PARAMEDIC Patricia Johnson was already on a emergency run when a truck and motorcycle collided in front of her ambulance.

The crash pitched Patricia, from Ludlow, into a 'straight off the TV' scenario that this week earned her a Chief Officer’s Commendation from West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS).

Patricia, her crew mate, and two off-duty WMAS colleagues fought to keep the seriously injured motorcyclist alive until an air ambulance arrived.

Despite their efforts the 62-year-old died in hospital three months later.

An advanced paramedic based at Craven Arms, Patricia was on the A49 'blue lighting' to a chest pains call in Ludlow just after 5pm on Saturday, April 12 last year, when she and a crew mate came across the collision at Bromfield by the A4113 junction.

Patricia called the collision in and rushed to the unconscious casualty, the life-threatening extent of his head and chest injuries immediately apparent.

Over the radio, Patricia heard the air ambulance had been scrambled from Cosford, its flight time measured in the precious minutes. Patricia and her crew mate had to bring the casualty back around and keep him alive.

They were helped by two off-duty WMAS colleagues who had been caught in the resulting line-up of traffic.

Patricia and her crew mate took over advanced life support while the two others focussed on the basics like CPR and defibrillation.

Together, they had resuscitated the casualty as the air ambulance landed, its crew then took over treatment for the airlift to Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham.

But the casualty’s injuries proved too serious to survive. He died in July having not left hospital care.

At a WMAS awards ceremony this week, Patricia and one off the off-duty helpers, Hereford-based Kathryn Corlett, received commendations for their part in the resuscitation effort.

Patricia said she accepted the award as a salute to a “team effort”.