A part-time Horley gardener had the chance to meet his lifesavers thanks to his customer who was once a paramedic and worked for the ambulance service.
Thanking the team for their quick-actions, former SECAmb employee Justin Wand had nothing but praise to offer the team who helped his friend and gardener who went into anaphyxic shock following a wasp sting.
Marc Caldwell was stung by a wasp while gardening for Justin on the 2 July 2024.
He was clearing ivy from a shed when he was stung twice by a wasp – one on his hand and another on his neck.
Though he’d been stung by wasps before without issue; this time was different. As he sat down, he suddenly felt dizzy and short of breath.
Recognising the urgency, Justin immediately called 999, describing Marc’s deteriorating condition to SECAmb call handler Molly Parker.
I could see he wasn’t just dizzy, he was losing control and I felt helpless without any medical kit,” recalled Justin Wand, a former Head of Fleet Operations and Logistics for the Trust. “Marc was barely conscious, I knew this was a serious allergic reaction.
In triaging the call, it received the highest priority – category 1. Molly said:
“When I took the call, I knew we had to get there fast. Every second matters when breathing is affected. I could hear the fear in Justin’s voice and did everything possible to make sure help was on its way immediately.”
Paramedics Jasmine Smith and James Varney arrived within minutes.
“It was a hot day, and when we arrived, Marc was slumped against a tyre, flushed, sweating, and visibly distressed,” Jasmine recalled. “Seeing his swelling airway and hearing the stridor, along with his rapid, weak pulse and dangerously low blood pressure, we knew right away this was anaphylaxis.”
Jasmine administered the first dose of adrenaline, followed by oxygen and nebulised salbutamol to ease his breathing. Within moments, Marc received another shot of adrenaline as his symptoms continued.
Despite the escalating emergency, Marc remained conscious.
“I remember feeling my breathing fade but also feeling the adrenaline kick in. Jasmine and James kept talking to me, calming me down as they worked,” Marc recalled. “I am beyond grateful to them. They truly saved my life.”
Marc was then rushed off to East Surrey Hospital where he was kept under closely monitored for 24 hours.
Marc has since made a full recovering and able to be reunited with Jasmine and James. Visting the Make Ready Centre in Gatwick, Marc was able to bring along his sons, Ethan, 10, and Harry, 8 who enjoyed a tour of the base and a look around the ambulance that saved their dad.
“It was emotional to see how grateful Marc and his boys were,” James said.
“Knowing the work we do has such an impact reinforces the importance of being prepared for every scenario.”
Marc now carries multiple EpiPens and said:
“If it hadn’t been for Justin, Molly, Jasmine, and James, I wouldn’t be here today. Their quick thinking and expertise saved my life, and I’ll never forget what they did for me.