Above and beyond the call of duty

Council workers delivering sandbags help save resident’s life.

When John Hardy and Gary Wilkinson set off delivering sandbags they never dreamt their journey would end in them helping with a life saving rescue.
The two council workers, employed on the council’s highways operation, had been driving supplies of sandbags out to flooded areas across Bransholme, when they spotted a ‘blue light’ ambulance heading towards deep standing water. They flagged it down fearing it risked getting stuck.
Minutes later, John and Gary were helping paramedics load their emergency equipment into the back of their tipper truck. The council workers were able to ferry the ambulance team safely through floodwater, described as ‘hip high’, right to the house from where the 999 call had come.
After the paramedics had stablised their patient, who was suffering from a suspected angina attack, John and Gary assisted them in carefully moving him into their truck and then drove back through the flood to the ambulance.
Hull in Print understands the man, believed to be in his 80s, has made a full recovery and is now out of hospital.
Trish Dalby, head of Streetscene said: “I’d just like to say ‘well done’. John and Gary, through their quick thinking, could well have helped save this man’s life in extraordinary circumstances.
“This is just one example of how many of our staff have gone beyond the call of duty.”