Killed Hereford ambulance worker had come out of retirement

A technician who died after an object struck the ambulance he was in was "one of life's good guys", the service said.

Jeremy Daw, 66, known to friends as Jack, died on Saturday morning near the junction of Moreton Road and the A49, Herefordshire, while responding to a 999 call.

The former paramedic had come out of retirement in January to help during the Covid-19 pandemic.

West Midlands Ambulance Service said it did not think it was a malicious act.

An "object of some description had gone through and pierced the windscreen", but it "does look like at this moment in time... a tragic accident", the service said.

Its emergency operations delivery director, Nathan Hudson, said Mr Daw had worked in Leominster and Hereford for nearly 30 years, had taken on air ambulance duties and was "well respected".

Mr Hudson said: "He was a remarkable character. He was one of life's good guys and he will be sorely missed in and around Hereford.

"If you speak to the staff at Hereford, what they remember is that he used to go out and clean the vehicles every morning, he would wipe the windscreens down... He took great pride in his work."

Mr Daw, from Hereford, was in the front passenger seat and his crewmate, who was driving, was also injured.

The crew were en route to a 999 call along the A49 from Hereford at about 08:00 BST on Saturday when the object struck the ambulance's windscreen.

Mr Daw, who was confirmed dead at the scene, only had eight shifts remaining before retiring again, after leaving in November.

"For something (like this) to happen (is) so tragic at any time, but particularly when he's due to retire in such a short period of time to enjoy his retirement, almost adds to the story of tragedy," Mr Hudson added.

Mr Daw did a "massive" amount for the local area and was "particularly good at dealing with mental health issues", the emergency operations delivery director said.

Doctors living in the area came out within minutes of the incident and a student paramedic stopped on their way back from a night shift, he added.

Measures were in place to "ensure staff can talk to people if (they) need to", the ambulance service stated.

West Mercia Police said the ambulance was travelling towards Leominster at the time.

The crewmate who was also injured received treatment at hospital before later being discharged.

He was able to get out "and try and help and support Jack, who was unconscious, and started life-saving treatment to try and resuscitate him", Mr Hudson said.

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