doubt.
0:24:04 > 0:24:08What people should be aware of in their home, as well as commercial laundries,
0:24:08 > 0:24:11you should always leave your tumble dryer to complete its cycle.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14At the end of the cycle it goes through a cooling stage.
0:24:14 > 0:24:16If you turn it off before it gets to that stage,
0:24:16 > 0:24:19and leave the items in there, they're at a temperature where,
0:24:19 > 0:24:21if there is a product like linseed oil on the clothing,
0:24:21 > 0:24:23it could be a risk.
0:24:23 > 0:24:25Brilliant, OK, I can get some advice from your website?
0:24:25 > 0:24:30Some time ago we set up a website, it's www.blackmuseum.info.
0:24:30 > 0:24:32Your viewers are quite welcome to go in there
0:24:32 > 0:24:35and there's a number of cases on there to do with the causes of fire
0:24:35 > 0:24:38but linseed oil and spontaneous combustion is on there.
0:24:38 > 0:24:43There's also a section on there which we would be really interested to get their own stories
0:24:43 > 0:24:46because we typically only attend 20% of fires in the country
0:24:46 > 0:24:48and 80% are unreported to us.
0:24:48 > 0:24:50That would be really useful for them to visit the site,
0:24:50 > 0:24:54see some of these cases and also if they can give us information.
0:24:54 > 0:24:55OK, Mark, thank you very much indeed.
0:24:55 > 0:25:00I'm just going to call my mum, Lou, because I've left the rags from my linseed oil bat in the bin.
0:25:00 > 0:25:01Go call her.
0:25:05 > 0:25:06SIREN BLARES
0:25:06 > 0:25:11Ashdown Forest, Sussex. It's just after 6pm, and PC Shelley Marder
0:25:11 > 0:25:14has been called to an accident on a country road.
0:25:15 > 0:25:20We've had a report of a car that's lost control and...
0:25:22 > 0:25:24..has rolled in the road.
0:25:24 > 0:25:28- POLICE RADIO:- A member of the public says the driver appears drunk and is staggering all over the place.
0:25:28 > 0:25:30SIREN BLARES
0:25:32 > 0:25:37PC Marder arrives to find the car has come to rest on its roof.
0:25:37 > 0:25:39- PC Marder, is this your vehicle? - It is my mum's.
0:25:39 > 0:25:42- OK. Were you driver at the time of the crash?- Yes.
0:25:42 > 0:25:45The driver appears to have escaped completely unharmed.
0:25:45 > 0:25:49- You're on the insurance to drive the vehicle?- Yes, obviously.
0:25:49 > 0:25:50OK, I'm only just asking.
0:25:50 > 0:25:55He's blaming the accident on an animal dashing out into the road.
0:25:55 > 0:26:00..a fox. Shoots out in the middle the road, I make a quick swerve,
0:26:00 > 0:26:04and then it just hits it, then I tried to correct it and it just...
0:26:04 > 0:26:07- OK, sir. Have you had anything to drink this evening?- No.
0:26:07 > 0:26:10- Nothing at all?- No. Give me a breathalyser.- I will do.
0:26:10 > 0:26:13The driver's not bothered about taking a breath test,
0:26:13 > 0:26:17however, he's refusing medical attention, and not very graciously.
0:26:17 > 0:26:20- ..OK?- I don't want nothing to do with them.
0:26:21 > 0:26:26- OK, if he's refusing, that's fine. - Cause you was RUDE to me!- I wasn't. - BLEEP- was!
0:26:26 > 0:26:30Er, language, please. I don't want to hear that sort of language.
0:26:30 > 0:26:31Don't go anywhere.
0:26:31 > 0:26:36Shelley's getting suspicious, as the driver is trying to get something out of the car.
0:26:36 > 0:26:37He says he wants a smoke,
0:26:37 > 0:26:42but Shelley thinks he has something in there he doesn't want her to see.
0:26:42 > 0:26:45Right, let's leave your tobacco. I'll get that out for you in the minute.
0:26:45 > 0:26:48Shelley is convinced the breathalyser will go some way
0:26:48 > 0:26:51- to explaining this accident.- OK.
0:26:51 > 0:26:53Come and stand here, I'm talking to you.
0:26:53 > 0:26:56OK, nice deep breath and blow into the machine till I tell you to stop.
0:26:56 > 0:26:59BREATHALYSER BEEPS
0:26:59 > 0:27:01That's it, brilliant. Stop.
0:27:02 > 0:27:04Pop that in your bag for you.
0:27:04 > 0:27:08The result comes as a surprise to PC Marder, but not to the driver.
0:27:08 > 0:27:10Zero, OK?
0:27:10 > 0:27:11Magic.
0:27:11 > 0:27:15That's fine, everyone involved in the collision is always breathalysed.
0:27:15 > 0:27:19Passing the breathalyser hasn't made him many more cooperative.
0:27:19 > 0:27:21Has he signed it?
0:27:21 > 0:27:22Don't worry about it, and go away.
0:27:22 > 0:27:25Have you contacted your mum?
0:27:25 > 0:27:28Shelley needs to check out every detail of the driver's story.
0:27:28 > 0:27:31Yes, please, I was wondering whether you could do a check, please?
0:27:31 > 0:27:35Is the male on the insurance to drive the vehicle?
0:27:35 > 0:27:37- RADIO RESPONSE:- Yes.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Although the story about the car has checked out, his erratic behaviour
0:27:40 > 0:27:45is suspicious, especially his aggression towards the paramedics.
0:27:45 > 0:27:47He was really, really aggressive.
0:27:47 > 0:27:50- Yeah,- "BLEEP- don't want your help," and we're like, look...
0:27:50 > 0:27:53Shelley suspects the driver may be under the influence of drugs, but,
0:27:53 > 0:27:58because of his volatile nature, is unwilling to search him until backup arrives.
0:27:58 > 0:28:02In the meantime, she needs to get the traffic moving.
0:28:02 > 0:28:05Where's the bus driver? Ah, there you are.
0:28:05 > 0:28:08Do you think you can fit through there?
0:28:08 > 0:28:10Pardon? Not with the trees?
0:28:12 > 0:28:14Trees and the bend. No, no, seriously.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17OK, all right. I'll get these lot down here then.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19One, two, three, go.
0:28:20 > 0:28:22That's it.
0:28:22 > 0:28:26First priority is to get the paramedics away to their next call.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30Our ambulance is standing down to go to a RTC in Edenbridge.
0:28:30 > 0:28:34Have we had it through yet? Back! Go back!
0:28:34 > 0:28:36SIRENS BLARE I didn't say "Come through!"
0:28:39 > 0:28:42The unwanted ambulance heads off to another accident
0:28:42 > 0:28:45and police back-up arrives in the form of PC Alan Williams.
0:28:45 > 0:28:48Shelley shares her concerns.
0:28:48 > 0:28:53I don't want to search him on my own, because he's been quite aggressive to people.
0:28:53 > 0:28:56- OK.- So would you be able to help me? - Yeah, of course I will.- That's fine.
0:28:57 > 0:29:00PC Williams immediately notices
0:29:00 > 0:29:02signs of possible drug use.
0:29:02 > 0:29:06So, what I'm saying to you, mate, is - you're pupils look very dilated,
0:29:06 > 0:29:09- OK...? - I just had a- BLEEP- accident!
0:29:09 > 0:29:10Stop swearing at me, right?
0:29:10 > 0:29:12- Have you got anything on you you shouldn't have, sir?- No.
0:29:12 > 0:29:15The driver was seen throwing something over the fence
0:29:15 > 0:29:17after the accident. Shelley found a bag
0:29:17 > 0:29:20of items related to drug use.
0:29:20 > 0:29:23There's now enough reason to arrest him.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25You're under arrest on suspicion of possession
0:29:25 > 0:29:28of a controlled substance - you do not have to say anything,
0:29:28 > 0:29:31but it may harm your defence if you do not mention when questioned
0:29:31 > 0:29:33something which you later rely on in court.
0:29:33 > 0:29:35Anything you do say may be given in evidence.
0:29:35 > 0:29:36Do you understand?
0:29:36 > 0:29:38- Of course I understand. - That's fine.
0:29:38 > 0:29:42As the driver's pockets are searched, Shelley continues
0:29:42 > 0:29:45to scan the area he was seen throwing packages.
0:29:47 > 0:29:51I've found some more drugs, the same place I found the other bag.
0:29:51 > 0:29:54And from the description of what the members of the public told me,
0:29:54 > 0:29:59I've just found a large quantity of, erm,
0:29:59 > 0:30:01cocaine and cannabis.
0:30:01 > 0:30:05The recovery vehicle has arrived. It will right the car,
0:30:05 > 0:30:09enabling the police to have a better look inside.
0:30:17 > 0:30:20There's nothing fallen out that I can see.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22A cursory search reveals no more drugs.
0:30:22 > 0:30:26The car will be searched by a specialist dog unit later.
0:30:28 > 0:30:31He was proper having a search underneath there...
0:30:31 > 0:30:35At the police station later, the driver tested positive for drugs.
0:30:35 > 0:30:39He pleaded guilty to driving while unfit through drugs.
0:30:44 > 0:30:46Mobile phones give us all a sense of security.
0:30:46 > 0:30:49If anything happens while we're off the beaten track,
0:30:49 > 0:30:51we're almost certain to be able to get help.
0:30:51 > 0:30:55But it's not always as easy as that - the most scenic spots
0:30:55 > 0:30:58are often the hardest for emergency services to reach.
0:31:01 > 0:31:04Paramedic Sam Mason is heading out on an emergency call to a man
0:31:04 > 0:31:07who has fallen and landed badly on his ankle.
0:31:07 > 0:31:11It's happened on a hill popular with walkers and inaccessible to vehicles.
0:31:11 > 0:31:13The local ambulance crew
0:31:13 > 0:31:16has had to call the Hazardous Area Emergency Team in
0:31:16 > 0:31:18to help get him out.
0:31:18 > 0:31:20We're almost at scene - are you bringing the Polaris?
0:31:20 > 0:31:22Polaris is an all-terrain vehicle
0:31:22 > 0:31:26used to carry casualties across very rough terrain.
0:31:26 > 0:31:29But when paramedic Sam Mason reaches St Catherine's Hill,
0:31:29 > 0:31:32she can see they won't be able to use it here.
0:31:32 > 0:31:35It's not going to be a Polaris job
0:31:35 > 0:31:39because of the kissing gate, to get up the hill.
0:31:39 > 0:31:43The only way onto the hill is through a gate - on foot.
0:31:43 > 0:31:46It's a steep climb, and Sam needs some directions from her colleague -
0:31:46 > 0:31:48already with the injured man.
0:31:48 > 0:31:51Hi, Simon - it's Sam from the HART team. Where the road
0:31:51 > 0:31:54forks off to its left and right, which way are you?
0:31:55 > 0:31:57Okey-dokey.
0:31:57 > 0:32:00She finds them - Simon has already carried out
0:32:00 > 0:32:02basic health checks on the man.
0:32:02 > 0:32:05He was quite happily walking up,
0:32:05 > 0:32:08got a bit of a pearler - did your ankle go underneath you
0:32:08 > 0:32:10or did it go away from you?
0:32:10 > 0:32:14There is little doubt that the man's ankle is broken -
0:32:14 > 0:32:15he heard it crack as he fell.
0:32:15 > 0:32:18..a previous compound fracture,
0:32:18 > 0:32:19so he's got a plate, and it sounds like
0:32:19 > 0:32:21- it's just below the plate level.- OK.
0:32:21 > 0:32:24So, the problem is, we can either get the helicopter to the top
0:32:24 > 0:32:26or someone to the bottom.
0:32:26 > 0:32:30Clare McGonagall is a team leader of the Hazardous Area Response Team.
0:32:30 > 0:32:34She radios for more help, as Simon continues to monitor the casualty.
0:32:34 > 0:32:38The ambulance crews are going to have to carry the injured man
0:32:38 > 0:32:40down the hill - it's a sunny day,
0:32:40 > 0:32:43but muddy and very slippery under foot.
0:32:43 > 0:32:45The grass each side of it is not too bad at all.
0:32:45 > 0:32:48- It's just the muddy bit. - It's just the muddy centre of it.
0:32:48 > 0:32:49It's more... many hands make light work.
0:32:49 > 0:32:53The reinforcements have brought with them a special body splint,
0:32:53 > 0:32:56which unfolds to be used as a stretcher.
0:32:56 > 0:32:59But before they can move him, his leg must be immobilised.
0:32:59 > 0:33:03This splint - we're going to form it round your right leg,
0:33:03 > 0:33:07and then, by a process of suction and magic,
0:33:07 > 0:33:10- suck all the air out of it, make it hard.- OK.
0:33:10 > 0:33:14Once that's holding your leg really still, we're quite optimistic
0:33:14 > 0:33:16it's going to take your pain away.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19Once the splint is on, they're ready to start moving him.
0:33:19 > 0:33:22If my colleagues hold your bad leg, you help with your good leg,
0:33:22 > 0:33:25we'll support you, and we just want to sit you back onto the...
0:33:25 > 0:33:28- sit your bum back, so if you... - Straight back.- That's it.
0:33:28 > 0:33:30- Well done.- A little bit more. OK.
0:33:30 > 0:33:34The flexible stretcher will be moulded around his body
0:33:34 > 0:33:36once he's securely strapped in.
0:33:36 > 0:33:39These straps need to be a bit tight,
0:33:39 > 0:33:41unfortunately, just so you're safe going down the hill,
0:33:41 > 0:33:45- but we'll try...- Oh!- Where's that... Is that your leg that's hurting?
0:33:45 > 0:33:48Is that helping at all? Yeah? OK.
0:33:48 > 0:33:50It wears off quite quickly, so you can just keep taking it,
0:33:50 > 0:33:52- just nice, long, deep breaths. - Ready?
0:33:52 > 0:33:54Ready, set, lift.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57Six paramedics are needed to lift the injured man safely.
0:34:01 > 0:34:04- INJURED MAN:- Oh! Oh!
0:34:04 > 0:34:07The path down is dangerously muddy,
0:34:07 > 0:34:09and every move is painful.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12- FEMALE PARAMEDIC: - I've got morphine in my pocket.
0:34:20 > 0:34:24With the pain under control, they can set off once again down the hill.
0:34:24 > 0:34:26Ready, brace, lift.
0:34:29 > 0:34:31Oop!
0:34:31 > 0:34:32Ooh!
0:34:32 > 0:34:35Got no traction at all.
0:34:35 > 0:34:37Progress is slow.
0:34:38 > 0:34:40- Is everybody ready for a rest? - OK - ready, brace,
0:34:40 > 0:34:42lower!
0:34:43 > 0:34:45- Change sides?- Can do.
0:34:45 > 0:34:48Lift. Ready, steady, lift.
0:34:49 > 0:34:52- FEMALE PARAMEDIC: - It's still quite slippery here.
0:34:52 > 0:34:55I know this from the three recces I've done of it!
0:34:55 > 0:34:59They finally reach the car park at the bottom.
0:35:00 > 0:35:03- There we go, that's it now. - 'The injured man is then taken'
0:35:03 > 0:35:05in a comfortable ambulance to Winchester A&E,
0:35:05 > 0:35:08where his ankle will be X-rayed to assess
0:35:08 > 0:35:10the full extent of the damage.
0:35:15 > 0:35:18It's interesting being in here, because actually, it's quite quiet.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21People are talking, but of course they're taking calls,
0:35:21 > 0:35:23different types of calls all the time, from people
0:35:23 > 0:35:26who are often in distress.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29I'm going to talk to Tom if he's OK to talk... Tom, are you OK?
0:35:29 > 0:35:31- Are you busy?!- Hello, yep.
0:35:31 > 0:35:33You took a call from an elderly lady, didn't you,
0:35:33 > 0:35:36- who was really worried about something.- Yeah.
0:35:36 > 0:35:38She was 92 years old living on her own,
0:35:38 > 0:35:39she got washed and went to bed,
0:35:39 > 0:35:43then she heard some noises downstairs which she thought sounded like
0:35:43 > 0:35:45- foreign gentlemen that were down there.- Mm-hmm.
0:35:45 > 0:35:50And so she called 999. So, I'd got the address of where she was,
0:35:50 > 0:35:53telephone number, and I sent it down as a Grade 1 call.
0:35:53 > 0:35:56- Then I told her to...- Because you thought it was a burglary going on.
0:35:56 > 0:35:59Yes, you can only take it on what people's word is,
0:35:59 > 0:36:01you've got to go on that.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04So, anyway, what I did, I told her to er,
0:36:04 > 0:36:07get a chair, stick it up against the door handle so nobody could get in,
0:36:07 > 0:36:11go back, sit in the bed, and I would talk to her on the phone.
0:36:11 > 0:36:14So I kept her talking on the phone, making sure she was all right,
0:36:14 > 0:36:16if she was hearing anything downstairs.
0:36:16 > 0:36:19By the time I put it back down, within 10 minutes,
0:36:19 > 0:36:22the police were there. The back door was open, so they got into the house.
0:36:22 > 0:36:25- Mm-hmm.- They came upstairs, and I could tell by looking at the log
0:36:25 > 0:36:28that they were in the house, and it was OK,
0:36:28 > 0:36:32so I told her to take the chair away and open the door for the police.
0:36:32 > 0:36:36Then the police came on and said that she'd gone to bed and left the TV on,
0:36:36 > 0:36:39- and there was a foreign film on the TV.- So, she was in her bed,
0:36:39 > 0:36:42and hearing the voices on the television,
0:36:42 > 0:36:45- and it was foreign voices because it was a foreign film.- Yes.
0:36:45 > 0:36:47Aw! Was she reassured, though?
0:36:47 > 0:36:49Oh, yeah, as soon as the police were there,
0:36:49 > 0:36:53- everything was OK.- How long had it taken them to get there?
0:36:53 > 0:36:56Less than 10 minutes, I'd say between 8-9 minutes, which is pretty good,
0:36:56 > 0:37:00because it wasn't an urban situation, it was quite a rural place.
0:37:00 > 0:37:03It may be the car was there at the time, but it was quick.
0:37:03 > 0:37:07- Do you think next time she'll turn the telly off?- I think she might do!
0:37:07 > 0:37:08- Thanks, Tom.- OK, that's great.
0:37:12 > 0:37:16Every year, 17,000 cyclists are killed or injured on our roads.
0:37:16 > 0:37:20However, not all accidents involve other vehicles.
0:37:20 > 0:37:22AMBULANCE SIREN SOUNDS
0:37:22 > 0:37:26It's daybreak. The rush hour hasn't started yet,
0:37:26 > 0:37:28but a commuter has already been hurt on the road.
0:37:28 > 0:37:31Paramedic Helen and emergency care assistant Paul
0:37:31 > 0:37:35- are on their way.- We're going to Cosham Police station, just outside.
0:37:35 > 0:37:39Apparently it's a push bike versus a motor vehicle.
0:37:39 > 0:37:42We don't know how many people are involved yet.
0:37:42 > 0:37:45They arrive at the police station, where the cyclist is recovering.
0:37:45 > 0:37:49He was helped by two officers who called for an ambulance.
0:37:49 > 0:37:52Helen can see straightaway, his face
0:37:52 > 0:37:54has taken the brunt of the impact.
0:37:54 > 0:37:56Are you able to tell me what's happened?
0:37:56 > 0:37:59Well, I was coming round that roundabout,
0:37:59 > 0:38:03pulled out the other side, and suddenly the bike just went...
0:38:03 > 0:38:05- Right, OK. You've obviously hit the floor.- Yeah.
0:38:05 > 0:38:08- Do you think you've lost consciousness at all?- No.- No?
0:38:08 > 0:38:10- So you remember everything?- Yeah...
0:38:10 > 0:38:14It turns out Roy didn't collide with a car - just the Tarmac.
0:38:14 > 0:38:17Helen checks for any possible head injury.
0:38:17 > 0:38:20Luckily, the iris of each eye is responding naturally.
0:38:20 > 0:38:24- I can see you've hurt your face - have you hurt anywhere else?- No...
0:38:24 > 0:38:25Roy rides to work daily.
0:38:25 > 0:38:29He was wearing a helmet, but he flew over the handlebars,
0:38:29 > 0:38:31- landing face-first? - Your knees are OK?
0:38:31 > 0:38:34- Well, that one, gone through there. - Yeah?
0:38:34 > 0:38:36Have you cut it? Let's have a look.
0:38:37 > 0:38:40- Grazed it.- Yeah, just taken the skin off there.
0:38:40 > 0:38:43- What about your hands and your wrists?- No, they're fine.
0:38:43 > 0:38:46- Yeah? Shoulders all OK?- Yeah.
0:38:46 > 0:38:50- Right. You don't feel dizzy or anything, disorientated?- No.
0:38:50 > 0:38:53If we take you in the ambulance, get you cleaned up, and have a look.
0:38:55 > 0:38:57Right...
0:38:57 > 0:39:01If you want to jump up there and pop yourself in that front seat.
0:39:01 > 0:39:04I think basically I've...cracked me 'ead!
0:39:04 > 0:39:06Right.
0:39:07 > 0:39:10Yeah, that's going to need a stitch.
0:39:10 > 0:39:12Roy's face is blackened and bloodied.
0:39:12 > 0:39:15Helen wants to check that he has no other hidden
0:39:15 > 0:39:18and potentially more serious injuries.
0:39:18 > 0:39:22- You haven't got any neck pain or anything?- No.- No?
0:39:22 > 0:39:25- No. Sure?- Nearly swallowed my sweet! - Oh, God!
0:39:25 > 0:39:29Roy clearly feels he's had a lucky escape.
0:39:29 > 0:39:30Have a look at your teeth...
0:39:30 > 0:39:35- They're falsies.- OK, you've not... Don't feel loose or anything?- No.
0:39:35 > 0:39:38His face is black from the dirt on the road.
0:39:38 > 0:39:41Soon, it will turn blue from bruising.
0:39:44 > 0:39:47Looks like you've fallen in an oil patch!
0:39:47 > 0:39:49I think that was where my head's hit the road!
0:39:49 > 0:39:51Like I say, one minute I'm up,
0:39:51 > 0:39:54next minute, whack!
0:39:54 > 0:39:56Helen's thorough examination
0:39:56 > 0:40:00reveals the injuries are confined to his face.
0:40:00 > 0:40:03As well as the cut on his eyebrow, Roy has grazed his nose,
0:40:03 > 0:40:06and has a swelling below his eye.
0:40:06 > 0:40:08- You are going to need a couple of stitches in that eyebrow.- OK.
0:40:08 > 0:40:12I think the rest of it is all the blood, where it's dripped down.
0:40:12 > 0:40:17His helmet has protected him from a potentially serious head injury.
0:40:18 > 0:40:20- That bit there.- Yeah, got a bit of a graze there.
0:40:20 > 0:40:24But that's on the wrong... That's on the right side, yeah. Yeah.
0:40:24 > 0:40:27It's obviously saved you, anyway.
0:40:28 > 0:40:31Roy will need to have the cut above his eye stitched
0:40:31 > 0:40:33at the hospital emergency department -
0:40:33 > 0:40:37it's his first accident after years using his bike on the road.
0:40:37 > 0:40:40I think I've been going down these roads, what,
0:40:40 > 0:40:4515, 16 years, same roundabout.
0:40:45 > 0:40:48And...whether it's damp,
0:40:48 > 0:40:50and all the bus...
0:40:50 > 0:40:54has dropped another load of diesel on it,
0:40:54 > 0:40:57and you just slide on the diesel.
0:40:57 > 0:40:59It's all right on four wheels,
0:40:59 > 0:41:02but two wheels, it just goes straight away from you.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07Well, Roy did indeed turn from black to blue.
0:41:07 > 0:41:11His eye was stitched, and he has since made a full recovery.
0:41:14 > 0:41:17I want to tell you about something a bit different. Behind me,
0:41:17 > 0:41:19everybody is taking calls, but this is the help desk,
0:41:19 > 0:41:23- and you can e-mail police here, can't you, Sarah?- Yes.
0:41:23 > 0:41:26Tell me what the point is of having this different type of desk.
0:41:26 > 0:41:30It's just an alternative way of making contact with us.
0:41:30 > 0:41:33It's 24/7 again, erm...
0:41:33 > 0:41:35- So people can text you, e-mail...? - Yep.
0:41:35 > 0:41:38Or they can contact us through our website, they can fill out forms
0:41:38 > 0:41:41to report crimes or antisocial behaviour.
0:41:41 > 0:41:44What sort of things do they tend to report in that way?
0:41:44 > 0:41:48Very varied. Sometimes crimes,
0:41:48 > 0:41:52sometimes things such as sheep loose in the road,
0:41:52 > 0:41:56er, people going into early labour, all sorts.
0:41:56 > 0:42:00- And you read every single text and e-mail that comes in.- Yes.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03I suppose it's a different way of communicating.
0:42:03 > 0:42:07I was talking about an old lady who was distressed on a phone call,
0:42:07 > 0:42:09- but on an e-mail, you can't really tell.- No.
0:42:09 > 0:42:13You have to read between the lines, check to see if there's any history,
0:42:13 > 0:42:15if that person's contacted us before
0:42:15 > 0:42:18to see if there's any issues we need to be aware of.
0:42:18 > 0:42:22- But if it's urgent, should people be e-mailing you?- No.
0:42:22 > 0:42:24- What should they do?- If there's a crime in progress,
0:42:24 > 0:42:28they need to phone 999 - or, if in doubt, they need to phone us,
0:42:28 > 0:42:31- rather than e-mail.- OK. Very good advice. Sarah, thank you.
0:42:31 > 0:42:33No problem, thanks.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38- That's it from us on Real Rescues. - Yes. See you next time.
0:42:38 > 0:42:39Bye-bye.
0:42:46 > 0:42:48Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd.