0:00:02 > 0:00:05- Today...- He was alerting motorists to icy roads outside his home
0:00:05 > 0:00:07and that's when it all went wrong.
0:00:07 > 0:00:08Are you OK there?
0:00:08 > 0:00:10There are warmer places to lay, ain't there?
0:00:10 > 0:00:12My goodness, he looked cold.
0:00:12 > 0:00:17Now, a small car is ablaze. It looks like it's under control, but then...
0:00:17 > 0:00:19BANG!
0:00:19 > 0:00:22What causes this explosion? The answer may surprise you.
0:00:38 > 0:00:40Hello and welcome to Real Rescues.
0:00:40 > 0:00:43We'll be following the stories of emergency crews
0:00:43 > 0:00:45from fire, police and ambulance services.
0:00:45 > 0:00:49Today, we are based at the Lewes Police Contact Centre.
0:00:49 > 0:00:52Around half a million cases are handled here a year.
0:00:52 > 0:00:55Reports of crime come by phone, text and e-mail.
0:00:55 > 0:00:59And a call to this centre can have international repercussions.
0:00:59 > 0:01:02A little later, we will hear how a call from a worried relative
0:01:02 > 0:01:07in the UK led to an arrest within two hours in America.
0:01:07 > 0:01:09Now, a tale to make you shiver.
0:01:09 > 0:01:12It's sheet ice on the road outside Nik's house,
0:01:12 > 0:01:14and he's trying to direct the traffic.
0:01:14 > 0:01:16A car's already smashed into his fence
0:01:16 > 0:01:18and he wants to avoid another collision.
0:01:18 > 0:01:22Little does he know, he's about to become the accident.
0:01:28 > 0:01:31It is a freezing cold February morning in West Sussex.
0:01:31 > 0:01:33Snow has settled on the ground overnight.
0:01:35 > 0:01:38It looks picturesque, but on smaller country lanes
0:01:38 > 0:01:42with no grit or sunshine until later in the day,
0:01:42 > 0:01:45- the icy surface can be treacherous. - SIREN WAILS
0:01:48 > 0:01:50It's a busy morning for the traffic cops.
0:01:52 > 0:01:55RADIO:
0:02:07 > 0:02:09Yeah, Roger, received. Thank you.
0:02:09 > 0:02:12PCs Bob Blair and Ian Lombard are making their way to an incident,
0:02:12 > 0:02:15where a man has been hit by a car skidding on ice.
0:02:15 > 0:02:19- It looks pretty icy, doesn't it? - Looks icy.
0:02:19 > 0:02:21Once they turn off the main road,
0:02:21 > 0:02:23they quickly see how slippery the Tarmac is.
0:02:23 > 0:02:25It is icy, isn't it?
0:02:26 > 0:02:29They close the road to prevent any more accidents.
0:02:29 > 0:02:32We've closed the road because it's very icy.
0:02:32 > 0:02:36In fact, even underfoot, it is quite slippy and treacherous conditions.
0:02:36 > 0:02:41So I'm not particularly surprised there have been crashes down here this morning.
0:02:41 > 0:02:43We've arranged for the council to come out,
0:02:43 > 0:02:46the Highways Department, to come out and grit the road.
0:02:46 > 0:02:50At the scene, they have to tackle the last few metres of ice on foot.
0:02:50 > 0:02:52Stick to the sides, I think.
0:02:52 > 0:02:53Hello there.
0:02:53 > 0:02:56A number of vehicles have completely lost control
0:02:56 > 0:02:59on the corner at the bottom of a slope.
0:02:59 > 0:03:02An ambulance team are already treating the injured man.
0:03:02 > 0:03:05Bob needs to find out exactly what's happened.
0:03:05 > 0:03:08OK. So that man was standing there to slow people down,
0:03:08 > 0:03:12she's come down and bopped him over. OK.
0:03:12 > 0:03:15The injured man, Nik, is shivering with cold and pain.
0:03:15 > 0:03:17Are you OK there?
0:03:17 > 0:03:19There are warmer places to lay, aren't there?
0:03:19 > 0:03:22OK, they'll sort you out. There's a bit of hassle at the moment,
0:03:22 > 0:03:24because the road is so slippery.
0:03:24 > 0:03:26Can you just tell me how you ended up here?
0:03:26 > 0:03:27You live here?
0:03:27 > 0:03:30And you were slowing vehicles down, is that right? Right.
0:03:30 > 0:03:33OK. Right.
0:03:36 > 0:03:38I'll just leave you with the paramedics now,
0:03:38 > 0:03:41they'll sort you out, get you warm, get you in the ambulance.
0:03:41 > 0:03:44I'll speak to you later, OK? All right.
0:03:44 > 0:03:46Three drivers all slid into trouble.
0:03:46 > 0:03:49Nik was doing his best to prevent another accident
0:03:49 > 0:03:52after the first vehicle ended up in his fence.
0:03:52 > 0:03:57He phoned for the police and waved for drivers to slow down.
0:03:57 > 0:04:00The second car managed to come to a halt without incident.
0:04:00 > 0:04:01But the third went into a skid
0:04:01 > 0:04:04and hit Nik, before smashing into a trailer.
0:04:06 > 0:04:10He's got a nasty gash on his leg, which might be broken.
0:04:10 > 0:04:12They're going to edge the ambulance closer.
0:04:12 > 0:04:16Just be aware, just the other side of this, you cannot stand up.
0:04:16 > 0:04:17- It's the same here.- Right.
0:04:17 > 0:04:20That's what I said, I can't go that way. I have to come down.
0:04:20 > 0:04:21- I won't be able to get back up again.- OK.
0:04:21 > 0:04:26The driver of the car that hit Nik is very upset.
0:04:28 > 0:04:31He'll be fine. I think he...
0:04:31 > 0:04:33There's talk he may have a broken leg, but...
0:04:33 > 0:04:36- She said it was his leg. - I know it's traumatic.
0:04:36 > 0:04:38I couldn't stand up, coming up,
0:04:38 > 0:04:41so try not to beat yourself up about it, OK?
0:04:41 > 0:04:42He'll be OK. He'll be OK.
0:04:44 > 0:04:45Right.
0:04:52 > 0:04:54Once Nik is safely into the ambulance,
0:04:54 > 0:04:58he asks the paramedic to talk to the driver to put her mind at rest.
0:04:58 > 0:05:02He said that he saw you coming, you couldn't do anything about it,
0:05:02 > 0:05:03and he couldn't either.
0:05:03 > 0:05:07The ambulance crew set off carefully to the hospital.
0:05:07 > 0:05:11The drivers will be ferried home and will pick up their cars later.
0:05:12 > 0:05:15PC Ian tests just how slippery the Tarmac is.
0:05:17 > 0:05:18Do you want to do a tandem one?
0:05:20 > 0:05:24- Yeah. That is not good. - It's a grip test.
0:05:24 > 0:05:28The road will remain closed until the gritter lorry arrives.
0:05:29 > 0:05:34Well, I'm delighted to say we've got Nik and PC Bob Blair with us today.
0:05:34 > 0:05:36How are you feeling, first of all, Nik?
0:05:36 > 0:05:40Yeah, not too bad. Making progress.
0:05:40 > 0:05:42You're making progress, too slow, by the sounds of it.
0:05:42 > 0:05:45I still can't move my knee very well. Some pain, but...
0:05:45 > 0:05:48It's getting there somewhere.
0:05:48 > 0:05:51OK, I've got to say, you looked so cold when you were lying down there.
0:05:51 > 0:05:53Were you in shock or were you in pain?
0:05:53 > 0:05:55Definitely some shock, but it was so cold.
0:05:55 > 0:05:58I'd been laid on the snow for about half an hour or so.
0:05:58 > 0:06:01Some people put blankets over and a nice hat, but it was freezing.
0:06:01 > 0:06:04Do you see yourself as lucky or unlucky that day?
0:06:04 > 0:06:06I'd have to say lucky,
0:06:06 > 0:06:09because it could've been a hell of a lot worse.
0:06:09 > 0:06:11Yeah. What about you, Bob, do you think he's been lucky?
0:06:11 > 0:06:13I think he has been lucky in some ways.
0:06:13 > 0:06:15Unlucky he's been hit by a car in the first place,
0:06:15 > 0:06:17but lucky the injuries weren't
0:06:17 > 0:06:19so much worse and he was run over by the car,
0:06:19 > 0:06:21so he's been a reasonably lucky man, I'd say.
0:06:21 > 0:06:23There are two ways of looking at it.
0:06:23 > 0:06:27He went out there and actually tried to prevent more accidents.
0:06:27 > 0:06:30But how often do people that go out and go to help people
0:06:30 > 0:06:33or try to prevent accidents get involved in accidents themselves?
0:06:33 > 0:06:35It is not particularly common.
0:06:35 > 0:06:38However, the advice would remain the same -
0:06:38 > 0:06:42always give yourself a good exit if you're going to assist at an accident.
0:06:42 > 0:06:45Try and make sure you've got somewhere to jump out of the way
0:06:45 > 0:06:46if that's possible.
0:06:46 > 0:06:49Nik did exactly the right thing by trying to slow the traffic down.
0:06:49 > 0:06:53Unfortunately, maybe if he'd moved from the apex of the bend a bit,
0:06:53 > 0:06:55to the straight of the road, if he had time,
0:06:55 > 0:06:57it would've been a better place to stand
0:06:57 > 0:06:59and just make sure he's got an exit.
0:06:59 > 0:07:02Basically, in layman's terms, give yourself space to escape to?
0:07:02 > 0:07:05Give yourself some space and somewhere to jump out the way.
0:07:05 > 0:07:07I suppose that applies to any road, in any situation.
0:07:07 > 0:07:09Whether it's a motorway, dual carriageway
0:07:09 > 0:07:11or an A-road, B-road, whatever,
0:07:11 > 0:07:13make sure you've got somewhere to get out of the way.
0:07:13 > 0:07:15In your opinion, I would have to say,
0:07:15 > 0:07:18I don't think I've ever seen roads as icy and as dangerous as that.
0:07:18 > 0:07:21- How bad was it?- It was extremely... It was like an ice rink.
0:07:21 > 0:07:23You could not stand up.
0:07:23 > 0:07:25Where I'm based, on the south coast,
0:07:25 > 0:07:26there was virtually no snow that day.
0:07:26 > 0:07:29North of the Downs, there's quite a lot of snow.
0:07:29 > 0:07:31In that particular area, it's what we class as a microclimate,
0:07:31 > 0:07:34where there's a watercourse that would run over the road,
0:07:34 > 0:07:36whether it's melting snow or whatever,
0:07:36 > 0:07:38the surface of the road is colder,
0:07:38 > 0:07:41so the water instantly freezes, and literally makes it into an ice rink.
0:07:41 > 0:07:44It may be for a very short period of time.
0:07:44 > 0:07:47Someone approaching that bend may not have been driving on ice,
0:07:47 > 0:07:49they approach at the wrong speed and it all goes wrong.
0:07:49 > 0:07:52What makes it worse is you decided not to drive as it was too dangerous.
0:07:52 > 0:07:54Yeah, it was!
0:07:54 > 0:07:57I just know what that road's like, there have been crashes there before.
0:07:57 > 0:07:59The week before, somebody took out a pylon
0:07:59 > 0:08:03and left a generator there, running our electricity for a week or so.
0:08:03 > 0:08:05So it's an horrendous bit of road when it's that cold.
0:08:05 > 0:08:08- All right. Nik, thank you. I'm glad you've thawed out.- Thanks!
0:08:08 > 0:08:11I didn't think you were ever going to thaw out, watching that film.
0:08:11 > 0:08:14- And, PC Bob, thank you very much for both joining us.- Thanks.
0:08:16 > 0:08:20A man in his 90s has passed out and his lips have gone blue.
0:08:20 > 0:08:23The ambulance crew think that he may have had a heart attack.
0:08:23 > 0:08:26We're now going to see how his condition is diagnosed
0:08:26 > 0:08:31and treated, within hours of the crew arriving at his home.
0:08:36 > 0:08:38Senior paramedic Andy Eneas
0:08:38 > 0:08:41is working an early-morning ambulance shift
0:08:41 > 0:08:43with emergency care assistant Richard Shaw.
0:08:45 > 0:08:50They're heading out to a man in his 90s, who has collapsed in his home.
0:08:50 > 0:08:54They're suggesting his lips may have gone blue as well.
0:08:54 > 0:08:56Not much in the way of information besides that,
0:08:56 > 0:08:58other than there is a car on the scene, assessing.
0:08:58 > 0:09:01So, hopefully, we'll get more information quite soon.
0:09:06 > 0:09:08- 'Hello?'- Hello, ambulance.
0:09:08 > 0:09:12- AUTOMATED VOICE: - 'The door is now unlocked. Please enter the building.'
0:09:12 > 0:09:15It's immediately clear from John Ashwood's colour
0:09:15 > 0:09:17that something is seriously wrong.
0:09:17 > 0:09:22He started feeling unwell as he was making breakfast and then passed out.
0:09:22 > 0:09:25Rapid response paramedic Tom Hope,
0:09:25 > 0:09:28who was first to arrive, updates Andy.
0:09:28 > 0:09:30John is complaining of a left-side chest pain,
0:09:30 > 0:09:33radiating down the left arm.
0:09:33 > 0:09:36He has a cardiac... I mean, he's a dreadful colour, as you can see.
0:09:36 > 0:09:39He does have a cardiac history, he had a stent of seven years ago.
0:09:40 > 0:09:43Since then, John's general health has been good,
0:09:43 > 0:09:45although he is registered blind.
0:09:45 > 0:09:49His daughter, Joy, lives nearby and takes care of him.
0:09:49 > 0:09:53But his history of heart problems suggests there's a real possibility
0:09:53 > 0:09:56he could be having another heart attack NOW.
0:09:56 > 0:09:58How are you feeling now?
0:09:58 > 0:09:59Much the same?
0:09:59 > 0:10:03- So you still feel a bit...? He is very sweaty.- Mm. OK.
0:10:03 > 0:10:05Hello, young fella.
0:10:05 > 0:10:08This is my colleague, Andrew, he's going to look after you, OK?
0:10:09 > 0:10:12Like I said, we'll pop you in the ambulance, do some tests,
0:10:13 > 0:10:16but I suspect it's probably going to be a little trip to hospital.
0:10:16 > 0:10:19How does John look, colour-wise, compared to normal?
0:10:19 > 0:10:21- Not good.- Nothing like normal, OK.
0:10:22 > 0:10:25So you don't actually remember hitting the floor earlier?
0:10:25 > 0:10:27Not really.
0:10:31 > 0:10:32Yeah.
0:10:45 > 0:10:47OK, so next thing, basically...
0:10:48 > 0:10:50OK, so you didn't feel right,
0:10:50 > 0:10:52you were going to phone your daughter,
0:10:52 > 0:10:54and then next thing, you're on the floor?
0:10:55 > 0:10:58'They need to investigate what caused John to black out.
0:10:58 > 0:11:00'If it is a heart attack,
0:11:00 > 0:11:03'they need to get him into hospital as soon as possible.'
0:11:08 > 0:11:11Good man, right. We'll give you a hand round with your legs.
0:11:11 > 0:11:14You've had an ECG in the past before, obviously, John?
0:11:14 > 0:11:17Oh, yes, I have one every year, don't I?
0:11:17 > 0:11:20Oh, right. And all to keep on top of these things, yeah?
0:11:21 > 0:11:23- A check-up every 12 months.- Yeah, OK.
0:11:23 > 0:11:25- My last one was in December. - Yeah, OK.
0:11:28 > 0:11:30Just turn your wrists over for me.
0:11:33 > 0:11:37There you go, look. Already, I can see a bit on the interior there.
0:11:37 > 0:11:40'Even before John is fully connected to the ECG machine,
0:11:40 > 0:11:43'they spot some abnormalities in his heart rate.'
0:11:43 > 0:11:44Have we got all leads on?
0:11:46 > 0:11:49'It increases the likelihood that John has had a heart attack.'
0:11:49 > 0:11:52Now, your ECG, it may well be normal for you,
0:11:52 > 0:11:56but there's a couple of things on there that aren't quite right, OK?
0:11:56 > 0:11:59So we've got to sort of try and see whether this is something
0:11:59 > 0:12:02new or old, so the hospital are going to decide that, OK?
0:12:02 > 0:12:05We'll be going there on blue lights, might be a little bit of noise,
0:12:05 > 0:12:09It's just our sort of standard way that we do things, all right?
0:12:09 > 0:12:12- I'm going to go and get your daughter, John.- All right.
0:12:12 > 0:12:14She is going to come with us. All the best to you.
0:12:15 > 0:12:18- Thank you.- Take care. - Thanks for your help.- No problem.
0:12:20 > 0:12:24- Can I just check, John, you've not got a pacemaker, have you?- No.
0:12:24 > 0:12:27The problem is, where he's had heart problems in the past,
0:12:27 > 0:12:31we can't say whether this is new, or it might be similar to John's existing.
0:12:31 > 0:12:35But obviously, we have to treat it as the worst case scenario.
0:12:35 > 0:12:37We've sent a copy of the ECG through,
0:12:37 > 0:12:41so they can give us a decision on what they think.
0:12:46 > 0:12:48We're off to the lab, mate.
0:12:48 > 0:12:53'The decision from the doctors at the hospital has come through in minutes.
0:12:53 > 0:12:56'Something very serious has occurred in John's heart,
0:12:56 > 0:12:58'but Andy doesn't want to alarm him.'
0:12:58 > 0:13:02We're going to somewhere called the cardiac catheterisation lab, OK?
0:13:02 > 0:13:04You know you had the stent in the past?
0:13:06 > 0:13:08There's a possibility there could be another blockage, OK?
0:13:08 > 0:13:14So we'll take you to the lab, and they may do the same sort of procedure you had in the past, OK?
0:13:18 > 0:13:21'John's condition will be assessed immediately.
0:13:21 > 0:13:25'If he does have a blocked artery, he'll be straight into theatre.
0:13:28 > 0:13:30'We'll be back with John later.'
0:13:32 > 0:13:36Now, if you call this contact centre like this,
0:13:36 > 0:13:39you'd probably only expect the people to have to deal with local issues,
0:13:39 > 0:13:41but that's not always the case.
0:13:41 > 0:13:44I'm going to introduce you to a woman called Nathalie now.
0:13:44 > 0:13:48- I'll make sure she's not too busy. Can I speak to you, Nathalie? - Yeah, sure.
0:13:48 > 0:13:51Because you got a phone call, or the centre received a call,
0:13:51 > 0:13:54from a local woman who was concerned about a relative
0:13:54 > 0:13:56in the United States. What happened?
0:13:56 > 0:13:59Yes, she called in because her sister had recently
0:13:59 > 0:14:03moved to the States with her family, husband and children,
0:14:03 > 0:14:05and basically, she'd read on Facebook
0:14:05 > 0:14:07that she was worried and didn't feel safe at all
0:14:07 > 0:14:10because the husband had taken her mobile phone,
0:14:10 > 0:14:14threatened to kidnap the children and also assaulted her.
0:14:14 > 0:14:17They didn't know where to turn, so they contacted us.
0:14:17 > 0:14:19So, what did you do?
0:14:19 > 0:14:21What we did is... our Force Control Centre
0:14:21 > 0:14:24liaised with the American Embassy,
0:14:24 > 0:14:28managed to locate the actual address of this family
0:14:28 > 0:14:31and organised for the local police to go to that home address
0:14:31 > 0:14:34in the States and arrested the actual male.
0:14:36 > 0:14:40And we were able to liaise with the family here and make sure
0:14:40 > 0:14:43they were aware of everything that was happening
0:14:43 > 0:14:45and how quick things were getting sorted out.
0:14:45 > 0:14:46That's fantastic.
0:14:46 > 0:14:48I mean, are we talking about a number of days, weeks?
0:14:48 > 0:14:51No, from start to finish, it was, like, say, two hours.
0:14:52 > 0:14:55Two hours? So, a woman in Sussex rings you,
0:14:55 > 0:14:59- and in two hours, a man's arrested in the United States?- Yeah.
0:14:59 > 0:15:02- That is extraordinary. Is it a rare case?- It can happen.
0:15:04 > 0:15:06I mean, you know, it varies, it can be phases.
0:15:06 > 0:15:11All of a sudden, you get a lot of those kinds of calls, and another time, you won't.
0:15:13 > 0:15:15So over a period of months, nothing, and then...
0:15:15 > 0:15:17So, as long as we all work together...
0:15:17 > 0:15:20Amazing teamwork between the UK and the United States.
0:15:20 > 0:15:21That's right, yeah.
0:15:21 > 0:15:23And what happened to the family?
0:15:23 > 0:15:28The family was brought back to the UK, the mother and children,
0:15:28 > 0:15:31and he's still in the States.
0:15:31 > 0:15:35- Mother and children all back in the UK safe and sound?- Yeah, yeah.
0:15:35 > 0:15:38- What a fantastic story. Nathalie, thank you.- OK.
0:15:41 > 0:15:44Knocked off her bike on the way to a job interview,
0:15:44 > 0:15:48Bliss Hill's head has hit the windscreen of a car so hard
0:15:48 > 0:15:50it's left an imprint in the glass.
0:15:56 > 0:16:00'Paramedic Danny Milham and emergency care assistant Ollie Hunt
0:16:00 > 0:16:04'are on their way to help a young cyclist who's been in
0:16:04 > 0:16:06'a high-impact collision with a car.'
0:16:09 > 0:16:13'They arrive to find a rapid response crew already at the scene,
0:16:13 > 0:16:16'and the victim clearly in a state of shock.'
0:16:18 > 0:16:22We have Bliss, 22 years of age, who was on a push bike.
0:16:22 > 0:16:23The bike's coming across the road,
0:16:24 > 0:16:26the car's come through a green traffic light,
0:16:26 > 0:16:29she's collided with the front of the car, bulls-eyed the windscreen...
0:16:29 > 0:16:33- Oh, nice...- ..KO'd, got a sizeable lump on the back of her head.
0:16:33 > 0:16:36'Bulls-eyeing got its name because of the pattern created
0:16:36 > 0:16:38'when someone hits a windscreen.
0:16:38 > 0:16:41'In this case, it was Bliss Hill's head,
0:16:41 > 0:16:44'leaving the glass with a six-inch wide crater and,
0:16:44 > 0:16:47'unfortunately for her, she wasn't wearing a helmet.'
0:16:47 > 0:16:50Right, we're going to put this collar round your neck.
0:16:50 > 0:16:52I just want you to keep nice and still,
0:16:52 > 0:16:54just let me support your head, all right?
0:16:54 > 0:16:57Don't try and move, we'll do all the moving round you.
0:16:57 > 0:17:00'She's badly cut and bruised on her hands, face and back,
0:17:00 > 0:17:04'and she is complaining of a headache and nausea -
0:17:04 > 0:17:05'possible symptoms of a brain injury.
0:17:05 > 0:17:08'Her neck and spine need to be immobilised.'
0:17:08 > 0:17:12I know it's probably a bit sore, this is the worst bit, OK?
0:17:12 > 0:17:16'Her friend, Brandon, is by her side and is trying to comfort her,
0:17:16 > 0:17:18'but she's clearly in distress.'
0:17:21 > 0:17:23I know.
0:17:23 > 0:17:27'As the adrenaline wears off, the pain kicked in.'
0:17:27 > 0:17:29I know it feels like we're pawing at you...
0:17:29 > 0:17:32Whereabouts?
0:17:33 > 0:17:34OK.
0:17:34 > 0:17:37You're on quite a lot of stuff here, all right?
0:17:37 > 0:17:40Whereabouts on your back is it feeling sore?
0:17:40 > 0:17:41Lower left, OK.
0:17:41 > 0:17:46'The crew use a scoop - a collapsible lightweight body board -
0:17:46 > 0:17:50'to ease Bliss off the ground as painlessly as possible.'
0:17:50 > 0:17:52Ready, set, roll.
0:17:55 > 0:17:58'It's still an uncomfortable process,
0:17:58 > 0:18:01'but better than manhandling her on to a traditional stretcher.'
0:18:01 > 0:18:03Just snap that one in. There you go.
0:18:04 > 0:18:07Everyone ready to roll back and roll? Ready, set, roll.
0:18:08 > 0:18:11I'm just going to put some tape across your head
0:18:11 > 0:18:13and some tape across your chin.
0:18:13 > 0:18:16- Oh, that's really sore on there. - Just a sec.
0:18:19 > 0:18:21You've got a little cut below your eye,
0:18:21 > 0:18:24it looks worse than what it is, just because of the blood,
0:18:24 > 0:18:26but it's not too bad at the moment.
0:18:28 > 0:18:30There's going to be a couple of bumps.
0:18:32 > 0:18:34'Once they've got her in the ambulance,
0:18:34 > 0:18:37'the crew can do a more thorough examination.'
0:18:39 > 0:18:41- Is there any pain when you breathe in deeply?- No.
0:18:43 > 0:18:44OK, have you got any pain in your tummy?
0:18:46 > 0:18:49- Nothing at all? And you can wiggle your toes?- Yeah.
0:18:49 > 0:18:51- Everything feels normal?- Yeah.
0:18:51 > 0:18:55Apart from my head, and my lower left back.
0:18:56 > 0:19:00'It turns out that Bliss was on her way to a job interview.'
0:19:00 > 0:19:03- And where were you off to? - Going for an interview.
0:19:03 > 0:19:05- Oh, right, where to?- Bingo.
0:19:06 > 0:19:08Bingo! Oh, right. The one at Westbourne?
0:19:09 > 0:19:11- Yeah, the one just up the road. - Oh, right.
0:19:11 > 0:19:14- OK, we're going to do your blood pressure, all right?- OK.
0:19:14 > 0:19:17'Considering how Bliss is now, it's amazing to think
0:19:17 > 0:19:20'that less than 30 minutes ago, she shattered a car windscreen
0:19:21 > 0:19:24'with her head, and she survived to tell the story.'
0:19:25 > 0:19:28- You've done a good job to the windscreen.- Have I?
0:19:28 > 0:19:29- Yeah.- Oh, dear.
0:19:29 > 0:19:31A proper job.
0:19:31 > 0:19:35- Is it smashed?- Yeah.- A lot?- Yeah.
0:19:35 > 0:19:38Because she's banged her head and the mechanism of injury,
0:19:38 > 0:19:40or the mechanism of the incident,
0:19:40 > 0:19:42we're going to immobilise her spine
0:19:42 > 0:19:45and we're going to take her to Poole Hospital
0:19:45 > 0:19:46for a check-up.
0:19:49 > 0:19:53- My head is ever so painful. - I'm sure it is.
0:19:53 > 0:19:56- Do you want some painkillers for it? - I wouldn't mind.
0:19:56 > 0:19:57Can we pull over, Chief?
0:19:57 > 0:19:59'Danny's decided to give her some morphine
0:19:59 > 0:20:02'to help get her through the journey to Poole A&E.'
0:20:04 > 0:20:06Right, then, sharp scratch somewhere here.
0:20:08 > 0:20:11'Once the cannula is inserted, they can head off again
0:20:11 > 0:20:15'and soon pass the bingo hall where she was due for a job interview.'
0:20:16 > 0:20:17Oh, we're outside a bingo hall!
0:20:17 > 0:20:20Do you want to quickly do your interview on there?
0:20:21 > 0:20:25'For Bliss, it's starting to sink in just what a close call she had.'
0:20:25 > 0:20:26Lucky, aren't I?
0:20:27 > 0:20:29Yeah, I reckon.
0:20:29 > 0:20:33I know helmets, I know people go on and nag about helmets, but...
0:20:33 > 0:20:36You still would have had some cuts to your face, but...
0:20:36 > 0:20:40Well, I wouldn't have had that great big stonking head, would I?
0:20:40 > 0:20:43- No, no.- I will be getting one from now on, I promise.
0:20:46 > 0:20:48'Bizarrely, Bliss admits she'd actually dreamt
0:20:48 > 0:20:50'she was going to have an accident.'
0:20:50 > 0:20:53I had a nightmare last night that I got run over,
0:20:53 > 0:20:56and I never have nightmares, and I got run over.
0:20:57 > 0:21:01I'm not usually one to believe those kinds of things, but that's weird.
0:21:08 > 0:21:10'Now at hospital, Ollie keeps Bliss chatting
0:21:10 > 0:21:12'while she's waiting to be assessed.'
0:21:12 > 0:21:14Do you ever play the bingo?
0:21:14 > 0:21:15- LAUGHING:- No!
0:21:15 > 0:21:17No? That's not funny, is it?
0:21:17 > 0:21:19'Bliss will now be seen by a consultant
0:21:19 > 0:21:23'and will find out exactly how bad her injuries actually are.'
0:21:24 > 0:21:27And, as it turns out, Bliss, you were only in hospital
0:21:27 > 0:21:29- for a day or so, wasn't it? - Yes, it was, yeah.
0:21:29 > 0:21:32I know that you were on your way to a job interview.
0:21:32 > 0:21:34How far, exactly, were you from the job interview?
0:21:34 > 0:21:37- About 300 metres, and I didn't quite make it.- Oh, no!
0:21:37 > 0:21:38So you were really
0:21:38 > 0:21:43- worried about that, presumably? - Well, yeah, but I would hope that they would understand,
0:21:43 > 0:21:45seeing as I got run over.
0:21:45 > 0:21:48So the police said they were going to call, they didn't need to call,
0:21:48 > 0:21:50because what actually happened at the end?
0:21:50 > 0:21:52- Did you get the job? - Yeah, I got the job.
0:21:52 > 0:21:55- Were they quite understanding? - Yeah, they were very understanding.
0:21:55 > 0:21:57You would be, wouldn't you?
0:21:57 > 0:22:00When you go to work now, do you take a little bit more care?
0:22:00 > 0:22:02I've been all right now, I just had sore hips to begin with,
0:22:02 > 0:22:04but I don't do too much running around now.
0:22:04 > 0:22:08It's quite a different job, explain what it is - you're not a bingo caller, are you?
0:22:08 > 0:22:10No, I hand out the cash prizes.
0:22:10 > 0:22:13- Which is a nice job, presumably? - I make lots of people happy.
0:22:13 > 0:22:15I bet the old ladies love you.
0:22:15 > 0:22:16- Hello, Bliss.- Hello.
0:22:16 > 0:22:17Well done, you.
0:22:17 > 0:22:20I had to come and see you because as soon as I heard bingo caller,
0:22:20 > 0:22:22I always fancied myself as one of those.
0:22:22 > 0:22:23She's not a caller, but...
0:22:23 > 0:22:26You might have to help me out, what is this one? 13.
0:22:27 > 0:22:28Unlucky 13.
0:22:28 > 0:22:31- Oh!- I think you're very lucky, to be perfectly honest,
0:22:31 > 0:22:33to hit a windscreen at that speed.
0:22:33 > 0:22:36- Thank you very much, I'm glad you're OK.- Thank you.
0:22:36 > 0:22:37Well done, Bliss.
0:22:40 > 0:22:44Still to come on Real Rescues, the moment of impact
0:22:44 > 0:22:46the car fills with what looks like smoke,
0:22:46 > 0:22:48but does that mean it's on fire?
0:22:51 > 0:22:53He's fallen off his ladder not once, but twice.
0:22:53 > 0:22:56This time, he's banged his head and knocked himself unconscious,
0:22:56 > 0:22:59but Paul still wants to get up.
0:23:00 > 0:23:01No, mate!
0:23:02 > 0:23:05- Just lie there and listen. - All right.
0:23:09 > 0:23:12Now, the invention of airbags has been a major development in road safety.
0:23:12 > 0:23:16Since they were made a feature in modern cars in the early 1990s,
0:23:16 > 0:23:17many lives have been saved.
0:23:17 > 0:23:20But for firefighters, the presence of an airbag
0:23:20 > 0:23:23is a warning sign for them to take extra care.
0:23:27 > 0:23:30J54, Papa One in attendance.
0:23:31 > 0:23:33'It's early evening,
0:23:33 > 0:23:36'and Southampton's Green Watch fire crew are heading to a car fire.
0:23:38 > 0:23:40'The car's engulfed in flames.
0:23:40 > 0:23:42'They're shooting ten feet into the air.
0:23:42 > 0:23:46'The surrounding area of this busy street has been cordoned off.
0:23:49 > 0:23:50'Car fires can be unpredictable.
0:23:50 > 0:23:54'The fuel tank, electrics, tyres and even burning car batteries
0:23:54 > 0:23:57'can be potentially lethal once they heat up.
0:23:59 > 0:24:03'The crew are wearing breathing apparatus as they go in.
0:24:03 > 0:24:07'The synthetic materials inside the car can generate deadly fumes once alight.
0:24:11 > 0:24:14'As they move in close to hose the flames, suddenly...
0:24:16 > 0:24:17'..there's an explosion.'
0:24:17 > 0:24:20Startled, firefighter Ben pulls away,
0:24:20 > 0:24:23'but within seconds is back in there fighting the flames.
0:24:25 > 0:24:28'The car driver, 19-year-old student Adam,
0:24:28 > 0:24:31'and his mate, Chad, can only look on in shock.
0:24:33 > 0:24:35'They've had a lucky escape.
0:24:35 > 0:24:37'It's a good job they got out of the car fast
0:24:37 > 0:24:39'when the cigarette lighter burst into flames.'
0:24:40 > 0:24:43I was driving along and we could smell burning plastic.
0:24:43 > 0:24:48And we looked down and our cigarette lighter was smoking,
0:24:48 > 0:24:49loads of smoke was just
0:24:49 > 0:24:53coming out of the cigarette lighter. Then we saw there was a small flame,
0:24:53 > 0:24:55so we just literally jumped out of the car,
0:24:55 > 0:24:58tried to get water from somewhere, but we couldn't.
0:24:58 > 0:25:02Then when I turned round, my car was just in massive flames!
0:25:05 > 0:25:09'Fires like this can reach temperatures of 1,500 degrees Fahrenheit,
0:25:09 > 0:25:13'around six times the temperature of boiling water.
0:25:13 > 0:25:17'It's taken just minutes for the car to turn into an inferno.
0:25:17 > 0:25:19'Even the wing mirrors are melting.
0:25:20 > 0:25:22'Once the fire's out,
0:25:22 > 0:25:25'the crew have to contend with plumes of thick, toxic smoke.'
0:25:25 > 0:25:28I'm about to investigate, but looking at the vehicle,
0:25:28 > 0:25:33the fire started in the driving compartment, it hasn't started under the bonnet.
0:25:34 > 0:25:36The chap concerned,
0:25:36 > 0:25:37he got out of the car with his friend.
0:25:37 > 0:25:40Unfortunately, he left his phone in the car,
0:25:40 > 0:25:42which has obviously been destroyed,
0:25:42 > 0:25:46but his friend had a phone and called us straightaway
0:25:46 > 0:25:48and waited for our arrival.
0:25:49 > 0:25:52'The source of the earlier explosion is still a mystery.
0:25:52 > 0:25:55'Watch manager Sean Foster is cutting open the bonnet
0:25:55 > 0:25:58'to see if there are any clues in the engine bay.'
0:25:58 > 0:26:01It wasn't a tyre that's actually on the vehicle,
0:26:01 > 0:26:03there's some wheel trims in the back.
0:26:05 > 0:26:07It could have been gas exploding,
0:26:07 > 0:26:09it could have been a number of things.
0:26:09 > 0:26:11I thought it was a tyre, it's not a tyre.
0:26:11 > 0:26:14But Ben Carter, who was closest, has his own theory.
0:26:14 > 0:26:18It was the airbag charge going off in the steering wheel - it went "bang".
0:26:18 > 0:26:19Made me jump a little bit, yeah.
0:26:19 > 0:26:21That'll teach me for getting too close.
0:26:24 > 0:26:28The explosion in that car fire was caused by the airbag inflator cylinder.
0:26:28 > 0:26:31What's that? It's that thing that makes the airbag inflate.
0:26:31 > 0:26:35Well, earlier, Louise spoke to Martin Lusk from East Sussex Fire,
0:26:35 > 0:26:38and he's an expert in airbag safety.
0:26:38 > 0:26:39Hi there, Martin.
0:26:39 > 0:26:41So these cylinders, they can literally go off
0:26:41 > 0:26:44in a blink of an eye, can't they? How quickly?
0:26:44 > 0:26:47If they're going to react to a car crash,
0:26:47 > 0:26:50they will take about 50 milliseconds.
0:26:50 > 0:26:53- 50 milliseconds?- Yeah.- Which means?
0:26:53 > 0:26:56It will take you about 100 milliseconds to blink,
0:26:56 > 0:26:58so half a blink, they're out.
0:26:58 > 0:27:00- Before you've even realised.- Yes.
0:27:00 > 0:27:03In a modern car, how many airbags are there?
0:27:03 > 0:27:06Well, in this car, you have obviously one in the steering wheel,
0:27:06 > 0:27:09there's one for the passenger on the side,
0:27:09 > 0:27:13you've also got side airbags in the side of the seats.
0:27:13 > 0:27:16In other cars, they can be in the rear pillars,
0:27:16 > 0:27:19or might even be in the front pillar, so you get a curtain go across.
0:27:19 > 0:27:23- And they have saved many thousands of lives.- Absolutely, yeah.
0:27:24 > 0:27:27You've got concerns about babies, particularly,
0:27:27 > 0:27:28in the front seat, haven't you?
0:27:28 > 0:27:32Yeah, with the front seat, babies sit in those rear-facing seats.
0:27:32 > 0:27:34Never, ever put one in the front seat.
0:27:34 > 0:27:37- If it's got an airbag? - If it's got an airbag.
0:27:37 > 0:27:40Because the force that the airbag will deploy,
0:27:40 > 0:27:44it'll be very close to where the seat is, and it can kill the child.
0:27:44 > 0:27:48And when they're a bit bigger, in those different booster seats,
0:27:48 > 0:27:50they can sit in the front?
0:27:50 > 0:27:52That's fine, the distance then is fine,
0:27:52 > 0:27:54it's purely the rear-facing seats.
0:27:54 > 0:27:57Tell me quickly as well, what about other things?
0:27:57 > 0:27:59Things on the dashboard and people sitting in here.
0:27:59 > 0:28:01Yeah, check with your manufacturer's handbook,
0:28:01 > 0:28:05find out where your airbags are, and in this particular case,
0:28:05 > 0:28:08it has an airbag here, it will deploy from this area.
0:28:08 > 0:28:10Don't stick anything to the dash there,
0:28:10 > 0:28:14because when it opens, it's going to fly off. And don't put your legs up there.
0:28:14 > 0:28:17You see a lot of people travelling with their feet up on there.
0:28:17 > 0:28:19- I might have done that.- Ah.
0:28:19 > 0:28:23Don't do that, it'll be very, very painful for you if it goes off.
0:28:24 > 0:28:26I now see why, thank you.
0:28:26 > 0:28:30What about best driving position, then?
0:28:30 > 0:28:32OK, we're looking for at least ten inches between
0:28:32 > 0:28:37where the airbags deploy from and your chest.
0:28:37 > 0:28:41You can achieve that by moving the seat backwards and forwards
0:28:41 > 0:28:44to a comfortable driving position.
0:28:44 > 0:28:46Most steering wheels will move as well.
0:28:46 > 0:28:48So, this one, it's a simple unlock here.
0:28:50 > 0:28:53Not only does it go up and down, it can go in and out.
0:28:53 > 0:28:55You'll get a comfortable driving position,
0:28:55 > 0:28:59find what that is for you, make sure there's at least ten inches
0:28:59 > 0:29:01from there to your chest, you'll be fine.
0:29:01 > 0:29:04One of the other things I've noticed - we have some footage of this -
0:29:04 > 0:29:08is that when an airbag goes off, there's a smoke effect. What's that?
0:29:08 > 0:29:11The construction of the bags, they're nylon,
0:29:11 > 0:29:14and they deploy so quickly, like we've said,
0:29:14 > 0:29:17that without having something like talcum powder around it
0:29:17 > 0:29:23to lubricate it, they could burn, so it's purely that.
0:29:23 > 0:29:25It's a lubricant to allow the bag to deploy properly.
0:29:25 > 0:29:28It's talcum powder, or something similar, and inert.
0:29:28 > 0:29:31And does that confuse people sometimes,
0:29:31 > 0:29:32when they've been in an accident?
0:29:32 > 0:29:35It can appear like there's a car fire.
0:29:35 > 0:29:39Of course, there can be a car fire following an accident,
0:29:39 > 0:29:43but 99 times out of 100, that's going to start in the engine compartment.
0:29:43 > 0:29:46You would recognise the difference, the smell would be plasticky,
0:29:46 > 0:29:49you'll probably hear it as well, to be honest with you.
0:29:49 > 0:29:52If there's just a little bit of light smoke in this area,
0:29:52 > 0:29:54it's probably talc.
0:29:54 > 0:29:56Lots of really useful information,
0:29:56 > 0:29:59- I shall never travel with my feet on the dashboard again!- Please don't.
0:29:59 > 0:30:01I know you're really busy, you're on call,
0:30:01 > 0:30:04- so I'm going to leave you, but thank you very much.- You're welcome.
0:30:06 > 0:30:09We've been following the story of John Ashwood.
0:30:09 > 0:30:12He's in his nineties and he's had what looks like a heart attack.
0:30:12 > 0:30:15But he's not going to A&E. He's been taken straight to the heart unit.
0:30:20 > 0:30:22The ambulance has taken John straight in
0:30:22 > 0:30:26to the hospital's cardiac catheterisation lab.
0:30:26 > 0:30:28The medical team are assessing his condition.
0:30:28 > 0:30:34And it's soon confirmed that John has suffered a heart attack.
0:30:34 > 0:30:37Seven years ago, he had surgery to insert a stent,
0:30:37 > 0:30:40a small artificial tube to open up a blocked artery.
0:30:40 > 0:30:44Now, another clot has occurred in exactly the same place.
0:30:44 > 0:30:47They're going to try and remove it straightaway.
0:30:50 > 0:30:52Sharp stretch of the wrist.
0:30:52 > 0:30:56This can be a very risky procedure for someone of John's age.
0:30:56 > 0:31:01Doctor Ali Darna inserts a catheter into an artery in John's wrist
0:31:01 > 0:31:05then directs it all the way up the arm and then down into the heart.
0:31:05 > 0:31:09Right, take a deep breath in for me. Deep as you can.
0:31:09 > 0:31:11And hold your breath in there.
0:31:11 > 0:31:14He can follow its progress on a monitor in the theatre.
0:31:14 > 0:31:17Here, he can clearly see John's beating heart
0:31:17 > 0:31:20with the blood flow to one artery blocked.
0:31:20 > 0:31:23It's standard practice for the patient to stay awake
0:31:23 > 0:31:26throughout the whole procedure.
0:31:33 > 0:31:37The catheter reaches the blockage, it sucks the clot clear,
0:31:37 > 0:31:40leaving the blood to flow free once more.
0:31:55 > 0:31:59Next, Doctor Ali inserts a tiny balloon which will inflate
0:31:59 > 0:32:02once it's in place within the artery.
0:32:07 > 0:32:09How's that pain, Mr Wood?
0:32:11 > 0:32:13Has it? Good. Well, the artery's nice and open.
0:32:15 > 0:32:19The balloon is moved inside the old stent to open it up,
0:32:19 > 0:32:21allowing the free flow of blood
0:32:21 > 0:32:24and helping prevent any future clots building up.
0:32:31 > 0:32:32You've been extremely good, sir.
0:32:34 > 0:32:36You've been a star patient.
0:32:36 > 0:32:38It's taken just 25 minutes.
0:32:38 > 0:32:41John has gone through the whole procedure without a complaint.
0:32:44 > 0:32:48So, this chap has had a stent put in before.
0:32:49 > 0:32:52And in this view here, you can see the stent
0:32:52 > 0:32:54that he's had put in before.
0:32:54 > 0:32:57And it's completely blocked. So the first thing we did
0:32:57 > 0:33:00was put a wire into the artery,
0:33:00 > 0:33:05and we sucked out the thrombis, the clot that was causing the blockage of the stent.
0:33:05 > 0:33:09With a thrombectomy catheter, with an export catheter,
0:33:09 > 0:33:11and that's clearly restored flow in the artery
0:33:11 > 0:33:13and those diagonal branches.
0:33:16 > 0:33:19And as he's got some stents in there already,
0:33:19 > 0:33:21I elected not to put any more stents in,
0:33:21 > 0:33:25and just let the artery take care of itself.
0:33:25 > 0:33:28And that's the final picture,
0:33:28 > 0:33:30the anterior part of the heart, which is there...
0:33:32 > 0:33:35..is not working as well as it should be, but it's not surprising,
0:33:35 > 0:33:39and that should gradually recover over the next few weeks to months.
0:33:39 > 0:33:42Doctor Ali is pleased with the results so far.
0:33:42 > 0:33:47Very well indeed. I was quite concerned, obviously, because of his age.
0:33:47 > 0:33:51But having said that, at the age of 92, he's got the most risk
0:33:51 > 0:33:53and the most benefit from this procedure.
0:33:54 > 0:33:57John will remain in hospital for a few days,
0:33:57 > 0:34:00where he'll be carefully monitored.
0:34:03 > 0:34:05I want to have a chat to Adam.
0:34:05 > 0:34:08Not about something that happened here, but something when you were off duty.
0:34:08 > 0:34:09You saw an injured person.
0:34:09 > 0:34:12Yes. It was after I had my interview to work here.
0:34:12 > 0:34:15I was on my way into Brighton,
0:34:15 > 0:34:18saw a gentleman on the side of the road who had an injury
0:34:18 > 0:34:22and because of my specialist training, I pulled up on the other side of the road
0:34:22 > 0:34:24got my first aid kit and my warrant card,
0:34:24 > 0:34:26ran across the road and started treating him,
0:34:26 > 0:34:29because he had a bad head injury,
0:34:29 > 0:34:33and then the person that had done this, he then came back,
0:34:33 > 0:34:37so my gentleman found the strength to attack him again,
0:34:37 > 0:34:39so then it became a matter of restraining him
0:34:39 > 0:34:41at the same time as trying to treat him as well.
0:34:41 > 0:34:43So you're sort of dealing with two people,
0:34:43 > 0:34:46one that's injured and two people having a fight as well?
0:34:46 > 0:34:47Yes, yes. Unfortunately so.
0:34:47 > 0:34:49Fortunately, the other gentleman had left,
0:34:49 > 0:34:52so it was just a matter of calming my guy down
0:34:52 > 0:34:55and dealing with his injury.
0:34:55 > 0:34:59- Not what you would expect.- Not on the day after an interview, no.
0:34:59 > 0:35:02- And it nearly got worse than that, didn't it?- It did.
0:35:02 > 0:35:03There was a parking warden...
0:35:03 > 0:35:05Because I'd left my car on the other side of the road,
0:35:05 > 0:35:08a traffic warden went to go and give me a ticket,
0:35:08 > 0:35:10so I had to hold my hands up
0:35:10 > 0:35:13to show I was obviously dealing with somebody that was injured.
0:35:13 > 0:35:16- Tell us about the hands. They were covered in blood?- Yes.
0:35:16 > 0:35:18They were covered in the gentleman's blood.
0:35:18 > 0:35:21And then the ambulance crew arrived and he was taken care of.
0:35:21 > 0:35:23I think that's a good excuse to get off a parking ticket.
0:35:23 > 0:35:26- Yes, absolutely.- And it wasn't all bad at the end of the day.
0:35:26 > 0:35:29When did you find out you'd actually got the job, then?
0:35:29 > 0:35:30It was about two weeks later,
0:35:30 > 0:35:33and then I've used that every time in interview now.
0:35:33 > 0:35:34So, it's a good little experience.
0:35:34 > 0:35:38We've had lots of talk about interviews today. Thanks and congratulations on the job as well.
0:35:38 > 0:35:40- Lovely, thank you.- Thank you.
0:35:43 > 0:35:46Accidents at home are a major reason for calls to emergency services.
0:35:46 > 0:35:51Around 600 people a day are treated after DIY disasters
0:35:51 > 0:35:54and we've seen our fair share here on Real Rescues.
0:35:54 > 0:35:57There was Ian Larn, building a marquee in his garden
0:35:57 > 0:36:01and stabbed his hand with a knife, cutting into an artery.
0:36:01 > 0:36:04And there was Robert, who fell down the stairs while painting
0:36:04 > 0:36:06and broke his ankle.
0:36:13 > 0:36:15OK.
0:36:15 > 0:36:16HE LAUGHS
0:36:16 > 0:36:18Now we've got Paul Adams.
0:36:18 > 0:36:21He's fallen off his ladder twice in one day
0:36:21 > 0:36:23and he is sure where the blame lies.
0:36:23 > 0:36:24With the ladder.
0:36:27 > 0:36:29It's a sunny afternoon on the South Coast.
0:36:29 > 0:36:32A perfect day for catching up on DIY.
0:36:32 > 0:36:35But at one house, it's gone horribly wrong.
0:36:38 > 0:36:42Ambulance crew John Leatherbarrow and paramedic Jason Papworth
0:36:42 > 0:36:45have been called to a man who's fallen from a ladder
0:36:45 > 0:36:48trying to fix his guttering.
0:36:50 > 0:36:53When they arrive, there's plenty of evidence of the accident,
0:36:53 > 0:36:55but no sign of the casualty.
0:36:55 > 0:36:57KNOCKING
0:36:57 > 0:36:58- Hello.- Hello.
0:36:58 > 0:37:03They find Paul Adams inside being treated by David Meeson,
0:37:03 > 0:37:05the first to arrive in the rapid response car.
0:37:05 > 0:37:07So this is Paul.
0:37:07 > 0:37:10- He was on step ladders outside... - OK.
0:37:10 > 0:37:14..and he's fallen backwards. He's hit his head on the Tarmac.
0:37:16 > 0:37:19Paul is conscious now, but after staggering back into the house,
0:37:19 > 0:37:22he passed out for two minutes.
0:37:22 > 0:37:26Luckily, his daughter had just arrived and she dialled 999.
0:37:26 > 0:37:29He's got the head wound on the back of his head.
0:37:29 > 0:37:31His jaw was painful on the left-hand side.
0:37:31 > 0:37:34He is a much better colour than he was.
0:37:36 > 0:37:40And he's a lot more with it than he was originally.
0:37:40 > 0:37:42Paul's daughter was shocked to learn
0:37:42 > 0:37:45it wasn't the first time it had happened that day.
0:37:45 > 0:37:48And this is his second fall, because he fell off earlier today,
0:37:48 > 0:37:50and he's got a graze on his leg and stomach
0:37:50 > 0:37:52from falling off earlier.
0:37:52 > 0:37:53So he went back for seconds?
0:37:53 > 0:37:57The ladder, it was from the top and not as he was coming down
0:37:57 > 0:37:59- and halfway down?- No... - Guttering height?- Yes.
0:37:59 > 0:38:03My head was about...top of the bungalow, where the guttering is,
0:38:03 > 0:38:06and I went down, then I hit my head on the Tarmac.
0:38:08 > 0:38:10I managed to get up and you came along.
0:38:10 > 0:38:15The medics can't rule out serious head or spinal injuries.
0:38:15 > 0:38:18- I can walk.- No, mate. - HE LAUGHS
0:38:18 > 0:38:20- Just lie there and listen. - All right.
0:38:20 > 0:38:21HE LAUGHS
0:38:21 > 0:38:24The problem is, you've had this fall, haven't you?
0:38:24 > 0:38:27We know you've got the head wound and your jaw's painful,
0:38:27 > 0:38:30- so you must have taken quite a knock to it, mustn't you?- I did.
0:38:30 > 0:38:35So as a precaution, the sensible thing is to put you on a firm board
0:38:35 > 0:38:38and put a collar on and just as a precaution,
0:38:38 > 0:38:41until you've been seen at the hospital, just to do that.
0:38:41 > 0:38:42OK, I understand.
0:38:42 > 0:38:46Paul's obvious improvement is a relief to his wife and daughter.
0:38:50 > 0:38:52He's so much more with it than he was.
0:38:52 > 0:38:55Before they put Paul on to the spinal board,
0:38:55 > 0:38:58Dave needs to do a thorough examination of his head and spine
0:38:58 > 0:39:00to check for further injuries.
0:39:00 > 0:39:04- Can you tell me if you have got...- There, that's the most pain.
0:39:04 > 0:39:07- You have got some pain. - I have there, just there.
0:39:07 > 0:39:09OK, well, I'll just carry on down, just to...
0:39:09 > 0:39:12Pain in his spine means he could have suffered
0:39:12 > 0:39:16a life-changing injury. They can't take any chances.
0:39:16 > 0:39:19When we get the board in, all right?
0:39:19 > 0:39:22- Yes.- What we're going to do is we'll do all the moving.
0:39:22 > 0:39:25- OK.- So apart from your thighs and stuff,
0:39:25 > 0:39:29there was nothing from the previous fall, apart from these grazes?
0:39:29 > 0:39:33- No.- So it's your second fall that's...- Caused the problem.- OK.
0:39:33 > 0:39:36My jaw really hurts, down here.
0:39:36 > 0:39:39- Whereabouts?- Round there. - Just that side?
0:39:39 > 0:39:41I couldn't speak at first because my jaw was all...
0:39:41 > 0:39:43I thought I'd broke my jaw.
0:39:43 > 0:39:45OK, how's your vision?
0:39:45 > 0:39:49It was bad at first, for the first 20 minutes, half an hour.
0:39:49 > 0:39:53I was, sort of double vision and...
0:39:53 > 0:39:55The symptoms are worrying.
0:39:55 > 0:39:58Paul will need a thorough check-over in hospital.
0:39:58 > 0:40:00Ready, set, slide.
0:40:06 > 0:40:07There we go.
0:40:10 > 0:40:11No, not yet!
0:40:12 > 0:40:13HE LAUGHS
0:40:13 > 0:40:18Paul's not blaming anyone for the accident but himself.
0:40:18 > 0:40:21He knows exactly why he fell, not once, but twice.
0:40:21 > 0:40:23Trouble is, I've got this flimsy step ladder.
0:40:25 > 0:40:28I know it's flimsy. I already fell off an hour before.
0:40:28 > 0:40:30At that point, you didn't think,
0:40:30 > 0:40:33I really should go in for a cup of tea and give up on this for today?
0:40:33 > 0:40:34THEY LAUGH
0:40:36 > 0:40:39I should've thrown them away a long time ago.
0:40:39 > 0:40:43You just thought, I really must have an ambulance visit today?
0:40:49 > 0:40:52Paul's taken straight in to A&E, where consultant Peter Richmond
0:40:52 > 0:40:56will investigate exactly what injuries he suffered.
0:40:56 > 0:40:59Let me just pull this back a second.
0:40:59 > 0:41:01Squeeze my fingers really tight.
0:41:01 > 0:41:04Push me away. Pull me towards you.
0:41:04 > 0:41:07Spread your fingers out like that for me and keep them spread out.
0:41:07 > 0:41:12Just to let you know, I fell off the ladder about an hour before as well
0:41:12 > 0:41:14and hurt my elbow and thigh.
0:41:14 > 0:41:15THEY LAUGH
0:41:15 > 0:41:17But I'm not bothered about my thigh and elbow.
0:41:17 > 0:41:20- That's telling you something, wasn't it?- Yes, it was, yes.
0:41:20 > 0:41:23I should've said today wasn't the right day.
0:41:23 > 0:41:24- Ready, set...- Roll.
0:41:27 > 0:41:30Next, Peter presses along Paul's spine,
0:41:30 > 0:41:33checking each vertebra for a spinal injury.
0:41:33 > 0:41:34- Any pain up here?- No.
0:41:34 > 0:41:37- Coming down here?- No. - All the way down here?- No.
0:41:37 > 0:41:38You're sore in there?
0:41:39 > 0:41:41- Not too bad.- The top there?- No.
0:41:41 > 0:41:43- Coming over this side...- Yes.
0:41:43 > 0:41:45- You're sore that side?- Slightly.
0:41:45 > 0:41:48- Have I hurt you?- A little bit. - Whereabouts?
0:41:48 > 0:41:50Mostly all round here.
0:41:50 > 0:41:53For some reason, it's not bruising or anything, but we need to take some X-rays.
0:41:53 > 0:41:57- I'd like you to stay in the collar until we've got the X-rays.- Yes.
0:41:57 > 0:42:00- I think you've been lucky. - Yes, I have.
0:42:00 > 0:42:03It seems Paul has escaped any serious injuries,
0:42:03 > 0:42:05but before he's allowed home,
0:42:05 > 0:42:08his back will be X-rayed to double-check.
0:42:08 > 0:42:10- See you later, buddy.- Cheers.
0:42:10 > 0:42:13Well, Paul is back on his feet after being treated for whiplash
0:42:13 > 0:42:16and bumps and bruises. He's counting his blessings
0:42:16 > 0:42:18and has vowed never to use his step ladder again.
0:42:18 > 0:42:20- What about you with DIY? - I'm useless.
0:42:20 > 0:42:23I once spent half an hour trying to drill some holes in a cupboard,
0:42:23 > 0:42:25going for it hammer and tongs,
0:42:25 > 0:42:28sweating and then realised, I had it on reverse.
0:42:28 > 0:42:29So what was bruised, your ego?
0:42:29 > 0:42:33Definitely my ego, thank goodness, no accidents in the kitchen.
0:42:33 > 0:42:35- Thank goodness for that, hey? - That's it for Real Rescues.
0:42:35 > 0:42:38- Join us again next time. We'll you see then.- Bye-bye.
0:42:50 > 0:42:53Subtitles by Red Bee Media Ltd