Hero doc to crash biker's rescue

2:22pm Friday 23rd May 2008

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THE heroic actions of a volunteer doctor helped save the life of a motorcyclist who crashed into a lamppost in Chippenham.

Adam Brownhill, 36, a GP from Sandy Lane, near Chippenham, was one of the first on the scene after a local man in his 20s lost control of his motorbike on Avenue La Fleche at about 10.30am on Sunday.

Mr Brownhill who is a member of the South West Intervention for Trauma (SWIFT), a call-out service for volunteer doctors to crash scenes, had to dodge a large light bulb hanging precariously from the damaged post while he attended to the injured rider.

Mr Brownhill said: "He had a suspected broken pelvis and had severely injured his legs. There was also a lamp bulb fitting on the lamppost that was dangling down next to him.

"I was constantly aware that there was this light above me. It looked big and heavy and you don't want that falling on your head or on your patient."

The injured man had been riding his yellow motorcycle towards the town centre from the direction of the magistrates' court when he lost control on a bend and hit the lamppost.

Wiltshire's Air Ambulance was called to transport the injured motorcyclist to the Royal United Hospital in Bath.

"He was bleeding internally. He hadn't fractured his pelvis but he had life-threatening injuries initially that are now likely to be life-changing," Mr Brownhill said.

"We had to work quickly in a safe and methodical way. We had to be careful that as it the helicopter took off and landed it didn't cause the bulb to fall.

"If he had to go to the RUH by ambulance, even with police escort, it would have taken 40 to 45 minutes and that's not acceptable when you've lost that much blood."

The rider's condition is thought to be stable but police have confirmed he has sustained life-changing injuries after seriously wounding his legs.

Mr Brownhill was alerted on his pager shortly after the crash as part of his voluntary duties with SWIFT. Formed in 1996, SWIFT is an organisation made up of doctors and healthcare professionals who give up their time, day or night, to help out in serious emergencies.

SWIFT medics are called out by Great Western Ambulance Service as an additional service, as they not only carry specialist equipment but can sometimes reach crash scenes faster then the next available ambulance.

The little-known project relies entirely on public donations and is completely funded by the volunteer doctors. Using their own holiday time, the team will shortly have to redo their driving training at a cost of £5,000 per six medics.

Mr Brownhill said: "Not many people know we exist and we would like to find someone in Wiltshire to say they will help pay for us to train.

"It's not just about saving lives but if you can put things back in the right place at the right time it prevents morbidity disabilities caused by serious crashes."

For details visit www. swiftmedics.net/index.htm