A frantic fifth episode of the BBC documentary Ambulance began a dangerous driver smashing a car from a flyover onto the A1 in January before highlighting how paramedics dealt with a shocking Sunderland gas explosion.
Reflecting on the shock and drama of the explosion, one member of the North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) team in control was heard saying: "I feel like I'm in an episode of Coronation Street."
The episode of the show - which is focussing on the North East Ambulance Service - shows how emergency services responded to a serious of dramatic events this winter. Along with the explosion, the emergency responders are also shown looking after a range of patients injured as a result of Storm Dudley.
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Also featured are a patient who fell while moving a slot machine outside of a pub and the heartbreaking case of a small baby suffering a cardiac arrest. But the show also highlights the range of callouts NEAS get - with paramedics shown visiting a number of older vulnerable residents - and showing how their job has a vital safeguarding aspect.
The ambulance service has made almost 17,000 safeguarding referrals since April 2020 for vulnerable adults who need more help.
The gas explosion in Roker, Sunderland, forms the centrepiece of an episode which showcases the contribution of the charitably-funded Great North Air Ambulance (GNAAS). The incident saw veteran Ian Leneghan jailed after admitting "damaging property reckless as to whether the lives of three people were endangered".
The show highlights how staff in the NEAS control room scrambled to react to the explosion. Callers into the control room were heard saying: "I watched it while the house shook. I live in the flats. You can't miss it, the house hasn't got a front on it." Control room staff then responded at pace - with one saying: "I feel like we're on an episode of Coronation Street or something."
The air ambulance was among 38 resources sent to the scene, and GNAAS paramedic Jemma Kirby attended. She said: "As a HEMS [helicopter emergency medical service] paramedic my role is to take care of critically unwell patients and bring the ED [Emergency Department] to the patient when they need it immediately.
"I don't think you can ever fully prepare yourself for what you will see on scene, but I think it's really important that we portray a sense of calmness - because as soon as you get there everything could change."
The situation was resolved with two, including Leneghan, taken to hospital. Both recovered and Leneghan has since been jailed.
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