Cyclist hit by Bristol ambulance on 999 call
A cyclist was hit by an ambulance answering a 999 call in Bristol.
It happened at 8.30am at the junction of Tower Hill and Narrow Plain today.
The ambulance had just left a Great Western Ambulance Service station in Tower Hill with blue lights flashing.
It was on its way to the home of an elderly man who had fallen.
Eye witnesses said the cyclist pulled out in front of the vehicle and was knocked off his bike.
He was treated at the scene by paramedics.
A second ambulance from the nearby ambulance station took him to the Bristol Royal Infirmary.
Another crew was sent to take the elderly man, who had fallen at home, to hospital.
The cyclist was conscious when he was taken to hospital. He suffered a shoulder injury.
An off-duty police officer on a motorbike and another officer in a car who was on his way to work, stopped at the scene to help.
A woman in her 40s from Portishead saw what happened.
The witness, who did not wish to be named, said: “The cyclist pulled out in front of the ambulance.
“The lights on the ambulance were flashing but the cyclist pulled out in front of him.
“There were two ambulances. They both stopped and the paramedics went to help him.”
A police officer who took statements from witnesses at the scene said: “When I arrived one officer was at the scene.
“First and foremost our concern was the safety and welfare of the casualty.
“Two paramedics and my colleague were dealing with the casualty who was conscious.
“His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.”
An investigation is underway into the accident.
Great Western Ambulance Service spokesman John Oliver said the ambulance had been on its way to the home of an elderly man when the accident happened.
He said: “ A paramedic was already on scene with him and treating him, so this was a back-up ambulance to transport him to hospital. A second vehicle was immediately dispatched and this arrived at the initial incident at 8.36am and took the patent to BRI.
“The cyclist was taken to BRI by another ambulance.
“Whenever GWAS staff or vehicles are involved in an incident, there are thorough procedures in place to carry out an internal investigation.”
43 Comments
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by NS, Radstock
Thursday, July 16 2009, 7:45PM
“:-)
Of course you can, Dan.”
by dan, Bristol
Thursday, July 16 2009, 7:28PM
“NS Radstock- sorry but WTF are you on and can I have some?”
by NS, Radstock
Thursday, July 16 2009, 6:34PM
“My word! What a fine demonstration of blind prejudice and lazy stereotyping by some of you commenters.
If anyone should ever bother to take the likes of Jamie seriously (he's either winding us all up or he's bonkers) then some of us would get very confused. According to the anti-bike bigots, when I ride my bike I'm scum of the earth, but when I drive my van I'm probably still scum, when I walk I'm just a hapless victim, but when I drive my car I'm a member of the Master Race.
Ah! Master Race - there's a clue as to where mindless prejudice and lazy stereotyping can take you.
I could start a rant about the Blinkered Mentally Bovine British Public who have had their heads stuck up their own backsides so long that they have forgotten what daylight looks like...
But that would by just lazy stereotyping. Wouldn't it. So I won't.
If I had unlimited cash I would have liked to invite you all on an all expenses paid trip to Copenhagen and introduce you to the traffic on the Nørrebrogade.
And then I'd have the satisfaction of watching those things that pass for a brain inside your heads explode.
Unfortunately I don't have that kind of cash, so we won't go. Instead you have to make do with googling "copenhagenize" and "copenhagencyclechic" and I'll have to make do with a virtual lifting of hand with a single digit extended and utter the words "on your bike"...
Happy days...
PS: What's tofu anyway?
(Don't bother to answer - google'll tell me no doubt.)”
by George, Bristol
Thursday, July 16 2009, 10:44AM
“Funny how it's usually car drivers that whinge about cyclists, when if they were driving instead, the traffic jam would be EVEN longer!
Ironic!”
by Tony, Bristol
Thursday, July 16 2009, 9:50AM
“Mandy there are actually mixed pedestrian/cyclist areas around Temple Meads & Temple Quay. A lot of cycle paths are also used by pedestrians but I don't cycle on footpaths otherwise.”
by Sam, Bristol
Thursday, July 16 2009, 9:22AM
“I'm a little baffled as to why all motorists on here think they're better than everyone else...erm, you're not. Grow up and learn to share.”
by John, Bristol
Thursday, July 16 2009, 9:11AM
“Furthermore, Car drivers are the worst and most dangerous of all road users (generally speaking)
examples:
Cutting up,
not letting other cars pull out from side roads,
blocking the route another car needs to take,
driving through zebra crossings when there's a pedestrian waiting to cross,
parking on pavements,
driving on cycle lanes,
parking on cycle lanes.
speeding,
jumping red-lights,
undertaking,
*Car drivers (the majority of them) need to learn that "at least a car's width" needs to be given to cyclists when overtaking.*”
by John, Bristol
Thursday, July 16 2009, 8:51AM
“I think you've almost convinced yourself there, Mandy...
Cycling is the fastest mode of transport in our city, the healthiest and the least damaging to the environment, whatever problem you have with them can only be reflected on yourself - guilt.”
by Mandy, Bristol
Thursday, July 16 2009, 8:42AM
“Tony, talk about prove a point! Polite or otherwise you don't seem to understand that cyclists are not allowed to ride on pedestrian zones!! Simples!
Also, John, again you self-rightsous cyclists assume that we all want to be on bikes but for some reason are incapable! If I wanted to arrive at my destination sweating and smelly in the hot weather, or pink and numb in the cold weather, I would get a bike! I am quite happy, as are most drivers to sit in traffic for a while listening to my radio and laughing at the cyclists huffing and puffing past! As for saying we are all sitting getting fat etc, please! Most butts I see going passed on bikes are wobbling about like demented jellies! I burn money in my car because I like it, and it's my choice. it's not my choice to have to share the roads with untrained, (never even looked at a Highway code!) uninsured and untaxed road users on 2 wheels. No one should EVER be allowed to use the roads without some sort of profficiency test, no wonder there is so much agression from drivers, look at how an awful lot of cyclists behave!”
by derek, Nuremburg
Wednesday, July 15 2009, 7:24PM
“Bumble.As my whole family,Son.Daughter,Grandchildren all live in tne area,Ifeel I have a perfect right to comment on what is happening in bristol,or are you so parochial that you think that only people who live there now have a right to comment?Incidently,I did live there for approx 30 years and only due to force of circumstances I live here.ie not being rich enough to afford a house there.”