Powys First Responders disbands after saving dozens of lives

Knighton First Responders were first formed back in 2002 and have seen dozens of volunteers help those most in need over the last two decades.

“We started in 2002 with 12 responders. At our peak numbers 58 people in the area were first responders,” said co-ordinator Brian Jones.

Brian, 76, said the closure had been due to the “dwindling numbers” of volunteers and other services such as the local firefighters now being trained for first responder care.

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The closure has seen service’s truck has being sold and the equipment has been donated for a good cause.

“The responder truck has been sold but the life saving equipment has been given to the Welsh Ambulance Service," said Brian.

“All the funds and money from the sale of the truck have been given to Knighton hospital league of friends. It was the right time to finish as Knighton Fire Fighters are now trained as First Responders who are on call twenty-four seven.”

Brian has been the co-ordinator of the service for the last 20 years, having previously served as a firefighter for 33 years, including serving as station manager at Knighton Fire Station, and is hugely proud of work done by the first responders.

“I am very proud of what we have achieved,” said Brian. “We have saved so many lives over the years, it must be dozens and dozens of lives at this point.”

For many this meant being required to step in at a minutes notice this even once happened to Brian whilst on plane back to the UK.

“I was once getting a plane back from Egypt when they asked on the flight ‘is there a doctor on board?’”, said Brian.

“Then there was no response, so they asked ‘is there someone trained in first aid?’ So I put my hand up. I had to take care of a lady who had fallen ill with a trainee nurse who was also on the flight – I then had to liaise with the cockpit and let the pilot know whether they needed to make an emergency landing in Cyprus.

“Thankfully she was OK and it was just some bad dehydration but I can say all of us who served as part of the first responders had that at some point.”

Brian added: “I wish to thank all the responders over the 21 years for their hard work and commitment to this service.

"Four of the people were involved for the whole 21 years. I feel the community should be proud of all the responders.”