To the rescue in Ruthin

The team at Ruthin delivery office showed what they were made of when they rescued a member of the public who had accidentally set himself on fire.

Marco Trebbi, delivery manager, Operations North East Wales, had just left the unit and was on his way to Denbigh delivery office when he received a phone call from one of his team telling him that there had been a serious incident on St Peter’s Square.

When he arrived back at the delivery office, several colleagues were attending a man who had suffered significant burns to his body.

‘The police concluded that the man had attempted to set a parked vehicle on fire,’ said Marco. ‘The first the team knew of this was when they heard someone screaming outside the office.

‘They all rushed out to discover this young lad on fire beside a burning car. They managed to extinguish the flames on the lad, but by this time you can imagine the extent of the burns he had received.

‘Helped by staff members from the Castle Hotel in St Peter’s Square, the team doused the man in water and then placed their soaked fleece uniforms over him. Eric Boschi, Jamie Knights, Kelly Barker and David Threlfall stayed with the man until the fire brigade and paramedics arrived. They were trying to comfort him but he wouldn’t stop screaming and he was drifting in and out of consciousness.’

The man was reportedly taken to Glan Clwyd Hospital having suffered burns to 70% of his body. He was then airlifted to the specialised burns unit in Liverpool and placed in an induced coma.

The emergency services told Marco that the team’s quick-thinking actions undoubtedly helped save the man’s life.

‘I’m totally in awe of the way every member of my staff reacted to this horrific event with no regard for their own wellbeing and safety,’ said Marco. ‘I’m also so impressed with their professionalism and pride in the job, in that after the event, every member completed their full delivery. It’s just amazing.’

Corey Kitchen, Delivery leader, Cheshire, Merseyside and North Wales, from Warrington mail centre, went to the unit to congratulate colleagues in person.

‘The posties in Ruthin are a credit to themselves, to their community and to Royal Mail,’ said Corey. ‘They truly are amazing people. To come across a situation like the one they did and to respond in the way they did, was simply unbelievable.

‘Their quick reactions, selfless actions and sheer courage is second to none and they should all be so proud of themselves for the way they unitedly handled such an horrific situation.’