In the UK, an ambulance crew member has died while on his way to respond to an emergency call last April 24th.
Jeremy Daw, 66, also known as Jack, has recently returned to work after retiring last year. He wanted to help his colleagues fight against the Coronavirus Pandemic.
While on his way to respond to a 999 call along A49 in Herefordshire, Daw was sitting on the passenger seat of the ambulance when a rock from a truck passing by smashed through their windshield.
“Mr Daw’s injuries were ‘incompatible with life,'” Hudson, the driver of the vehicle has said. “While he himself was also injured he was able to get out trying to help and support Jack who was unconscious at that time.”
“He started doing life-saving treatments trying to resuscitate him.”
West Mercia Police said that it was an ongoing investigation for this fatal incident but ‘it is not believed to be foul play’.
“It was a freak accident, an absolute tragedy. Initially, our worry was that someone had thrown something through the windscreen but this has been discounted,” Philip, Daw’s brother told The Sun. “There was a lorry full of stones and it appears a stone was flicked up but at this stage no one is sure, it is still being investigated.”
Nathan Hudson, West Midlands Ambulance Service Emergency operations delivery director stated that it was a “tragic accident” and is not believed to be “suspicious”.
Daw’s devastated family and friends honored him, saying he is a well-respected and well-liked mentor, they also hailed him as a “true hero”.
“He came out of retirement and supported his colleagues during the second wave,” sources said. “He wanted to be back on the front line helping his colleagues.”
“He was one of life’s good guys and he will be sorely missed in and around Hereford,” Hudson said. “Everybody knew him and he was just a genuinely nice person. If you speak to the staff at Hereford, what they remember is that he used to go out and clean the vehicles every morning, he would wipe the windscreens down.”
“He used to do that as a matter of course,” Hudson added. “He took great pride in his work.”
NHS Chief Executive Simon Stevens said that he represented the best of the health service.
“After almost three decades’ service, he returned to the frontline from a well-earned retirement to help patients during the coronavirus pandemic, and served as a mentor to younger colleagues,” Stevens said. “On behalf of everyone across the NHS, our heartfelt condolences go to Jeremy’s family, friends and colleagues, as we also wish his crewmate a swift recovery”.
The Ambulance worker’s granddaughter posted a picture of him saying “Not all superheroes wear capes, love you, grandad.”
His daughter, Kate, described him as “my hero”.
A friend also wrote, “I am so sorry to hear your sad news. Your dad was a great man, always had time for everyone, and had a big heart. A true hero.”
Daw had 29 years of experience with the ambulance service and was from Hereford. He retired as a paramedic in November 2020 and was eight shifts away from retiring full-time, he supported his colleagues during the pandemic at the start of 2021.