The Magpas Helimedix (Dr Anne Booth and Volunteer Paramedic Miss Jo Lambert), were called to a serious incident by the river at Chapman Way in Eynesbury, St Neots on Saturday evening (11th June). The team drove to the scene and arrived at 6.42 pm. A 65 year old man from Stevenage was with friends on their boat, when he fell into the water and caught his foot in the propeller – amputating his foot in the process.
The patient was given A& E level critical care by the Helimedix; who administered analgesics and controlled the bleeding using a tourniquet, celox gauze and a wound dressing. He was also given antibiotics. The Magpas team worked with the emergency services to move the patient from the deck of the boat to the shore and then onto an ambulance. He was then transferred to Addenbrooke’s Hospital (accompanied by the Helimedix), where he was taken to an operating theatre for surgery. His condition is described as serious.
The patient’s wife also had a laceration to her forehead and was treated by the ambulance crew on the scene. The Police, ambulance and fire crews worked well together at this incident.
Magpas Dr Anne Booth said, “The pleasant day out for this man and his wife ended in tragedy with this awful incident. We are extremely grateful to the people of Cambridgeshire and beyond for supporting Magpas – The Emergency Medical Charity, enabling us to provide this man with the care that he would have received in the Emergency Department. As a result, we were able to prevent him losing more blood and to relieve his pain. We wish both the patients a swift recovery”.
