Officers and members of the public thanked following life-saving intervention

Four officers from Cheshire Constabulary and four members of the public have been thanked for their efforts in administering emergency first aid to a seriously injured child following a biking accident.

Shortly after 2.15pm on Monday 20 July, a child who was cycling in the Shrewsbury Way area of Chester fell from his bike and sustained a serious injury in the form of a deep wound and a suspected arterial bleed.

Two members of the public, who were in the area at the time and witnessed the boy fall from his bike, recognised the potential life-threatening nature of the incident and immediately came to his aid.

As they continued to administer the emergency first aid, the pair were joined by a third member of the public who assisted in medical treatment, whilst a fourth called 999, remained in constant communication with the Force Control Centre, updated the child’s family of the situation over the phone and flagged down a nearby police patrol.

The officers flagged down were PCs Brockley and Ricardo who, without hesitation, joined the members of the public in applying first aid, maintaining direct pressure on the life-threatening wound, working tirelessly to manage the bleeding all whilst persistently pursuing an ambulance response and seeking further medical assistance.

As concerns grew regarding the severity of the child’s injury and ambulance delays, Sergeant Bithell and PC Wall were deployed to the scene due to having specialist trauma equipment and advanced trauma training.

On arrival, they quickly assessed the situation and utilised their enhanced medical skills to apply a haemostatic agent and a tourniquet.

In the space of 25 minutes, the members of the public and attending officers were able to turn the situation around, brining the amount of blood lost from the deep wound under control and prep the child for the arrival of ambulance crews a short time later.

Following the incident, the boy was taken to hospital where, after extensive surgery, he was discharged and sent home. Due to the efforts of all involved, he is expected to make a full recovery.

The efforts of the members of the public and the officers on the scene has led to them all being nominated for a Chief Constable’s Commendation Award, the highest level of recognition for individuals or teams who have gone above and beyond in their community.

Inspector Nick Bamber said:

“What makes this incident particularly deserving of recognition is that the outcome was not the result of one person's actions, but of a group of individuals who each stepped forward when confronted with a child in desperate need of help. Every person involved played a vital role.

“The members of public who stopped, acted and helped save a life. The attending officers demonstrated professionalism, composure and determination under immense pressure, while specialist officers brought the advanced skills needed to stabilise a potentially fatal injury.

“Given the severity of the wound, the significant blood loss and the suspected arterial bleed, it is entirely reasonable to conclude that the combined actions of all those involved were instrumental in preventing a far more serious, and potentially fatal, outcome. Their actions represent the very highest standards of public service and I cannot thank them enough.”