Becca, from East Cowes, describing how the incident happened says: “We were alerted by radio that a young woman was threatening to throw herself off Ryde Pier and as we arrived it was confirmed that she had entered the water. Although we’ve never had to use them before we took our rescue lines from the ambulance and made our way to the edge of the pier. Looking over into the water we could clearly see that the young woman was struggling and being swept further out by the current.”

Paramedic Dave Couch, from Newport, takes up the story and comments: “We threw our rescue line to the woman and talked her round to accepting help. Shortly after this the Ryde Inshore Lifeboat arrived and helped us get the young woman out of the water. We conveyed her to hospital for a check up.”

Following floods across England in the last couple of years it was recognised that ambulance vehicles were not carrying sufficient equipment to help them deal with situations which involved assisting with the rescue of people from water. Isle of Wight Ambulance Service has put rescue lines – basically a 20 metre rope in a bag that you can throw out and be able to give the person a line to pull them to shore – into all its vehicles.   “This initiative came from a suggestion by colleagues Grahame Jackaman and Chris Jenkins and following the floods in England two years ago we took the decision to ensure that our vehicles carried the right kit to ensure crews were able to assist with rescues,” says Deputy Director of the Ambulance Service, Brian Martin. “This was excellent work by Dave and Becca which resulted in a life being saved.”

Notes for Editors

For further information contact the NHS Isle of Wight communications team on 01983 534184 or 552003.    Further information about health services can be found at www.iow.nhs.uk or www.nhs.uk.