The ambulance sector is in mourning following the tragic death of Alice Clark, a 21-year old newly qualified Paramedic who died earlier this week (5 January 2022) following a fatal collision involving an ambulance she was travelling in near Tonbridge, Kent and a cement lorry.
Two further colleagues – a Paramedic and a student Paramedic – were also in the ambulance at the time of the crash.
The Paramedic was airlifted to hospital with multiple serious injuries while the student Paramedic, who was travelling in the rear of the vehicle, was taken to hospital with a head injury. The lorry driver suffered minor injuries.
Speaking on behalf of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives, Martin Flaherty OBE QAM said:
Words cannot do justice to the immense feelings of sadness being felt across the whole ambulance sector following this horrific tragedy and the death of such a committed young Paramedic at the very beginning of her ambulance service career.
Alice was clearly a much-loved and well-respected person both at work and in her personal life and our heart-felt sympathies go out to her family, friends and colleagues at this incredibly difficult time.
Our thoughts and prayers are also with the two other staff members who were injured yesterday – one very seriously – and we send them both our heartfelt good wishes as they recover and recuperate.
We must also not forget the ambulance, police and fire colleagues who responded to this traumatic incident, as well as colleagues at South East Coast Ambulance Service NHS Trust and others across the wider ambulance family who have been deeply affected by this tragedy.
No patients were on board the vehicle when it was involved in the collision and the Trust is helping police with their enquiries.
NARU is reminding colleagues who have been affected by this tragedy that there are a range of support services available via TASC and via their own Trust which can help with wellbeing at this difficult time.