An Interesting Drive Home Tonight

[Tony Ferrari]

Earlier today I assisted at a four car pile up on the A11 near Lakenheath, whilst returning from working on a mountain bike race in Thetford Forest.



Luckily I was following two friends, Jamie and Gary who are both paramedics, in their Disco 3 Ambulance from Extreme Medics (http://www.extrememedical.co.uk/index1.html) who had been working at the same event.



The scene looked horrific, cars in the trees, one on it's roof, wheels missing, air bags gone off all over and debris everywhere.



The guys blocked the road at the front, I put the 90 at the back, lit up my amber light bar and got my hi-viz on. We then went to assist but amazingly nobody was seriously hurt, literally just a couple of grazes.



Looked like an overtake gone seriously wrong!



We were soon able to hand over to the Police and Ambulance Service as they arrived en masse. We were thanked for our efforts and I was even complimented on my nicely kitted out "Jeep" http://www.4x4response.info/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/angry.gif



Luckily for me the road behind was now blocked with emergency vehicles, so I was allowed to weave through the scene and carry on home. Good job as the traffic behind was no doubt being backed up for miles.



An "interesting" journey home.

[nigel leyland]

Glad to here none was seriously hurt....I must get myself a couple of paramedics to add to my kit in my "Jeep"!



Nigel.

[Tony Ferrari]

Nah forget the paramedics, just get one of these (this is what they were driving).



http://i156.photobucket.com/albums/t9/MadCowPhotos/miscellaneous%20stuff/XM08.jpg

[nigel leyland]

I take it that's fully kitted with "medical things"......



Nigel.

[Russ laye]

Tony,



When did you upgrade to a jeep http://www.4x4response.info/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_razz.gif http://www.4x4response.info/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif http://www.4x4response.info/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tongue.gif http://www.4x4response.info/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile.gif http://www.4x4response.info/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cool.gif

[mattgreen]

Good Effort Tony, it's funny how half the world calls all 4x4 vehicles "Jeeps" and the other half "Landrovers". I guess they are the two big super brand-names.



Regarding doctors with 4x4s, I noticed up in Cumbria that the local out of hours GP service were driving around in a Discovery 3 sponsored by the local community.

[andy powys05]

Where would we be without Jeep's eh?????



lol



Good work guys!

[Tony Ferrari]

I take it that's fully kitted with "medical things"......



Nigel.





Very much so, even has a full length stretcher in the back so is officially registered as an ambulance.

[Paul Johns]

I love the livery on the D3, Refective silver?



Well done for stopping mate.

[Tony Ferrari]

Yes it's reflective red and silver, looks good at night and legal because it's silver not white reflective. The silver chequers on the side are also reflective.



As for stopping there wasn't much choice, as nobody was getting past the scene once Jamie and Gary had blocked the far side of the incident with the Disco. I could sit in the queue with everyone else or see if I could help, so no choice really. As it was there was little for us to do but I couldn't just sit back and do nothing, just not in my nature. Wouldn't be doing 4x4 response otherwise I suppose http://www.4x4response.info/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_e_biggrin.gif



The guys didn't have a choice as are both registered Paramedics (both ex NHS) so have a duty of care to assist and of course wouldn't think of doing anything else.



Through their company that provides medical support to extreme sports events, they have a fantastic range of experience. Jamie is one of the Partners and Gary the one full time employee of Extreme Medical. I've known them and worked with them on events for over ten years now.



They do a lot of work with Land Rover and were due to provide the medical support to the G4 Challenge before it was cancelled. Jamie and Rich the other Partner in the business, had spent several months working on the recce's in Mongolia. The Disco actually belongs to Rich, as Gary normally drives a near identical but blue D3 and Jamie has a white D2 commercial that is very nice, especially as it has had a few trips to TD5 Alive Tuning http://www.4x4response.info/forum/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/icon_mrgreen.gif



Needless to say the conversations on Sunday had been a lot about 4x4 Response and I learnt that the guys had all been out in the snow assisting West Midlands Ambulance, Staffordshire Police and Gary is also a part time member of the Buxon MRT, so a bit busy.