Chairman David Rush first met our last guest speaker Andrew Wood when involved with the selection for Rotary of GSE team members. Andrew, a fire fighter, was one picked and participated in a GSE team which went to California. In fact some few year ago Andrew told us of his experience there. He also told of a “firefighter exchange” role whereby he and a Canadian firefighter from the Vancouver area changed places for a year.
Clearly Andrew’s capacity to represent first Rotary, and then his employer overseas and contribute to cross community understanding and development suggests a wonderful personal openness, communication skill and compassion for others in the community . Indeed the tales of his experiences and observations on firefighting techniques were highlights of his previous address.
Last week’s address was much more sober however. He told of an incident (which ultimately was widely publicised) in Middle Park in 2013 in which he in support of three police responded to a call to check on a potential suicide call.
He explained that he, was the relevant fireman to scale a ladder to a balcony to gain entry to a locked apartment and open a locked front door from the inside to allow the police to enter and look for the individual which they were concerned about.
He vividly took us through the steps and his thoughts at the time of his actions, and then the subsequent horrible events whereby a gas explosion erupted catching him and the three police in the apartment. (The suicidal act of the tenant had been to allow an LPG cylinder to empty in hope of gassing himself) All were heavily burned by the LPG which ignited on contact with some pilot light , three got out but one police lass was trapped aflame on the balcony and Andrew went back up the ladder to retrieve her.
Andrew told of the subsequent hospitalisation of all, his protective firefighting clothing limited injury, albeit nevertheless still very severe to him, relative to the police.
Andrew’s act was recognised by the police, he received a police commendation. Most noteworthy however was that as a MFB firefighter he received a medal for Valour —the 10th given only in 100+ years.
The address concluded with his observations on the recuperation on the three police. Still ongoing, he noted that the ability of an individual to cope with disfigurements from burns and post traumatic stress originating from such an event obviously differs with each person. He sensed that a positive outlook was critical.
Andrew told that his big focus now in the community was the management of Post Traumatic Stress in the Emergency Services—most appropriate.
.jpg)
.JPG)
.jpg)
