An 85-year-old man from Edinburgh, identified as Neil, has reportedly spent three harrowing days trapped beneath the floorboards of his home before being rescued. The incident unfolded when Neil crawled into a tight space beneath a cupboard in his bungalow to examine plumbing for potential leaks. During this inspection, he became ensnared and could not free himself. His absence was noticed when neighbours reported their concerns after they hadn't seen him for three days.
The Scottish Ambulance Service’s Special Operations Response Team (SORT), comprising paramedics Leigh Law and Philip Campbell, received the unusual call and were dispatched from Newbridge. Upon their arrival, they found that fire crews and fellow paramedics were already engaged in the challenging task of tearing up the carpet to access Neil.
Leigh Law commented on the circumstances of the rescue, stating, “The space he was in was tiny. The depth probably wasn't even up to our knees. He was just covered in dirt and dust and looked really weak.” Rescuers were astonished at how Neil had managed to get himself into such a confined area. When he was finally discovered, Neil was covered in debris but, remarkably, appeared to be uninjured, albeit noticeably dazed and weak.
Given the duration of his entrapment without food or water, the paramedics acted swiftly to stabilise him by administering oxygen and intravenous fluids. Philip Campbell elaborated on the urgency of the situation, saying, “Toxins relief from the muscles can enter the bloodstream and then be released into the rest of the body which can then lead to a shock or cardiac arrest. We needed to get him out flat in order to avoid releasing any of these horrible toxins.” The team carefully utilised a scoop stretcher to lift Neil while maintaining his flat position.
Despite their precautions, Neil's condition began to decline once he was inside the ambulance, prompting further stabilisation efforts as paramedics noted changes in his skin tone and the onset of involuntary spasms. He was subsequently transported to the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh for additional treatment.
Reflecting on the unusual rescue, Leigh remarked, “It was actually a bit surreal, not a job you go to every day as nobody expects to find an 85-year-old gentleman under the floorboards of a house and especially in such a tight space.” He expressed concern for Neil’s frail condition, stating, “He's certainly not out of the woods given his age and the fact he looked quite frail. We just have to hope it has a good outcome.”
In an interview after his recovery, Neil recounted his experience, stating, “I don't even remember them getting me out. Apparently, I was talking but I have no recollection of that.” He detailed his motivation for going under the floorboards, mentioning, “The point of the exercise going under the floor was to check the pipeline out and make sure there wasn't any leaks. After opening up the hatch in the hall I got my extension lead down to give me a good light and that was it.” He added that he remembered nothing of the time spent trapped and spent three days in hospital following the incident with only pressure sores resulting from lying on the rubble.
The incident and rescue were highlighted in a recent episode of BBC Scotland's "Paramedics on Scene," which airs on Tuesdays at 9 pm.
Source: Noah Wire Services