An eight-year-old boy from Kent has been praised for his incredible bravery after instinctively taking over a 999 call when his mum collapsed at home. On the evening of 17 October 2024, Henry was at home with his mum Andrea and younger sister Emily when Andrea, who has a long-standing heart condition, began to feel faint and unwell. She managed to dial 999 before losing consciousness. Without hesi
The views of paramedics and doctors across the UK are being sought to better understand how personal characteristics may influence access to, and experiences within, prehospital advanced critical care roles. South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SECAmb) and Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex (KSS) have launched a survey which will explore how characteristics including age,
Colleagues at South East Coast Ambulance Service (SECAmb) now have a powerful new voice at the heart of the Trust, thanks to the introduction of a new Shadow Board. The new group, which is a bold step towards more inclusive leadership and deeper staff engagement, will meet ahead of each Trust Board meeting to examine key documents and debate a focused ‘hot topic’. The Shadow Board’s views will inf
A Chichester man who suffered a cardiac arrest at his home is looking forward to walking his daughter down the aisle later this year thanks to his ‘999 heroes’. Now 71-year-old, Paul Finch, and his partner of 32 years, Tara, recently visited South East Coast Ambulance Service’s (SECAmb’s) Tangmere Make Ready Centre to meet some of the clinicians that helped save his life where he presented them
A community CPR and defibrillator training day in West Kingsdown led to an emotional reunion between a local mother and the emergency team who saved her life. Sevda, a 39-year-old wife and mother of two collapsed outside her home on 13 November 2023 as she prepared to leave for work at her dry-cleaning business. Her then 16-year-old daughter noticed the car was still in the driveway and went outsi
A Sussex man has set his heart on joining the ambulance service after being reunited with his SECAmb lifesavers after suffering a life-threatening pulmonary embolism in November. Colin Marvelly, 54, from Horsham, Sussex, was suddenly overcome with breathlessness and a sense of unease at his home on 27 November 2024. Recognising something was seriously wrong, he called 111 and was connected to Heal
For new mum Chloe, finding her five-week-old daughter struggling to breathe was one of the scariest moments of her entire life. Chloe was at her home in Romney Marsh, Kent on 23 January 2025 when she suddenly found five-week-old Autumn blue, floppy and gasping for every breath. Chloe made the desperate call to 999 where she was connected to Emergency Medical Advisor, Rain Gavin. Rain triaged the c
As we mark international midwife day, we caught up with our very own consultant midwife as she shares her unique career journey. As one of only two consultant midwives within the ambulance service, Dawn Kerslake has helped transform maternity care in the pre-hospital environment. Dawn joined the Trust seven years ago, bringing a wealth of experience and insight to the service which many across th
A father from Kent who was haemorrhaging blood from an abdominal aortic aneurysm has defied the odds and reunited with his lifesavers. Antony Linward, 68, was at home with his wife in Crowborough in the early hours of 11 November 2024 when he started to vomit blood and lose consciousness. Antony’s wife immediately called 999 and spoke to Emergency Medical Advisor, Beth Panton. While providing advi
Trust statement in relation to piece published by Sky News: We will always take appropriate action when it comes to addressing inappropriate behaviour that is not in line with our values and will not tolerate this from anyone, regardless of their role in the organisation. We take the welfare of our people, and our patients seriously and fully investigated the historic cases covered in a Sky News r