Couple’s work recognised

A husband and wife were presented with certificates for their work with St John Ambulance.

Mr and Mrs Chris Gangel, of Hounsfield Close, Newark, received a certificate for exceptional work on behalf of St John Ambulance in the winter of 2008/9.

They are both qualified emergency attendants with the Newark branch and also work with East Midlands Ambulance Service on behalf of St John Ambulance.

The were presented with the awards by St John’s commander of Nottinghamshire, Mr Graham Robinson.

Mr Gangel, a Newark town councillor, said he and Mrs Nicky Gangel, the Mayor of Newark’s mace bearer, helped East Midlands Ambulance Service with patient transfers over Christmas.

He said since then they had been asked to help the ambulance service during busy periods and had worked for the service for 300 hours so far this year.

Mr Gangel said their most memorable call was to take a seriously ill year-old baby from the Queen’s Medical Centre, Nottingham, to Derby Royal Infirmary.

He said: “We had to get him there very fast with an incubator, a nurse and a doctor in the back, but getting him safely to the ward at Derby and seeing how relieved his family were was very satisfying.”

Mrs Gangel joined St John about three years ago after taking a first-aid course at work.

She said: “I like the variety of different things we do and I like being able to help people and knowing we have done some good.”

Mrs Gangel recommended taking a basic first-aid course.

She said: “Everyone should take a St John first-aid course and have the ability to use it.”