We often hear about and share stories where there has been an ‘incident’ of some kind, whether it be a road accident or whether it be about individuals who fight with the emergency services, that involves bystanders who just resort to filming the incident in question.
We always question the morales of those individuals who, rather than help someone, decide instead to automatically grab their mobile phones and start filming the scenes of carnage.
What these people are hoping to achieve is anybody’s guess.
You certainly cannot make any money off those sort of videos and most of the time, people will just ridicule you for standing there and watching whilst some poor sod fights for their life.
That’s why we were moved when we heard about a recent incident in Northern Ireland where members of the public, following a serious road traffic accident, came together in order to help save someone’s life.
A post published on the PSNI Ards Facebook page said:
“I shook the hand of a very brave man today.
“I know we often say that people could have saved lives but the gentleman concerned today really stepped up to the mark.
“Seconds after this collision the car burst into flames with the unconscious driver still inside.
“Risking his own safety the gentleman managed to pull him free of the car and to safety.
“I know for sure that nobody involved here set out to be involved in a traffic collision nor expects to be witnesses to such a scene but it’s something that could happen to any of us at any time.
“What way we would all react I suppose we will never know until it actually happens to us.
“Our thanks to all involved including a passing casualty doctor who on his day off with his daughter suddenly found himself back on frontline trauma duty.
“To our paramedics and Fire and Rescue Service who were there very quickly.
T”o the other members of the public who stopped and helped with traffic and first aid.
“To Roads Service and recovery who as quickly as possible had the road reopened.
“Lastly to the drivers involved and their family we hope they make a speedy recovery.”
As you can imagine, the outpouring of support for the brave members of the public who stopped to help was immediate.
Not least from the wife of the male who risked his own life in order to save the life of a complete stranger:
Stories such as this one, will certainly help to reassure people that, should you find yourself in a fight for your life, then there are still people out there who are willing to risk everything in order to try and save the life of a complete stranger.
We salute the bravery of everyone involved and admire the heroic actions of Mr McMullen.
When many people would have just stood back and watched, or grabbed their mobile phones in order to capture the horrendous aftermath, Mr McMullen went above-and-beyond and thanks to his actions, a life was saved.
The mark and measure of a true hero.
If you have an emergency services related story, video (that you have filmed) or blog (whether its light-hearted or serious), then contact our team of former emergency services personnel at:
Email: emergency_services_humour@outlook.com
Twitter: @ES_humour
Or us via our Facebook page @EmergencyServicesHumour
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