Air Ambulance crew hitch a lift to aid pensioner

Dec 13 2009 Sunday Sun

PARAMEDICS hailed a lift from passing drivers to rush to the aid of a pensioner trapped under a van.

Medics from the Air Ambulance were called to the scene of a 73-year-old woman trapped under the delivery van, in Roker, Sunderland.

Narrow roads surrounding the accident forced their chopper to land three streets away.

With no time to lose the medical team flagged down a passing van and car, who agreed to rush them to the rescue effort.

The good Samaritans got paramedics to the patient in time for a doctor, also heading to the scene, to be briefed.

Last night the pensioner was still fighting for her life in Sunderland Royal Hospital’s high dependency unit.

It is understood she collided with the Fed Ex van while it was reversing, then was left trapped underneath for half-an-hour before a fire and rescue crew skillfully freed her, on Thursday afternoon.

Eye witnesses have told how close she had come to the wheels.

One said: “You could see hair left on the road.”

The crash victim’s stunned husband told the Sunday Sun he was devastated by the accident and was too upset to talk at length.

He was by her side when she was pulled under the van and ran to alert the driver.

He has remained by her side at hospital as doctors battle to treat serious crush injuries to her head, chest, and legs.

He told the Sunday Sun she was in a bad condition.

He thanked medical staff for their efforts, particularly ground ambulance paramedics, who were already under the chassis of the van treating the elderly lady before the Great North Air Ambulance arrived.