22.12.09 - BASICS Cornwall attended a Major Coach Accident

At approximately 2210 on Tuesday night (22/12/09) a coach skidded on ice and rolled off the road at Towenshed between Hayle and Helston in Cornwall. The ambulance service declared a major incident and just after 2300 Dr Scott-Hayward was mobilised to the scene, as Medical Incident Commander.  A large scale response was made by all three emergency services in conjunction with air support from the Royal Navy Search and Rescue, RAF Search and Rescue and The Cornwall Search and Rescue Group. BASICS played a key role in the management of the incident.

At the time of the incident the coach was carrying 48 passengers and a driver. 1 person was declared dead at the scene and another person died later in hospital. There were 6 further stretcher patients and  41 walking wounded. The walking wounded were triaged and treated in a local farmhouse before being transported by helicopter to the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro for ongoing assessment. The incident was made particularly difficult by the treacherous road conditions. A number of emergency service vehicles were themselves, involved in collisions en-route to the scene.

Specialist Immediate Care Doctors from BASICS Cornwall worked at the scene in co-operation with personnel from South Western Ambulance Service Trust.

BASICS Cornwall is a charity that trains and provides volunteer doctors. We are available 24 hours a day, to provide expert treatment and care to trauma victims across Cornwall. BASICS Cornwall is part of BASICS (British Association of Immediate Care) a national charity dedicated to providing high quality medical care to accident victims across the UK.

http://www.thisiswesternmorningnews.co.uk/news/Coach-driver-praised-saving-countless-lives/article-1641465-detail/article.html

Also very good piece on BBC radio Cornwall

http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/episode/p005mpnp/James_Churchfield_24_12_2009/

James Churchfield 0700 - mentioned on news and then about 15 minuets into program there is a few minutes about BASICS and the incident.

For further information about this incident or the work of BASICS Cornwall please contact Drs Scott-Hayward or Ashton-Cleary (simonrash@doctors.org.uk and daveashtoncleary@hotmail.com respectively)