Witnessed something terrible last night

[Alan]

In Dublin for the rugby this weekend when after having a skinful of Guiness lastnight I witnessed something which I can say was truly terrible. Walking over the Liffe in Templebar I heard an ambulance driver winging its way down the road. When I reached the end of the Bridge, the ambulance and I were at the intersection between the road and the bridge when within a flash I saw something flying through the air and the ambulance went into the back of some stationary cars at about 40-50 mph. The noise was terrible and the subsequent silence was sickening.

Whilst trying to register what the hell had just happened I looked onto the road and there was a body lying on the ground 20 feet way from me, lifeless, it was this man who had been flown spinning through the air. The memory of the contorted spining object and the realization of this lifeless figure on the road were one and the same was like being hit my a sledge hammer . I knew he was dead, nothing could survive (confirmed later he died at the scene).

I never knew who you were but thoughts and prayers for your family and friends who would have been with you, they must be heart broken.

Edit: I cannot imagine how the Ambulance driver is feeling, he got out of what was a severe car wreck to help the man he had hit!

[Mark Davies]

Alan,

I've obviously dealt with many incidents like this and never been sure just how it has effected me over the years. After the last really horrific fatal RTA that I dealt with counselling was made available (for the first time in 12 years - only about 50 traumatic deaths down the line!). I was looking forward to my appointment as I was interested to discuss it and find out if indeed I'd been carrying around a lot of baggage over the years. As it happens through one thing or another it never happened, I didn't get to have that chat and so I still don't know whether it's all effecting me unseen.

I'm not really sure how I do deal with it to be honest - I've always assumed that after you've seen so much of it you're immune to it - so not sure what advice to give. But, if you feel like talking it over with someone who's been there many times before you've got my number - feel free to call.

Mark.

[Steve Summers]

Hi Alan,

Can't really add to my message or to Mark's post except to say IME you do supress stuff and you don't really know how these things affect you, but they do and they can surface years later in something at first glance unconnected.

When I was in service there was a culture of not seeking help as it was not the done thing, and was seen as weakness I hope that has changed now.

Alan, take any offer of help you recieve, and Mark I would go mate as I had one or two issues that an expert may have helped with.

Safe diving,
Steve

[ardhill]

Guys,

I used to work in community care and just about all my patients were terminally ill. It took a lot to deal with that, you cared for a person for maybe a year, and then they died on you. I was able to deal with it through my own means, but others couldn't - we had a lot of people who got 'burned out' on the deaths. It made them very insensitive to other patients, their colleagues and sadly to their own family as well.

One day I went to enquire about working as a paramedic, one of the first things they wanted to know was my ability to cope with situation like Alan has faced and Mark faces frequently, I was told that they have regular recruitment drives as paramedics have to quit - one too many RTA's and they can't cope any more.

Why am I saying this - if you think there is the slightest chance you may need to talk, either to another person, or to a professional - make that call. It's your head you are playing with and you don't need to be macho about it. Call each other, it won't do any harm and as you talk either or both of you may find you have 'issues' that you need to deal with under the guidance of a councillor. Or you may find that you can live with it after all, you just neede to talk with someone who understands.

BTW, I left that job a number of years ago after being partially responsible for an accident of one of my patients - I wouldn't allow myself to make that mistake again. No, I wasn't blamed by my employer, the patient or his faimily, but I still knew that I had a part in it. And yes, I did talk it through afterwards.

[Frankie Price]

Not a very nice thing to see and the images will flash back for a while.
I once saw something similar happen with a car and a pedestrian in Birmingham many years ago.
It was a couple of weeks before I could even talk about it.

[Dive_Cookie]

Alan,

How awfull! - For everyone involved.

My thoughts go out to everyone affected by that terrible event.


x

[paramedic paul]

Alan,

As some have already said take any help you can, these things do creep up on you and can hit you at anytime totally unexpected.

I had a really bad experience a couple of years ago and even now the images and thoughts suddenly pop into my mind for no apparent reason.

Also, as you say, my thoughts are with the bereaved from this incident, including the ambulance driver!

[Frog]

I will light a candle for you and the person who lost their life at Evening Prayers. God be with you mate.

[Eoin]

About 20 years ago myself and my best mate were cycling home when a drunk driver hit his bike from behind. I saw his 6 foot 5 inch, 18 stone body being flung through the air like a wet towel, hitting the top of the car and landing with a dull thud on the road. I got in the ambulance and went to the hospital and when the cops brought in his parents I had to be the one to break the story. He ended up in a coma for two weeks with a fractured skull and various other bits but never remembered any of it! We're still best mates, but even today, 20 years later I can clearly see the crash and how he's lucky to be alive. I can't talk about it with him as he refuses to open the subject, but my relatives and friends were great and pushed me to talk about it. Best thing in that circumstance!

[SoggyFox]

I too have had the misfortune to be stood in the wrong place at the wrong time and witnessed someone being hit. this was 10 years ago now and it still makes me shudder occasionally. Best bet would be to talk it over with someone, you may think your ok but get it all out and on the table.