Air ambulance used for its own volunteer
One of the branches firefighters chopped down to make the tree safe. Photo: Tim Wilson SG231112-213TW www.spaldingtoday.co.uk/buyaphoto
A pensioner, who suffered serious injuries when a tree branch fell on him, was airlifted to hospital by the charity he collects for.
Peter Wells (70) was collecting charity bags along Bourne Road in Spalding on Friday when the tragic twist of fate happened.
Lincolnshire Fire and Rescue officers were called to the scene around 1pm and said neighbours had freed him from the branch when they got there.
They assisted the ambulance crew, cleared the driveway, and used a saw to make the tree safe.
It is understood Mr Wells, of Market Deeping, suffered spinal injures in the accident.
He left the scene by ambulance, but was later airlifted to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham, where his condition yesterday was critical but stable.
The owner of the house where the accident took place said she had been terribly upset by what had happened.
She said: “I was at work and had had my phone switched off all afternoon.
“When I was told the police had been trying to get in touch and there had been a fire engine and ambulance outside my house my immediate concern was something had happened to my family or I had left the electric blanket on.
“I had no idea that while I was working that all that was going on. I’ve been really worried about the man because I didn’t know what had happened to him or how he was.”
“I feel so sorry for him and would love to visit him and see that he is OK.
“The charity bag had been at the front of my house for four days and it’s gone now, so maybe he was delivering a thank you note.
“I’ve made my mind up that the tree is definitely going now. I have thought about it but I can’t bare to look at it now.”
Tom Chambers, one of the Spalding area’s stalwart collectors for the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance, was shocked to hear of the accident.
Mr Chambers said: “I don’t know Mr Wells personally and my wife, Heather, and I are more involved in the collecting money and events side, but it seems ironic that one a volunteer has been helped by the charity he collects for.
“We don’t like to think we will ever need it ourselves, but it shows how important raising money for the ambulance is, especially as it is a Lincolnshire charity.
“It’s a very worthwhile cause and we certainly wish Mr Wells all the best.”
Celia Laverton, manager of the Lincolnshire and Nottinghamshire Air Ambulance charity shop in the Sheep Market, Spalding, was also shocked to hear of the accident.
She said: “I don’t know Mr Wells personally because we just deal with charity bags that come into the shop.
“But all of our collectors are really important to us so we wish him well.”
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Weather for Spalding
Wednesday 19 June 2013
Today
Sunny spells
Temperature: 12 C to 22 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 17 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North east
