Essex & Herts Air Ambulance shortlisted in national awards

11 Nov Essex & Herts Air Ambulance shortlisted in national awards

Essex & Herts Air Ambulance (EHAAT) has been shortlisted in three categories in the Association of Air Ambulance Awards of Excellence which will be revealed in London on November 18th:

• Dr Matt O’Meara has been shortlisted for the Doctor of the Year award
  Teresa James from Chelmsford, who passed away last year, is on the shortlist for the Charity Volunteer of the Year
  Chauncy School in Ware has been shortlisted in the Outstanding Young Person category

Pre-hospital Care Consultant, Matt O’Meara was nominated by colleagues for the way he dealt with a particularly challenging case earlier this year. Matt and Critical Care Paramedic Jay Samouelle were tasked to attend a man who had become stuck between two lorries in an industrial yard. His lower right leg was completely trapped between the side of his cab and the underside of an adjacent lorry.

In their nomination Matt’s colleagues at EHAAT said he thought quickly and ‘outside the box’ to save the man’s life.

EHAAT Pre-hospital Care Consultant Simon Walsh said: “I have treated many patients who have been so severely injured they have gone into cardiac arrest, and I don’t think any have survived from this sort of situation.”

Matt O’Meara said: “I’m humbled to have been nominated and shortlisted for this award. It’s fantastic to be part of such a dedicated team at EHAAT and a privilege to be able to help critically ill and injured patients across Essex and Hertfordshire.”

Teresa James passed away in December 2018, after 17 years as a dedicated volunteer. The charity felt that nominating her was a fitting way of remembering the huge support she gave to EHAAT as a volunteer.

Her daughter Tracy from Chelmsford, who is also a volunteer with EHAAT, says Teresa always had collection tins in the house and a box of merchandise in the hallway ready for the next fundraising event.

“She was absolutely dedicated to it. She would get out her diary and tell you that she couldn’t go on holiday on this date or that because she had to do something for the air ambulance. It was that important to her.”

“The air ambulance was my mum’s life. She would have been surprised and delighted to be nominated and shortlisted for this award. I will be going to the awards evening with my brother David. We are both excited, and I think it is going to be an emotional evening!”

George Webster

Students and staff at Chauncy School in Ware have been committed supporters of EHAAT for more than a decade.

Dennis O’Sullivan, Headteacher at Chauncy School said: “Our students were thrilled to hear that they had been nominated for an award for their fundraising efforts for EHAAT. As a school community we all know relatives friends and neighbours who have been helped, sometimes saved, by the air ambulance and we look forward to more fundraising in 2020.

The winners will be announced at a ceremony at the Millennium Chelsea Harbour Hotel in London on November 18th.