Latest news with #NorfolkAccidentRescueService
The Sun
29-07-2025
- Health
- The Sun
Grandad, 63, choked to death on chunk of steak after medic arrived with broken defibrillator
THE family of a man who tragically died choking on a steak dinner have raised concerns over a volunteer medic sent to save his life. They claim the medic responded to the urgent emergency call with faulty equipment. Paul Barnes, 63, tragically passed away at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital in March after choking on a steak a week earlier. He was hailed as a "legend" by locals in East Harling where he was living with his daughter-in-law and three-year-old granddaughter. His family have now raised concerns after the first person to arrive at the scene of Paul's choking episode was a community first responder with a broken defibrillator. An inquest into Paul's tragic death has since heard that the family were enjoying a "steak night" a tradition on Wednesdays, when the horror unfolded. The court heard Paul was found unresponsive and "grey in the face" after choking on his steak. Emergency services were immediately scrambled and found a two-inch long piece of steak lodged deep in his throat. At this point Paul had gone into cardiac arrest, he was rushed to hospital but was placed into palliative care. The first on scene, a community responder from the Norfolk Accident and Rescue Service charity, arrived with a broken defibrillator. The responder then asked a member of Paul's family to drive to the nearest fire station to ask to borrow theirs, which he promptly did. It then emerged that Paul did not have a shockable heart rhythm, which meant the equipment was not required. The inquest into his death concluded that he had died an accidental death. 1
ITV News
23-06-2025
- Sport
- ITV News
Water skier in critical condition after '90mph crash' at Hanseatic Festival of Water Sports
A water skier has been left in a life-threatening condition by a crash which happened at Europe's biggest watersports competition. The crash happened in the penultimate race of the day at the Hanseatic Festival of Water Sports in west Norfolk on Sunday, and led to the rest of the day's action being cancelled. The man, who has not been named, was airlifted to Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge with serious injuries. Onlookers watched as the man, who was being pulled by a speedboat at speeds of up to 90mph, span through the air and hit the water, according to reports. A spokesman for the organisers said: "Our thoughts at this time are with the family and teammates of the injured skier. We are also thinking of the other competitors and teams who were obviously shocked by this incident. "While any competitive motorsport is clearly not without risk, thankfully incidents of this nature are rare," said the spokesman for the Borough Council of King's Lynn & West Norfolk and the Hanseatic Festival of Water Sports organising committee. A rescue crew, divers, and paramedics on land and water were on hand to offer support, he added. "This meant accident procedures could be immediately initiated when the incident occurred, ensuring a quick and comprehensive response was provided to aid the casualty in the water." Organisers also thanked the emergency services including Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS) and Norfolk Police for their response "which allowed the casualty to be stabilised and airlifted to hospital as quickly as possible". A spokesman for Norfolk Police said: "Police were called to South Quay, King's Lynn at 4.50pm [on Sunday] following reports that a man involved in a water skiing race had been injured. "Emergency services attended the scene including ambulance and air ambulance. A man aged in his 40s was taken to Addenbrooke's Hospital with life-threatening injuries."
Yahoo
16-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
King's donation helps charity 'save lives 24/7'
Volunteer life-savers said a "generous" donation from King Charles would help them to carry on their emergency work following their busiest ever year. Norfolk Accident Rescue Service (NARS) said it was the second year they had received a gift from the Privy Purse Charitable Trust on behalf of the King. The Dereham-based charity, staffed by volunteer doctors, nurses, paramedics and first responders who attend 999 calls across the county, was called out more than 2,000 times last year. "We can't disclose the amount, but it goes straight to keeping us operational and saving lives 24/7," said Steve Maddams, a NARS first responder. "We're truly grateful to His Majesty the King for recognising us as a charity to give a donation to," Mr Maddams added. "Every single penny makes a huge difference to us to buy our equipment, the vehicles, latest uniform and to keep us out there." The Privy Purse Charitable Trust makes donations to charities of which the monarch is patron and comes from their private income. Mr Maddams, who is also part of NARS' leadership team, said while it was the second time King Charles had made the grant via the trust, the Queen had also previously donated to the cause in the same way. NARS said it demonstrated the King's "continued commitment to the safety and well-being of the people of Norfolk". The charity was started in 1970 and relies completely on charitable donations. It helps to assist the ambulance service in treating seriously ill or injured patients, often at the roadside or hard to reach areas. Volunteers in closest reach of any emergencies, including road crashes, heart attacks and seizures, are sent out as they happen. NARS said its 50-strong team of medics normally attended about 1,600 incidents a year, but last year it was called out more than 2,000 times. In December, it said the number of call-outs - which then stood at 1,900 - had broken all its previous records. Follow East of England news on Facebook, Instagram and X. Got a story? Email eastofenglandnews@ or WhatsApp us on 0800 169 1830 Record-breaking year for accident rescue service Charity grateful for donation from King's trust Man smashes charity goal by going £20k over target 'Instrumental' Covid-19 paramedic receives a BEM Norfolk Accident Rescue Service
