Hero of the hour
"I could feel myself shaking throughout but I just stayed calm, and did what came naturally. Thankfully my medical training kicked in and I knew I had to help in any way I could", says Rebecca Davey, a community staff nurse at Colville Health Centre.
At just before midday on November 17, Rebecca (pictured) was all of a sudden the unexpectant first responder to the Ladbroke Grove bus crash that injured fourteen people, including one elderly woman who was trapped under the bus (source: BBC News).
Rebecca, who has been at the Trust since October last year, remembers suddenly hearing a loud bang and subsequent screams afterwards close to where she was walking, and soon realising that something wasn't quite right.
"I ran back up the stairs from where I had just been to see what had just happened and it was pandemonium. I saw that a bus had crashed into a wall and that people were gathering around the front wheel, and made my way over. As I went through the crowd of people, I saw an elderly woman trapped underneath the bus - it was then that I knew I had to help."
The number 52 bus had been travelling along Ladbroke Grove towards Victoria when it mounted the pavement near to the junction with Canal Way.
"I made my way over to the lady to check that she was conscious, and responsive to my voice. I immediately knew that I had to try and comfort her, and knelt down next to her to stroke her hand until the paramedics arrived.
"Soon afterwards, people were asking me who I was and why I was there. I explained to them that I was a district nurse who just happened to be nearby and able to offer some medical help.
"I was caught in the moment and my main priority was looking after the lady under the bus - I wanted to make sure she was alert, and remaining calm", Rebecca says.
"Paramedics, police and the fire service arrived minutes later, and I was given a medical bag by the paramedics to patch people up as and when I saw them. I managed to help someone with a broken nose, someone else with a fractured collarbone, as well as checking over a new born baby that was on the bus with their mum," Rebecca moves on to say.
"I did what came naturally; reassured people and tried to calm those injured down as much as possible. I've never witnessed something quite like it before - it was quite shocking, and thankfully, from what I've seen and heard in the media afterwards, there were no fatalities."
We often hear the term 'above and beyond' used for staff in the NHS who are delivering high-quality patient care within their roles, but for Rebecca a couple of weeks ago, this term took a whole new meaning as her medical skills and knowledge were called upon in an unplanned manner.
"Despite this terrible crash happening, it was admirable to see how people came together. There was one woman there who had just had her teeth knocked out and made light of it by saying at least she will get a day off of work!
"I don't think there's any training out there that can prepare you for this type of incident. Until you are there and see it happening - it all just kicks in. I don't feel as though I did anything too significant, but luckily I was a medically trained professional who just happened to be in the area, and hopefully, in some way, I provided some support and care to those who needed it", Rebecca concludes.