Matthew Workman

Said the following about Ralph Wilson:

“In the early hours of April 24th, Keenan Flowers, a Freightliner static shunter based in Crewe, came to work feeling unwell and looked out of sorts. He was advised by the Shift Manager to go home, a short distance away in Crewe.

As Keenan was leaving the site, Freightliner Operations Support Manager, Ralph Wilson arrived to commence his duties and, while reversing his vehicle into one of the parking bays, noticed Keenan who had just walked across the track towards the car park. Something made Ralph aware that all was not well because the individual appeared to be walking unsteadily.

Concerned for Keenan’s safety, Ralph stopped his vehicle and rushed towards Keenan and was aware that he was very bright red in the face, and his lips were slightly blue. He asked Keenan, who appeared disorientated, what was wrong, and he muttered something along the lines of “I have been sent home from work as I am not feeling well”. Ralph told Keenan that he would drive him to the hospital.

However, at this point, Keenan collapsed in a backward motion landed on his back and banged his head on the ground. He then started frothing at his mouth, began to choke and appeared to lose consciousness. Ralph’s immediate thoughts were to clear his airways and perform CPR.

Ralph called 999 and had his phone on loudspeaker as instructed. He felt a rapid heartbeat and inconsistent breathing so applied CPR. After around five minutes, Ralph was aware of another colleague arriving for work and shouted to him to turn around and open the electronic gate in readiness for the ambulance. Realising that Keenan had reached a point where he was in such a poor state he would need to use the defibrillator from the Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) to ensure Keenan regained some level of stability, he also asked this colleague to call the Shift Manager so he could fetch the defib kit.

Ralph used the defib expertly before putting Keenan into the recovery position, made him comfortable with some coats that the lads in the VMF supplied and did his best to reassure him and keep him calm. He then stayed with Keenan until the ambulance arrived and the paramedics attended to him before taking him to hospital. Ralph was aware of a medication check regarding some medication for an infection that Keenan had taken, which he gave to the paramedics before they left the site to take Keenan to the hospital.

Keenan was admitted to Leighton Hospital where he was tested and observed. He was suffering from a severe infection which meant his body had effectively shut down on that morning.

Fortunately, Keenan has made a full recovery and was able to return home to his wife and one-year-old son. It was thanks to Ralph's quick actions, calm response and professional manner that prevented Keenan's situation from becoming more critical. A very worthy nominee for the Depot & Freight Staff Award.“