RAF Regiment gunners gave first aid to casualties at a motorway accident and found themselves being filmed by a TV documentary crew...
A training team from El Alamein Flight, based at RAF Honington in Suffolk, helped injured motorists and passengers at the scene of a collision on the M50 and directed traffic until emergency services arrived. The unit, comprising an officer and three NCOs in a minibus accompanied by a coach containing 43 trainees, were on their way to the Senny Bridge Training Area in the Brecon Beacons in Wales when the incident happened.
Flying Officer Ed Beckingham, who was leading the training team, said:
“We were travelling along the motorway when bits of car hit our windscreen and we could see that an accident involving a number of vehicles had happened about 50 metres in front of us.”
Realising the potential danger to other drivers who hadn’t noticed the hazard Fg Off Beckingham deployed his instructors Corporal Adrian Lowndes, Corporal Richard Dodds, Corporal Christopher Harvey and Corporal Ian Ramsay to take control of the situation.
He said: “Fortunately we had our medical kit including a stretcher on the minibus and so we were able to give first aid to seven men and three women at the scene who were injured.”
Two of the airmen crossed the central reservation to rescue one casualty who was on the other side of the road and in danger of being hit by traffic and remained to assist until emergency services arrived.
He said: “One of the ambulance crew told us that we probably saved his life but we are just glad we did what we could to help.”
Accompanying police officers who attended the scene was a film crew from Folio TV, an independent production company who are making a series called ‘Motorway Cops,’ a spin-off from the ‘Traffic Cops,’ series which is due to be broadcast by the BBC next year.
Fg Off Beckingham said: “It was a surprise to see the TV crew turn up and they interviewed a few of us. My main concern was that my uniform shirt was covered in dirt and some blood so I had to borrow a jacket to cover it up.”
Group Captain Andy Hall, Station Commander at RAF Honington praised the calm, professional way the airmen dealt with the situation.
He said: “Whilst the trainees remained securely on the coach, Fg Off Beckingham took charge of the situation directing traffic and calling the blue light services whilst instructing his team to administer first aid. It was a great team effort and a good demonstration of responsibility in front of trainees.
Officers from the Central Motorway Police Group are appealing for witnesses following the collision which occurred between Junction 2 and Junction 3 of the M50 at approximately 5.25pm on Sunday. (27 Nov).
Police say following the collision, the driver of a vehicle that stopped to assist was struck by another vehicle and received serious injuries. He was taken by ambulance to Gloucester Hospital where his injuries were described as serious but not life threatening. The M50 west bound was closed for approximately 3 hours.
The RAF Regiment unit is now at their training base where the recruits are being put through their paces on the ranges as part of their basic training. Witnesses are requested to contact the Central Motorway Police Group on 0121 626 1285, quoting reference 1993/27/11.
Editor: Mr Simon Mander
Photographs:
The RAF Regiment gunners that helped in the motorway rescue graduating and on a training exercise.
RAF/MOD Crown Copyright 2011.
