From the left: Practitioner Steve Torode, practitioner Laura Spratt, Bill Jackson, practitioner Ian Nuttall, station officer Andy Adam, practitioner Paul Dempsey and paramedic Carrie Goodall. (Picture by Peter Frankland, 0605175)

SPORTY Bill Jackson yesterday relived the fall that shattered his left leg. And as he did so both 14 year-old Bill and his parents paid tribute to the six Ambulance and Rescue professionals it took to get him safely to hospital.

Parents Lucy and Graham said they could not be more grateful to the team that swung into action when Bill fell from a rope swing at Pleinmont. ‘It was horrendous as a parent to arrive at that scene. I felt very helpless,’ said Mrs Jackson. ‘It was a precarious situation, but I felt he was in very safe hands. They were really fantastic.’

Ambulance practitioners Laura Spratt and Steve Torode were first on the scene and quickly realised they needed back-up. Paramedic Carrie Goodall was next on hand to administer pain relief and a second crew, Paul Dempsey and Ian Nuttall, was called in. Cliff principal Andy Adam oversaw the operation.

Bill had gone to the rope swings with four friends just after lunch on Saturday 28 June. They climbed a 150ft slope to get to their launch point. ‘It was going to be my last go but as I swung out I felt my hand slip and I fell awkwardly on my leg,’ Billy said yesterday.