Paramedics offered counselling after attending fatal crash scene of colleague
Colleagues of a paramedic who was killed in a crash on his way to an emergency situation have been offered counselling after attending the scene.
The paramedic’s own colleagues and friends tried to save him on what the Queensland Ambulance Service has described as one of its darkest days.
The 32-year-old was responding lights and sirens to a medical emergency around 8am, but lost control of the vehicle during a heavy downpour.
The ambulance veered off the road before rolling and crashing into a tree.
The call to emergency services was made by passersby who phoned triple-0.
“You would not get any worse circumstances in a day’s work than attending a colleague in such horrific circumstances,” the Queensland Ambulance Service’s Gerard Lawler said.
“Today is one of the saddest days in the history of the Queensland Ambulance Service.”
The saddest of days at @QldAmbulance as we lost one of our own today. One of our paramedics died in a RTC whilst responding to a critical emergency case this morning. Our prayers are for him, his family, his immediate colleagues and all our entire QAS team at this time.
— Dr Stephen Rashford (@QASMedDirector) January 28, 2019
Those who responded weren’t just co-workers, but friends.
They have been offered counselling and time off to process their grief, as the ambulance service rallies to support those he has left behind.
“There is no doubt that every support will be provided to his immediate and certainly wider family,” Mr Lawler said.
The advanced care paramedic had spend almost a decade saving lives, with colleagues describing him as a diligent and professional worker who truly cared for the community.
