Examiner Community Awards: Emergency Services Personality - Roy Whitehead
BRAVERY is not part of the job specification for paramedics. But Roy Whitehead has certainly proved that he is more than qualified in that respect during his 35 years in the role.
Roy has dealt with countless incidents of trauma, major injury, heart attacks, strokes, diabetic comas and epileptic seizures since joining the ambulance service in 1974.
But surely nothing can prepare you for a daring rescue of a microlight aircraft pilot, who has crashed into a cliff and is stranded on a ledge, or being lowered down a 40ft shaft in Queen Street South, Huddersfield where two men need treating for serious injuries.
These incidents were all part of a "normal" working day for Roy, who is the winner of the Examiner Community Awards emergency services personality award.
And he was given an even greater surprise last night when he was reunited with one of the men who he helped rescue from the shaft 10 years ago.
Meeting John Delaney for the first time since that terrible day Roy said: "You don’t know how many times I have thought about you over the years.
"Even if I hadn’t won the award, it would have been enough to meet you.
"I remember thinking on the day "I’m 40 feet up and if that cage goes, I’m dead. What a lovely surprise to see you happy and well now."
John was working down the shaft on Queen Street South when he and a colleague, David Radford, were hit by two metal objects which fell from the top.
John’s back was broken and he was hit with such force it forced vertebrae into his spinal cord, damaging it beyond any hope of repair.
Former professional boxer David suffered a shattered shoulder and collarbone and was covered in blood.
He finally returned to work, but still suffers bad back pain.
The outcome for John was not so positive. It was a day that changed his life.
He had to learn how to live again, but in a wheelchair.
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