Officers’ teamwork saves life of heavily bleeding man

Quick thinking and teamwork saved the life of a man who was bleeding heavily after he was suspected to have punched a window. 

Dyfed-Powys Police Special Sergeants Ben Cole and Caryl Walters were on patrol in Priory Street, Cardigan, when they were flagged down by a man bleeding heavily from his wrist during the early hours of Sunday, July 4. 

The officers could see it was a serious injury, with high pressured bleeding and a significant amount of blood on the man’s clothes and the floor around him.

Through clearly calling in the situation on the radio and explaining the urgency, other Cardigan officers were able to attend to assist.

PCs Dion Gibby and Adam Hope were nearby and ran to the scene.

The special sergeants had their force-issued trauma kit ready, and PC Hope – an Army Reserve Combat Medical Technician with 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital – was able to apply a tourniquet to the injured limb.

PC Hope said: “When I heard it was a possible arterial bleed, I made my way to the scene immediately.

“I found a young man holding his wrist, which was spurting blood, and could see he was struggling due to the amount of blood he had already lost.

“I asked him to maintain pressure on the wound, and to keep his arm elevated.

“Given the amount of blood that was spread over a five to ten metre stretch of pavement, and the wait for an ambulance, I knew we had to act quickly.”

While the man kept his arm up to try and slow the bleeding, PC Hope took a tourniquet from the trauma kit and applied it above the wound before bandaging it.

The tourniquet was successful, with no bleeding through the dressing.

“A short while later, however, he appeared to be deteriorating in his responsiveness so myself and PC Gibby put him the shock position,” PC Hope said.

“Other officers from Cardigan station made themselves available to help with the care of this man, providing blankets and equipment, with SPS Cole and Walters keeping ambulance control up-to-date with the situation.”

An ambulance service rapid response vehicle arrived and took over, with the man taken to hospital for further treatment. He will be dealt with in respect of an allegation of criminal damage as it is suspected he had smashed a window by punching it.

PC Hope said: “I've done a fair amount of medical training with the military, which really paid off on this occasion.

“The Cardigan police station team worked together really well, helping to manage a complex situation.”

Temporary Sergeant Amy Harvey added: “This high-pressured incident saw great work from all officers involved, but in particular by PC Hope, whose commendable action undoubtedly prevented further deterioration of the casualty.”