"Its a gamble there's no coming back from" - emergency services stage dramatic rescue in road safety event

Crowds gathered outside the St Magnus Cathedral on Saturday witnessed the staged rescue of a casualty trapped in a car, as part of a road safety event aimed at getting people thinking about the causes and ramifications of a serious road accident.

Brainchild of Station Commander John McKenna at Kirkwall Fire Station, the event was a partnership effort by Police Scotland, the Scottish Ambulance Service, Scottish Fire and Rescue Service and Orkney Islands Council.

The live demonstration saw the Scottish Ambulance Service teamworking with the Scottish Fire and Rescue Service to extricate a 'casualty' trapped in a vehicle – that casualty was Chair of Orkney’s Roads Safety Forum, Councillor David Dawson.

Councillor Dawson said: “As ever, our local emergency services, rose to the challenge and provided a very professional and though-provoking display.

“Our aim for the event was to reenforce the awful physical and emotional consequences of a serious accident.”

Thanks go to Maddy Hill (the 'casualty's make-up artist); Stewart and Gwenda Shearer for generously providing the PA system; Roy Brown, Orkney Aggregates for providing the car and last, but by no means least, Robbie Fraser (formerly BBC Radio Orkney) for the live commentary.

Councillor Dawson adds: “Special thanks, however, must go to Laura Torrance of Spinal Injuries Scotland (SIS) for travelling to Orkney to speak to and meet attendees. Laura sustained horrific injuries as a 16 year old in an accident which paralysed her from the waist down - changing her life forever. Now 39, Laura's quest is to ensure no one else will endure what she has faced, by speaking to communities about the impact that accident has had on her life and family.” Laura’s attendance, together with Maureen Morrison, Operations Manager, SIS, was generously funded by Police Scotland.

Councillor Dawson thanked everyone who attended: “We hope the re-enactment will stay burnt on people’s memories, and will reenforce the huge responsibility we all hold every time we get behind the wheel of a car.

“We’ve heard from Chief Inspector Ali Garrow last week that the causes of road traffic crashes can, in the majority of cases, be broken down to ‘the fatal five’ - dangerous/careless driving; speeding, seatbelt offences, mobile phone offences and drink and drug driving.

“That moment of carelessness or 'taking a chance' on speed, drink or drug-driving, or answering that mobile phone - all that and more could have life-changing or fatal consequences. And it’s a gamble which there is no coming back from.”