Student paramedic Harry Beeton comes to aid of elderly trio following crash on western Queensland road

A first year paramedic student has been praised for his calm and professional nature after tending to three elderly people who were injured in a car crash.

A first year paramedic student has been hailed a hero after putting his training into action after witnessing a car crash.

Harry Beeton was driving back from Chinchilla with his friends, and was about 30km out of Roma on the Warrego Highway when he witnessed a car swerve off the road and crash into a ditch Easter Sunday.

Mr Beeton’s paramedic training kicked in and he pulled over his vehicle and rushed to help the three injured passengers, aged in their late 70s and early 80s

“We were driving back from Chinchilla and these people in front of us slammed on the breaks and we saw them run out and as we pulled up to the scene there was a car in the ditch,” he said.

“They were in distress and shock and my first thought was to make sure everyone in the car was OK.

First-year paramedic student Harry Beeton came to the aid of three people after their car crashed on the Warrego Highway near Roma.

“The driver passed out and ended up down there, they were in serious shock and still had jelly beans clutched in their hands.

“My main goal was to keep them calm and make sure they weren’t moving too much while my mate called triple-0 and told them where we were.

“The first thing I did was check for danger looking for leaking fuel, then I made sure everyone was conscious, breathing, their airways were clear and once I found they were alert I determined out which passenger was worse.

“The main goal was the front seat passenger because he had some medical problems including chest pain.”

Mr Beeton and his friends stayed at the scene the entire time to ensure the passengers were all taken care of.

“It was a long scene, the paramedics didn’t arrive for up to 40 minutes because of where we were,” he said.

”Once paramedics arrived we were able to transport them up to the truck and I gave them a hand treating the patients before they were transported to hospital.”

First-year paramedic student Harry Beeton came to the aid of three people after their car crashed on the Warrego Highway near Roma.

Mr Beeton said the crash had only served to strengthen his desire to become a paramedic.

“I’ve done a placement before, but this was the first crash I’d gone to and it was good to put skills into place,” he said.

“It was nerve racking at the time, but I didn’t want to show I was nervous. I felt like I was up to the task, I went through the systematic approach that I was taught.

“I loved it and had a smile on my face afterwards when everyone was OK. I felt like I had done something good. This is why I wanted to become a paramedic to help people on the worst days of their life.”

The vehicle occupants Max Gaylard, Alan Swan and Val Struthers said they were lucky Mr Beeton had been there following the terrifying crash.

“We were driving from the Sunshine Coast to Mitchell and we had stopped in Dalby after two and a half hours to change drivers and that’s where I took over,” Mr Gaylard said.

“We continued on and at and around about one o’clock, I must’ve had a short blackout and as I snapped out of it, we were hitting a road side marker, I over corrected and fish tailed into the undergrowth on the other side of the road. Luckily all three of us are not seriously wounded.

“We are covered in bruises and Alan cracked his rib and sternum and fractured his vertebrae.”

Ms Sturthers praised the calm nature of Mr Beeton.

“This wonderful young man was travelling in the opposite direction, saw what happened and hopped out immediately,” she said.

“He saw Alan was injured and he helped and calmed us down.

“I can’t describe my gratitude, I haven’t written to him yet but I intend to offer accommodation in Brisbane for him and his wonderful friends whenever they need it.

“Harry is a student paramedic but he was extremely professional to the point that when the paramedics arrived they were congratulatory towards him, shaking his hand and telling them he did a great job keeping us calm and communicating.

“They also stayed around until the tow truck came to make sure no one stole the car, one of the people even went back with the car to make sure everything was good.”

Ms Sturthers’ niece Alli Struthers who posted to Facebook thanking Mr Beeton said it was important to acknowledge the good work of young people in the community.

“We had a conversation last night, and for all of the media pulling down our young people there are good kids out there and it gives you faith where the world can go with people like this,” she said.

“We need to encourage this kind of behaviour so other young people might be encouraged to do good acts.”

Originally published as Student paramedic Harry Beeton comes to aid of elderly trio following crash on western Queensland road