Life-saving doctor wins Pride of Britain award

Dr Simon Walsh, 46, from Rustington, works for The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel, London and London’s Air Ambulance, a charity which covers a population of 10million people.

He was on duty when cyclist Victoria Lebrec, 24, from Chichester, collided with a lorry during her commute to work in London, crushing her pelvis.

Simon and his fellow doctors and paramedics performed a pioneering procedure by the roadside which stopped her bleeding to death and saved her life.

It involved inserting a small catheter in her groin and passing it up into her main artery, and then inflating a small balloon to block it. It cut off the blood supply to her pelvis and legs, giving the team time to take her to The Royal London Hospital. Victoria lost one leg, but her life was saved.

For their work, the team won the Emergency Services Award at the Pride of Britain Awards at London’s Grosvenor House Hotel.

It was attended by the Prince of Wales and the Prime Minister, who hosted a winners reception at 10 Downing Street.

Simon said: “It was quite an overwhelming experience. We all felt very priviledged to be there and represent the charity.

“We were on duty that day, but if it had been any of my colleagues I know they would have done the same thing.”

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