Sussex volunteers evacuate flood victims
Volunteers in Sussex were called
into action to evacuate patients from a nursing
home that was flooded when a nearby river burst its
banks.
Support was requested at 7pm on Saturday
13 December after South East Coast Ambulance service were
unable to assist.
Seven ambulances were mobilised
within an hour, with a further five joining throughout the
evening. St John Ambulance volunteers co-ordinated the rescue
effort with Crawley Borough Council and the West Sussex Fire and
Rescue Service.
We stood the last crews down at 3.30am on Sunday morning, a long night which was very testing, but in which we successfully delivered first class care.
Dan May
St John Ambulance Assistant Commissioner Operations, Sussex
The patients, all elderly dementia
patients, had to be carried from the building, many by boat and we
transferred them to a number of locations in the West Sussex
area.
Dan May, Assistant Commissioner Operations, St John Ambulance
Sussex, said: 'I am incredibly grateful to the 12 crews and
officers that turned out on a cold and wet Saturday night - thank
you most sincerely for your hard work, good humour and support. We
stood the last crews down at 3.30am on Sunday morning, a long night
which was very testing, but in which we successfully delivered
first class care.'