Hero rescues baby stranded in ambulance
Published: July 27, 2006
TRUCK driver Pete Woodward came to the rescue when he picked up a broken-down ambulance carrying a baby in an incubator and took it to hospital.
Mr Woodward, 55, who works for the First group, had just delivered a truck to Chippenham and was on his way back to the depot at Lawrence Hill on Tuesday afternoon when he saw the ambulance stranded in the middle of the slip road between the M4 and the M32 motorway.
A police car had stopped behind the ambulance and Mr Woodward pulled up and offered to move the Wiltshire ambulance to the edge of the road, and out of danger.
“I stopped to ask them if they wanted it moved to the hard shoulder, but the police said there was a little infant in an incubator inside the ambulance,” he said.
“It could not be transferred to another vehicle and they asked if it were possible to take the ambulance to the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
“Of course I said yes, that wouldn’t be a problem.”
So with baby and ambulance crew on board, Mr Woodward quickly loaded the stricken ambulance on to his truck and drove to hospital with the police escort.
But on the way he was told they had to take the baby to the hospital on St Michael’s Hill, which was more difficult for a large vehicle.
The police and ambulance used the blue light and made a swift path through the busy Bristol city centre traffic towards the hospital.
The other vehicles on the road did their best to clear a way for the truck and its precious cargo.
“The lights were flashing and the police did an excellent job getting us there,” Mr Woodward said.
“The roads are very busy and it’s very hard getting an articulated lorry through the cars.”
When they arrived at the hospital, the ambulance staff rushed the baby inside.
Mr Woodward, who has worked for First for five years and lives in Clutton, said he was told the baby is now doing fine.
The baby’s parents, from Chippenham, were travelling separately and so didn’t get to meet the knight in shining armour who transported their precious child to hospital.
“It was a fairly straightforward job,” Mr Woodward said modestly.
“It’s the first time I’ve had to deliver a little baby.”
His boss, fleet engineer John Parker, said: “What a star.
“We are pleased he managed to help. It was great he was in the right place and at the right time to do so.”
A spokesman from the Wiltshire Ambulance Trust praised Mr Woodward.
He said: “It is obviously unfortunate when an ambulance breaks down, and like all vehicles this happens from time to time.
“There wasn’t the time to move the specialist equipment without endangering the life of the baby so the decision was made to transport the ambulance on the back of the low-loader to the hospital.
“We are very grateful to all involved for their assistance in what was an unusual and difficult situation.”
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