West Midlands ambulance worker killed by object striking vehicle had recently returned from retirement

The ambulance worker had come out of retirement in January 2021.

An ambulance technician who died after an object struck the vehicle had just returned to the front line after retiring in 2020, his colleague has said.

Jeremy Daw, known to friends as Jack, died on Saturday morning when his ambulance was struck by an object as he responded to a 999 call in Herefordshire.

The 66-year-old was sitting in the front passenger seat when an object pierced the windscreen en route, killing Mr Daw and injuring the driver of the vehicle.

West Midlands Ambulance Service emergency operations delivery director Nathan Hudson said of the incident:

Mr Hudson said: "About a minute after 8am we had a 999 call saying crew had been involved in an incident, whereby an object of some description had gone through and pierced the windscreen and one of the crew members were unconscious.

"The driver of the vehicle, who was also injured, 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 Mr Daw's injuries were "incompatible with life".

The ambulance driver, a colleague of Mr Daw, was taken to hospital to treat injuries but has since been discharged.

Mr Hudson said Mr Daw was just eight shifts away from retirement full-time, having returned "to support the trust during the pandemic" at the start of 2021 after retiring as a paramedic in November 2020.

Mr Daw, described as a "remarkable character" and "one of life's good guys", died at the scene while his paramedic crewmate - who was driving the vehicle - was also injured.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "Sadly, despite everyone's best efforts, nothing could be done to save our colleague, who was the front passenger, and he was confirmed dead at the scene."

The Midlands Air Ambulance, two emergency ambulance crews and paramedic officers attended the incident.

Mr Hudson said the incident is not believed to be “malicious” but a “tragic accident”.

Additional reporting by PA.