Two crewmates, Paramedic Anthony McCabe and Rotational Specialist Paramedic Connor Wardil were awarded the Compassionate Care Award for the actions they took when attending a fatal RTC on New Year’s Day that sadly involved their fellow colleague.

On 1 January of this year, Paramedic Ben Lightburn was involved in an RTC in which he sadly lost his life. Anthony and Connor attended the incident, not knowing at the time that the patient was their friend and colleague.

Anthony and Connor were nominated by paramedics Gabrielle Leonard and Janine Fraser. They said, “They not only put aside their own feelings to try and save Ben, but they showed amazing care, compassion and professionalism by transporting the other injured people to hospital. Their actions meant the others received the care they deserved while they were under extreme distress themselves. We are very proud of Anthony and Connor and everyone else who attended to Ben that day.”

As well as celebrating Anthony and Connor, there was also an opportunity to remember all our fallen colleagues over the past year.