By Rebecca Davies
South Wales Evening Post
Copyright 2006 South Wales Evening Post
All Rights Reserved
A Swansea woman is hoping to become a paramedic thanks to the inspiration of an ambulance controller following a tragic accident.
As she struggled to save her friend’s life Emma Allen, aged 24, was grateful for the cool, reassuring voice at the other end of the phone line.
Emma has now had a chance to say a personal thank-you to the controller, Kelly Beynon- Thomas, after she made a special visit to the control room in Carmarthen.
Sadly, Emma’s friend, horsewoman Victoria Doehring, aged 36, died of her injuries.
But the assistance she received on the day has inspired Emma to become a paramedic.
The tragedy occurred on July 7 at the Glasfryn stables in Efailwen, near Clunderwen, where Emma and Victoria were grooms.
Victoria, aged 36, from Whitland, was an experienced horsewoman who was schooling showjumpers when one of them kicked her in the chest.
Emma, from Cromwell Street, Mount Pleasant, Swansea, rushed to her aid and dialled 999 on her mobile phone.
As she waited for the ambulance to arrive, she was instructed by controller Kelly, based in Carmarthen.
“She was so calm and compassionate in dealing with my call and took me through the stages of resuscitation,” said Emma, who had only a very basic knowledge of first aid from her schooldays.
“It took about 15 minutes for the first ambulance to arrive and she stayed on the phone with me the whole time, reassuring me and calming me down. She was marvellous,” she said.
The air ambulance and other crews arrived, and Victoria was flown to Morriston Hospital, Swansea, but was pronounced dead on arrival.
“Apparently Victoria had died instantly, but without the support and guidance of the woman in the control I wouldn’t have known what to do. She was fantastic,” said Emma.
To show her appreciation, and having seen at first-hand the importance of first aid training, Emma has already undergone a Heartstart course, learning the basic steps of how to deal with cardiac arrests.
She has also applied to take an instructor’s course to pass on her skills to others.
And now Emma has also applied for a job as a controller with the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust with a view to eventually training as a paramedic.
“My mother, who is a nurse at a home in Swansea, had encouraged me to become a paramedic a few years ago and this has now persuaded me to go ahead,” she said.
Alan Murray, the chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said the incident had underlined the professionalism and dedication within the service.
“I am proud to say that we have excellent staff like Kelly providing an invaluable service every day to the whole of Wales,” he added.