A mother and father who became stuck in the snow on their way to hospital have been reunited with the ambulance crew and community hero who ensured the safe arrival of their baby girl, Eva.
Penny Hodgson, from Skegness, was on her way to hospital on 1 March with her partner Steve when their car became stuck in the deep snow.
Lloyd Wright, who owns a 4x4 vehicle, was passing when he saw Penny and Steve’s car stranded in the snow drifts.
Lloyd immediately pulled over to assist Steve and his brother-in-law, Duane, and he tried to pull their car out but to no avail.
Worried they would not make it to the hospital, Steve called 999.
Emergency call taker Julie Hill answered the phone and gave Steve instructions to ensure Baby Eva would be safe if she was to arrive imminently.
Whilst waiting for an ambulance, Penny and Steve took refuge in a nearby house, where a lady accommodated them and kept them warm.
Lloyd offered to take Penny and Steve to Boston Pilgrim Hospital but moments later Paramedic Laurie Askin and Technician Mark Evans arrived.
Even though our ambulances are equipped with winter tyres the snow can still prove difficult so to ensure Laurie and Mark could get Penny safely to hospital, Lloyd escorted the ambulance in his 4X4, equipped with chains and towing equipment.
With Laurie’s knowledge of the local area and avoiding the closed roads, they were able to get Penny to hospital before Eva’s arrival. Eva safely arrived the following day on 2 March.
Laurie, Mark and Lloyd have now been reunited with Penny, Steve and baby Eva at Skegness Ambulance Station.
Penny couldn’t thank and praise them all enough, she said: “It was great to be able to thank the ambulance crew and everybody involved in ensuring I made it to hospital to deliver Eva safely.
“When I saw Laurie and Mark I felt instantly reassured that somebody was there to help to me and if Eva did arrive whilst I was in the ambulance that I was in safe hands. I am grateful to them both and Lloyd for their help.
“I will definitely have a story to tell Eva when she is older!”
Lloyd received recognition for his actions at the Lincolnshire Resilience Forum’s ‘Snow hero’ awards, held on 17 May where he won the category of ‘Member of the Public- Individual’.
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