Crew mates commended for bravery which saved teenager in large-scale violent disorder

An ambulance crew has been honoured for their extraordinary bravery during large-scale violent disorder which saved the life of a 16-year-old boy.

Colleagues at the East of England Ambulance Service (EEAST) praised the actions of Paul Warwick and Sophie Rhodes during the violence in Southend last July and put them forward for special recognition by the Trust.

EEAST Chief Executive Neill Moloney presented Paul and Sophie with the commendations in front of colleagues, family and friends at Southend Ambulance Station.

The CEO commendation recognised what an extremely challenging, fast-changing incident this was for Paul and Sophie – and indeed for all emergency responders involved.

Sophie – an apprentice paramedic in her fifth year at EEAST – and Paul were dispatched to the incident just after 6.50pm on 30 July 2024 and en route were told to meet at the police station to co-ordinate the multi-agency emergency response.

They were then instructed to go to the High Street in Southend to assist police with a teenage boy with life-threatening stab wounds.

As they drove along the High Street, they were confronted by a large group of youths walking towards them which caused Sophie to slow the ambulance to walking speed. The group were openly hostile and banged on the ambulance as it passed.

When they were exiting the vehicle after arriving at the address they received a call from the control room informing them that they were now in a ‘hot zone’ – an area with a direct and immediate threat to their personal safety and that they should leave. Operational policy states that staff should withdraw from the scene if it is deemed unsafe.

At the same time, a member of the public came out onto the street with an extremely worried look on his face and pointed to the door with a staircase to a first floor flat.

Paul and Sophie made a quick risk assessment. Given the serious nature of the call, they decided to head with caution up the staircase into the address, where they saw a police officer working to stem the bleeding from a life-threatening stab wound to the chest.

Paul and Sophie took over the assessment and treatment of the boy and called for back-up from critical care desk and the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART).

They applied a trauma dressing to the stab wound on the boy’s chest, and continued treatment until back-up arrived from colleagues, HART and the Essex and Herts Air Ambulance.

The boy’s condition continued to improve after the trauma dressing was applied and he was airlifted to a London hospital for further treatment.

Neill Moloney said:

“It was a privilege to honour the ambulance crew for their extraordinary courage and professionalism in very challenging circumstances.

“In the midst of a volatile and dangerous situation, they showed unwavering dedication, responding to a critically injured 16-year-old with exceptional skill and bravery.

"Their quick actions ensured that this young man received the care he needed in those critical moments, ultimately saving his life.

“This commendation is a small token of our immense gratitude and respect for their heroism, which exemplifies the very best of what we do at EEAST on a daily basis.”

Paul Warwick, a paramedic who has worked at EEAST for more than 20 years, said:

“I was extremely impressed with the very calm and professional way Sophie handled a very challenging job – especially given this was only the second time she had attended a stabbing.

“She is very deserving of the commendation and to receive the recognition alongside her is truly humbling. I’m proud to be her crew mate.”

Sophie Rhodes said:

“I’m deeply honoured to receive the commendation alongside Paul.

“When we arrived at the scene, our focus was solely on doing everything we could to save that young man's life, despite the challenges around us.

“We are trained to act in the face of uncertainty and knowing that our actions made a difference is why we do what we do.”