October 2009 - Barsnstaple Fire & Rescue, Ambulance & BASICS Doctor Rescue trapped quad biker

Around 2.30pm this afternoon, teamwork between the fire & rescue service, an ambulance crew and an immediate care doctor from Barnstaple rescued a 75 year old man from under a quad bike. He had fallen some 20 feet along with the quad bike which landed on top of him, trapping him under the bike which was wedged between a bank and the house wall. Restricted access hampered the rescue which involved firemen’s muscle power rather than lifting equipment, leading to a much swifter rescue than anticipated. Early signs of significant airway problems prompted a rapid extrication using a “spinal” longboard under sedation/analgesia. The man is recovering in North Devon District Hospital