Paramedics take to bikes for the big events

Thursday 13th May 2010, 2:29PM BST.

Paramedic Graham Le Maitre with his lifesaving gear and mountain bike. (Picture by Tom Tardif, 0968754)

PARAMEDICS on mountain bikes could become a regular sight after a successful trial on Liberation Day.

The Ambulance and Rescue Service carried out the trial in Town as thousands packed the seafront on Sunday.

Paramedic Graham Le Maitre was on standby to respond to incidents that would be difficult for ambulances to access. Although there had been few incidents, Mr Le Maitre said he had had access to many areas that an ambulance would have struggled to get to.

‘Access was one of the main reasons for the trial,’ he said. ‘Using mountain bikes is something they have done in the UK, especially London, for the last 10 years and what they have found is that in city centres they can get a paramedic on the scene a lot quicker.’