Aussie paramedics' 'extraordinary' move for dying patient
Shirley McHugh, 94, enjoyed her favourite beach one last time.
Two paramedics have been praised for going "above and beyond" to deliver the dying wish of their 94-year-old patient — making a pitstop at her favourite beach hours before she passed away.
Shirley McHugh was joined by her three daughters at Bar Beach in Newcastle as she travelled back to her hometown from Sydney, with NSW Ambulance workers Brittaney Banks and Hannah Macfarlane ensuring she felt the salt breeze in her hair one final time.
"Seeing Shirley's face when we opened the back of the ambulance, she just had that calm come across her," Ms Banks told the Newcastle Herald. "She just sat there reminiscing, it's one of those moments you don't often get ... It's probably one of the most impactful jobs I've done in my entire career."
After the special family moment, Shirley passed away 15 hours later.
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Pictures of the "precious" moment were shared online and the paramedics were praised for their humanity while one of Ms McHugh's daughters outlined just how significant their actions were for the family.
"You gave mum an extraordinary opportunity that made such a difference, to her and to all of us," Lucia McHugh said.
Others online highlighted the impact ambos make to their patients and said they were often "undervalued", while another paramedic shared the potential to offer an act of kindness like this is the very reason she remains in the profession.
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Despite their mother's passing in August, the sisters were reunited with one of the paramedics on Friday and reminisced about the journey, sharing that ABBA was played in the ambulance throughout the 160 kilometre journey.
"They did a fantastic job and went out of their way to bring mum home via the beach ... For her to come by the beach was very important for her, good for the soul," she said.
Shirley McHugh is survived by her six children, and was a Newcastle girl "through and through."
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