LIVES life savers praised after truckers fun day in aid of them turns into real life emergency

A fundraising truckers event in aid of a life saving charity turned into a genuine emergency when one of the participants collapsed.
The Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance was called in to the Drivers 4 Defibs fun day after a man collapsed in the tug of war. EMN-190907-114841001The Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance was called in to the Drivers 4 Defibs fun day after a man collapsed in the tug of war. EMN-190907-114841001
The Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance was called in to the Drivers 4 Defibs fun day after a man collapsed in the tug of war. EMN-190907-114841001

LIVES first responders, an ambulance crew and the air ambulance rushed to the aid of a participant when he was taken ill during the tug of war event at Drivers 4 Defibs family fun day at the Coach and Horses in Billinghay on Saturday.

The event was in aid of LIVES, the emergency life-saving charity for the county, and was put on by a group of local truckers and their families.

The drama unfolded as the man was taking part in the tug of war. Everything had been fine until the teams changed ends. Onlooker Liz Waters said: “He just keeled over and the rope went slack. People didn’t realise what had happened at first.”

Ambulance crews arrived at the fun day in Billinghay to assist first reponders and first aiders. EMN-190907-114830001Ambulance crews arrived at the fun day in Billinghay to assist first reponders and first aiders. EMN-190907-114830001
Ambulance crews arrived at the fun day in Billinghay to assist first reponders and first aiders. EMN-190907-114830001

LIVES first aiders and three other women who were off-duty health professionals, were quickly on the scene and soon backed up by the ambulance service who effectively saved his life. Liz said: “It was upsetting but just showed what the point of the fundraising event is and what LIVES do in our community.”

Trevor is now recovering in hospital after being taken by road ambulance. Neil and Sally Donner, on behalf of the Drivers 4 Defibs group, said: “The LIVES team - Nick Hargreaves, Christie Barrack, Jake Byatt as well as three fully qualified NHS health professionals, Cara Mercer, Amy Wells and Vicki Jade Woods, who where attending the event, worked together until the ambulance and Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance arrived. The person was taken by ambulance to hospital and we have been informed, by a family member, that they are recovering well.

“This is why Drivers 4 Defibs will continue to fundraise for LIVES in Lincolnshire.”

The event raised over £1,000 with donations still to come in.

On Facebook, Neil continued to pay tribute to the individual first aiders who became life savers: “From time to time in our lives we meet people that are special, they are normal unassuming regular people that we pass not knowing anything about them, just another person going on with their lives until one day something happens and then those people show the reason why they are special. They become living, breathing angels. I, alongside many others, witnessed such people. Vicky Jade Wood, Amy Wells and Cara Mercer without hesitation went to the aid of Trevor and worked alongside the LIVES team. They will be modest and probably say it’s down to training but I for one say it takes a special kind of person to be that person who can save a life.”

The organising team also thanked everyone else for hours of help, planning and putting on the fun day which included a whole host of entertainment including vehicle displays, stalls, games, The House of Bounce, Did Carter’s bungee run and gravity machine, Food to Go, ice cream, Bobby’s Sweets, Glasshouse Car Sales and Cliffside Windows. Music was provided by 3 Blokes Blues and Serene Joy, with PA provided by Patchwork Audio.

Sally Donner from the group said: “The weather held off and we had a reasonable turnout and in five hours we raised over £1,000 but still have monies coming in. This event would not happened without the hard work from Lou and Dan Couling, Jane and Danny Sturton, Pam Morris and also the help of Cara Mercer, Rita Watt, Fiona Cashman, Neil Ellis and Claire, David Dawson and Mark Thorpe and the sponsors Glasshouse Car Sales, Branston, A L Cox and Sons, Laws Transport, Weaver Transport, Willimott Logistics and Transport Solutions, Sleaford HGV Services and Cliffside Windows as well as all those that donated raffle prizes, tombola items and bottles.

Nikki Silver, chief executive of LIVES, said it was fabulous news: “I’m glad to hear that Trevor is doing well. I’m pleased that the LIVES team was there for another Lincolnshire person when they needed us. That’s why we do what we do.

“And thank you to all at Drivers 4 Defibs and the community for your ongoing support of our charity. It takes a team to save a life and you’re an important part of that team. Thank you.”