‘Amazing support’ for Dean serving NHS frontline as 24/7 volunteer medic

Building surveyor Dean Appleton has praised the “amazing support” from Ingleton Wood as he selflessly serves the NHS frontline by attending emergency incidents as a 24/7 volunteer medical responder to help the Essex community during the coronavirus crisis.

Dean, who joined us in 2012, has attended thousands of 999 calls as a Community First Responder (CFR) over the last decade with his twin brother Ryan.

With our full support, Dean has volunteered to put himself on 24/7 emergency standby and has been given PPE kits and extra training since the COVID-19 outbreak. CFRs are fully-trained volunteers who attend 999 calls in the area where they live or work, delivering life-saving treatment until paramedics arrive.

Dean, based in our Colchester office, has had a range of experiences, from performing CPR on a critically ill cyclist and helping whilst he was transferred to hospital via an air ambulance to simply making a cup of tea to treat an elderly resident with chest pain and anxiety.

“We tucked her into bed as she was frail, turned off the lights and locked up behind us,” said Dean. “She was incredibly grateful. She’s self-isolating and just needed someone to talk to. Maybe we saved her life in a different way.

“The cyclist also recovered after our early intervention. Even though these weren’t directly linked to COVID-19, we feel a sense of achievement.

“Ryan and I are also close neighbours, so we often pick each other up for calls. We’re not risking ourselves, but we could be walking into anything so it’s special to have my ‘brother in arms’ with me. We’re immensely proud of serving the frontline. We just want to save lives.

“I would like to thank Ingleton Wood for their amazing support in allowing me to volunteer night and day as a CFR during the crisis. This says everything you need to know about Ingleton Wood. They said, ‘don’t worry, this is what you need to do’. It’s been incredible.”

Partner David Cresswell said: “We’re all incredibly proud of Dean and his twin brother Ryan for their NHS volunteering to help critical patients in the Colchester community, including those potentially suffering from COVID-19.

“When Dean asked if he could volunteer 24/7 including whilst working from home, there was absolutely no question – this is his calling and we must all do what we can to help out.”

Dean, who set-up the first CFR group in his home town Clacton eight years ago, also called for more people to consider joining the East of England Ambulance Service Trust (EEAST) as a CFR, saying: “We’re always looking for more volunteers and fully appreciate it’s not for everyone. But I think it’s very rewarding. You’ll make a huge difference in such hard times.”

EEAST CFR Colchester coordinator Madelen Tobiasson said: “It is great to have the twins in our team. They have a lot of experience and work very well as a pair.”