The Western Daily Press
BRISTOL, U.K. — An investigation has been launched after a 22-year-old mechanic was crushed by an ambulance.
The man, who has not been named, received “severe” injuries to his torso and pelvis which have been described by Great Western Ambulance Service as life threatening.
He was injured by the vehicle at City West Commercials in the Bedminster area of Bristol at around noon yesterday.
There were conflicting reports as to whether the man had been trapped underneath the ambulance or not.
The man was in intensive care last night at Frenchay Hospital, where his family are beside him.
A spokesman for City West Commercials said the incident had been reported in accordance with the company’s protocol to the Health and Safety Executive.
The spokesman said: “The incident has been reported to the HSE and are unable to make any further comment until they have decided what the next step is.
“We have been with the family at intensive care and we hope he makes a full recovery.
“Our thoughts are very much with the family.”
After the incident a rapid response ambulance and Air Ambulance critical care team raced to the scene and prepared the patient to be transported by road.
John Oliver at GWAS said paramedics at the scene saved vital minutes by using a stretcher in the back of the offending ambulance to prepare the patient for transfer to hospital.
He said: “We were called at 12.03pm to say a man in his early 20s had been injured after an ambulance somehow rolled onto him.
“We don’t believe he was trapped underneath. He sustained traumatic injuries as a result.
“The rapid response team and critical care team from the helicopter thought on their feet and used the stretcher in the back of the ambulance on scene to prepare the patient for road transfer saving vital minutes.
“He was then transferred by road to Frenchay Hospital with what paramedics on scene described as life-threatening injuries.”
The Great Western Air Ambulance Charity also released a statement regarding the incident.
A spokesman said: “A 22-year-old man was rushed to hospital by air ambulance crew after being crushed by an ambulance.
“The man, understood to be a mechanic, became trapped under the ambulance at a garage workshop in Bedminster, Bristol yesterday.
“A critical care paramedic and doctor flying in the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity helicopter landed in nearby Headley Park just after midday.
“The vehicle, owned by the Great Western Ambulance Service, had been supported on a mechanical brace but had somehow come loose.
“The ambulance remained upright, but the patient suffered severe crushing injuries to his torso and pelvis. The precise reason for this is not known.”
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