Special award for Rhyl crew

Tue 5th January 2010 2.20PM

APARAMEDIC has relived the role he and his crewmate played in pulling a young boy out of danger and saving his life. Rhyl crew Stephen Dowber and Karen Wilby have received a special award for their part in rescuing an eight-year-old boy who had become trapped in the mud up to his waist on the Elwy Estuary, near Marine Lake, Rhyl, on June 12. The pair were awarded a Welsh Ambulance Service Regional Team award after being nominated by colleagues at the Denbighshire station for saving the boy.

Stephen revealed that the pair found themselves first on scene and made their way direct to were the patient was trapped and sinking. He explained: “Karen and I had to go on foot a mile to reach the lad, carrying what equipment we could as we didn’t know if we might have to resuscitate him by the time we got there. As we reached him we saw that the mud was just above his waist and he was slowly sinking, very scared and midly hypothermic. As they were still on their own, Steve and Karen risked assessed the area and Steve went in first to try and dig and lift the boy out. “I went in first into what could only be described as difficult conditions and realized I couldn’t get him out on my own, so Karen joined me and together thanks to team work we both managed to carry him between us through the mud and back onto land.

Steve and Karen checked the patient over and handed him over to colleagues to take into hospital for a check up as both their uniforms were covered in mud and oil. Fellow Rhyl station paramedic Laurence Neville suggested the award for both, he said: “I believe their quick response averted an already dangerous situation becoming worse and by their bravery brought a positive outcome to a very distressing event. They both showed tbravery above and beyond the normal call of duty.”