‘I delivered 9 babies in back of ambulance’: Paramedic’s wild tale

Three Queensland paramedics have shared their most confronting stories from fatal car accidents to delivering babies in an ambulance.

Mark Nugent from Queensland Ambulance Service. Picture: Richard Walker

From delivering babies in an ambulance to confronting fatal car accidents, three paramedics have shared their stories.

From Ipswich, Magnetic Island and Cairns, these three paramedics have been awarded with an Ambulance Service medal.

With more than 80 years of experience combined, they have told of the key moment they remember in their careers and what they love about the job.

MARK NUGENT:

An Ipswich-based paramedic has relived going to the crash which killed two children at Wyralong in 2020.

West Moreton senior operations supervisor Mark Nugent has been a paramedic since 1989. Throughout his job he has seen some really sad jobs and some happy ones.

In 2020 an SUV with six people inside plunged into a dam on Beaudesert Road in Wyaralong, near Boonah. A four-year-old girl and a 13-year-old boy were killed.

“That one was a bit of a challenging one. It really did affect a number of our staff,” he said.

Mr Nugent’s role on the scene was to co-ordinate many things from clinical to supporting his team.

At that time Mr Nugent as a leader said he had to do one thing.

“In that moment you needed to recognise where people are fragile at that space, your presence does a lot and if you remain calm. You can lead people through some of that,” he said.

Queensland Ambulance Service senior operations supervisor Mark Nugent spoke about the “confronting” scene paramedics arrived to after three teens were severely injured in Brightview on November 22, 2022. Picture: Liam Beatty.

“Just let them know you are there for whatever they need.”

Mr Nugent said the first officer who attended was confronted with the scene and had very limited resources but did a great job.

“I was so grateful for her setting the things up to start with,” she said.

“It took a long period of time for any support to get there which made it very tough.”

But despite difficult situations sometimes, Mr Nugent said he loved his job.

“I love the fact we can have such positive influence on peoples lives and those people around them,” he said.

With some moments memorable for a positive reason.

“Many years ago I had a ten week old infant that had gone in a cardiac arrest,” he said.

“That little ten week old with some quick interventions from a critical care point of view, we had a positive outcome.”

KERRY DILLON:

A Queensland paramedic has spoken about his wildest experiences in his 40 years as a paramedic including delivering nine babies at the back of an ambulance.

Magnetic Island Station officer in charge Kerry Dillon said he first started in the ambulance in 1983 and it was still a job he loves.

A memory Mr Dillon clearly remembers is the first time he delivered a baby at the back of an ambulance within the first 18 months of his career.

“That was very frightening, we only had about 250m to get to the hospital and we had her in the back of the ambulance and we were heading down to the hospital,” Mr Dillon said.

“I was in the back with her doing admin. Next minute she grabbed my hand and squashed my wedding ring flat and wouldn’t let it go.

Magnetic Island Station officer in charge Kerry Dillon has been awarded an ambulance service medal. Picture: Supplied

“My mate, he was in the front and I yelled out to him and I said ‘Sam I've got the baby coming’ so he shot into maternity there.

“I’m delivering the baby and everything on the back of the ambulance on the stretcher and there was no time. She hardly had any time and all of a sudden within ten minutes or so she’s had the baby.”

Mr Dillon said he had delivered eight girls and a boy. He has worked in Brisbane, Mount Isa and many rural areas.

“Every time I have helped someone it’s been a highlight,” he said.

Mr Dillon has worked in many floods and Cyclone Yasi.

NADINE BOND

A Cairns based paramedic has told of her experience working on Thursday Island with the “helicopter as an ambulance” and the progression of her career in a city in the middle of a GP shortage.

Nadine Bond is a paramedic who works in the Local Assessment and Referral Unit which is a specialist position that deals with low acuity patients.

Over her career, spanning since 1987, she has managed to go to a variety of jobs. Her most recent position deals with the non emergency situations.

Cairns paramedic Nadine Bond has been awarded an ambulance service medal. Picture: Supplied

“Mostly what QAS get called to these days because people cant get into their GP where they are calling us into all sorts of things,” she said.

“People will call us for something, because they cant go to the GP.

“The whole idea for the unit, we try and divert them away from the hospital. We can do some treatment at home, we can even call them back after a few hours.

“Emergency is sort of out control so they thought this sort of thing can help ease up pressure for hospitals.”

But her job has changed dramatically from the days she was on Thursday Island in 2005.

“It’s very surreal, its not like working down here,” she said.

“Because your ambulance vehicle is your helicopter so you are in the chopper most days.”

Ms Bond said the people she would see would be quite sick by the time they got to the paramedics.

Originally published as ‘I delivered 9 babies in back of ambulance’: Paramedic’s wild tale