In safe hands: the people who respond to critical injuries in extraordinary circumstances

A 112 call comes in. A person has been seriously injured. Aware every second counts in the critical first hour, emergency agencies mobilise immediately

Dr Jason van der Velde is a prehospital emergency medicine physician with West Cork Rapid Response. Picture: Denis Minihane.

Note: Some readers may find the contents of this article upsetting

The call came in just as Dr Jason van der Velde was heading to bed in his Clonakilty home. A man had fallen into a blowhole in Garretstown.