A firefighter has been personally thanked by a former army captain he gave first aid to after he was hit by a taxi.
London Fire Brigade firefighter Russell Webb was on a weekend break with his partner Sharon Tucker in Bournemouth when they noticed a large number of people gathered by a road.
As they got closer to the scene they noticed a woman and man lying injured in the road after they were hit by a car.
Mr Webb, who is based in Wennington fire station, Havering, rushed over and gave first aid to the man, while health care assistant Ms Tucker helped the injured woman.
He said: “The man was lying on his back, in a lot of pain, his right lower leg had be fractured badly as his foot was at a 45 degree angle. The woman’s legs had been run over and were bruised, she was in a seating position on the floor. The driver of the car was unhurt, I asked her to put the hazard warning lights on and to switch of the car’s engine.
“I attended the man, and supported his neck and head, and calmed him down. My partner helped the woman and assisted in supporting the man’s broken leg. My partner and I remained with the casualties until they were assessed by the paramedics and removed to the ambulance.”
Former army captain Garry Tom Taylor wrote a letter to the mayor of Essex in a bid to make contact with the firefighter to thank them.
It was printed in the Essex Chronicle and they have since spoken on the phone, with plans to meet up.
Captain Taylor wrote in the letter: “We crossed a small road and were knocked down by a taxi and seriously hurt.
“Luckily a couple from Essex [gave us first aid]. He was a firefighter and held my head while the ambulance arrived. His partner attended and reassured my partner Karen and even brought her a cup of coffee. If all the people who live in Essex are of this calibre then I think you are a very lucky mayor.”
