paramedic with his equipment and
his epileptic son to the hospital on
board his double-decker
East of England Ambulance Service praises Go-Ahead driver for taking the initiative and using his double-decker to take his son to hospital
A konectbus driver took his epileptic two-year-old son to hospital in his bus after an ambulance was delayed.
Ross Cork was driving the double-decker route five linking Queen’s Hills, Costessey, with Norwich city centre when he got a call from his wife stating that his son Riley was having a fit. After calling his manager at konectbus, he drove to his father’s home where Riley was being treated by a paramedic.
Although a rapid response vehicle reached the scene in two minutes, an ambulance was not immediately available.
“There was only one passenger on my bus but she overheard my conversation and she knows me,” explained Ross.
“She said, ‘Don’t worry about taking me to the next stop’ and got off.”
Ross arrived at his father’s home eight minutes later.
“Luckily there was a parking space outside my dad’s, but it was a bit tight getting there,” he said.
“At one point I only had an inch or so either side of the bus.”
Finding Riley on the floor of his father’s house wearing an oxygen mask, the paramedic explained he could not take Riley to hospital because an ambulance had been delayed.
“He said, ‘Can we take your bus?’” said Ross.
“The paramedic carried Riley, and my father, brother-in-law and sister helped carry all the equipment on the bus and my wife got on board.”
Ross then drove the three miles to the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital.
“I did what most fathers would do. It just happened I was in a double-decker bus.
“Some people said I could have lost my job for what I did, but even if konectbus hadn’t helped me I’d have still done exactly the same.
“Without that bus I don’t know what we’d have done.”
Steve Royal, Operations Manager for konectbus, said: “I’ve worked on buses for 24 years but I can’t recall anything like his.
“We’re a small company and we know our staff and their circumstances. We try to help them as best we can in any eventuality. We put cover in place and were able to make the best of a crisis.”
A spokeswoman for East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust said the emergency call had been received during an extremely busy period.
“Because an ambulance wasn’t immediately available Ross did exactly the right thing by taking the initiative as he did,” she said.
“It was good-hearted of the bus company to allow him to use the vehicle. We hope the little boy is making a good recovery.”
