Career spent saving others; Top paramedic trained dozens.

Byline: HYWEL TREWYN

A TOP paramedic who has trained dozens of colleagues to be lifesavers has said goodbye to the ambulances' sirens and flashing lights.

Gwyn Thomas, from Ruthin, Denbighshire, has completed 44 years' service in the emergency medical service profession.

When he was younger, Gwyn was a member of the St John's Ambulance Brigade while also doing an apprenticeship in plastering.

He said: "In 1965 I joined the Denbighshire Ambulance Service and became an ambulance man in Ruthin."

After 10 years, Gwyn was promoted to Leading Ambulance man in Ruthin. He was also a member of the Red Cross and went on many training courses.

Gwyn said: "The highlight for me was the first defibrillator donated by a relative of a patient in Mold who had suffered a cardiac arrest. The family wanted to buy the defibrillator as a thank you.

"The next step was to set up a cardiac course to enable all medical staff to use the equipment. This task involved liaising with consultants and nursing staff at hospitals.

"That was quite a challenge but we trained an awful lot of people.

"Very few of the ambulance staff failed to achieve the required standards and since the introduction of the equipment, many lives have been saved."

He finishes in the service as national equipment manager: "The biggest highlight in this role has to be the new ambulances and being involved with their design and the equipment carried by the vehicles."

Gwyn added: "I have made some fantastic friends, met some very special people, and I have been very privileged."

[e-mail]

CAPTION(S):

Top ambulance man Gwyn Thomas