A DETERMINED nurse from St Richard’s Hospice waded through dangerous thigh-high flood water to reach one of her patients who was stranded in his home with his oxygen supplies running low.
The charity’s nurse specialist Gayle Webster contacted The Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) when she realised Robert Turton and his wife Christine were trapped in the property in Ombersley and were becoming increasingly anxious about Mr Turton’s symptoms and the predicament they were in.
The couple’s home became inaccessible after the River Severn burst its banks.
Mrs Turton said,at this point she was not feeling well herself and was becoming more worried about Bob being low on oxygen and having a chest infection.
“I spoke to Gayle on the phone and she said she could tell I was really down and that we both needed support.
“The next thing I know she rings to tell me she is on her way.”
Mrs Webster, desperate to get help to them, liaised with the GP and district nurses to get medication for the patient which was put in a waterproof bag.
Two SARA crews then met Mrs Webster at Ombersley Medical Centre and kitted her out in a wet suit, life jacket, helmet and wellington boots before the team and nurse embarked on the rescue.
When they had driven as far as they could into the floods Mrs Webster and the highly trained volunteers battled their way through the waters with the medication and two oxygen cylinders.
The SARA crew used their expertise to monitor the depth of the water to ensure they and the intrepid nurse were not swept away by the rising floods.
When they reached the home, they got the oxygen to Mr Turton and Mrs Webster spent over an hour with the relieved couple to ensure they were both okay.
Mrs Turton, who was a manager at the St Richard’s Hospice shop in Droitwich for six years, said:
“It was absolutely marvellous and we were both very shocked but Gayle really went the extra mile to support us.
“Gayle has been our St Richard’s Nurse Specialist for about a year and is wonderful. We have nothing but praise for the hospice.”
Mrs Webster said: “SARA was excellent and helped out straight away including producing two oxygen cylinders. I couldn’t have done it without them.
“All the SARA team were welcomed into the house too for a much-needed hot drink.
“It’s the first time I’ve worn a wetsuit to visit a patient.”
Visit www.strichards.org.uk for more information on the hospice.
