An ambulance worker who died after an object pierced his windscreen as he was responding to a 999 emergency had returned to the front line after retiring last year.
Jeremy Daw, 66, who was also known as Jack, had been sitting in the passenger seat of the ambulance when the object shot through the windscreen on the A49 in Herefordshire at about 8 am on Saturday.
Despite the efforts of his emergency services co-workers, the grandfather, who’d returned to his job after retiring, died.
His colleague, who was driving the ambulance, was also injured but was later discharged from the hospital after receiving treatment.
Following his death, relatives and friends paid tribute to the front line worker who was a mentor to several people and a hero, and a source told a news outlet that the poor man was incredibly well respected and well-liked – that he was a mentor to several people and it was devastating.
Mr Daw’s granddaughter posted on Facebook that not all superheroes wear capes, love you, grandad.
Meanwhile, Mr Daw’s daughter described her father as her hero on social media. While another friend wrote that they were sad to hear the news and that he was a great man and always had time for everyone and had a huge heart – a real hero.
One tribute read that they were sorry for the family at this time and that he was a hero amongst his colleagues on station and would be greatly missed, and that he’d given his all in the service of others.
A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesperson said that sadly despite everyone’s best efforts, nothing could be done to save their colleague, who was the front passenger, and that he was confirmed dead at the scene.
West Midlands Ambulance Service Chief Executive, Anthony Marsh said that it was awful news and that his thoughts and prayers go out to the family, friends and co-workers of those involved at this extremely difficult time.
He said that he was enormously proud of all the staff and the university students as part of their clinical placement that fought so hard and professionally to try to save their colleague.
West Mercia Police have begun an inquiry into the cause of the incident and have urged motorists who were in the region to provide dashcam footage.
This is beyond devastating and it seems that this world is so cruel and well done to the paramedics who are really undervalued, unsung heroes, and these are the sort of people that deserve recognition from the Queen!
