Ambulance called to seriously ill patient on beach but gets stuck in sand

A team of first responders needed rescuing themselves after their ambulance got trapped on a beach with a patient inside.

The South East Coast Ambulance Service vehicle was responding to an emergency at Camber Sands, East Sussex, on New Year’s Day when it got trapped.

Photos show waves lapping the rear wheels of the emergency vehicle, which was in danger of being swamped by the sea as the tide changed.

A haulage company was called to pull the ambulance to the car park, with company spokesperson Dean Miller recalling: ‘I’ve never seen an ambulance trapped on Camber Sands.

‘But there have been plenty of other vehicles stuck there over the years. Its equipment had been removed when we arrived. But the staff were lucky – it was a near miss.’

Locals were bemused by the situation, with one person saying: ‘I have to say I’m confused as to why they took it down there. At least they didn’t bury it trying to get out.’

Another added: ‘Who’s the drip that drove onto the sand?’

A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesperson said: ‘We can confirm that one of our ambulances became stuck on Camber Sands while responding to reports of a person in a serious condition in the early hours of New Year’s Day.

‘After initial treatment, the patient was transported to the hospital by another ambulance, and a replacement vehicle was provided to enable the first crew to continue their shift, while arrangements were made to recover the vehicle.’

It’s not the first time an emergency vehicle has been left in limbo. One ambulance driver was left embarrassed after he ended up getting stuck in a car park while attending an emergency. 

The paramedic had been called to an emergency at Sainsbury’s in Newport, Hampshire, when his vehicle became stuck.

Not only did he manage to get wedged in between the low ceiling, but the medic also managed to smash off all the lights as well.

Meanwhile, it took seven Sainsbury’s staff to get the ambulance out of the tricky situation by deflating each of the tyres.

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