Ambulance service invited to wedding after saving man's life

Fred Fox and Matt Bone, from the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT), joined Mick Culley and his bride, Kerry, at their wedding blessing in Lincolnshire last weekend.

The pair had helped Mick survive a brain haemorrhage while he and Kerry were on holiday in Wiltshire last May.

Shortly after arriving at Salisbury Plain Kerry called 999 and Fred and Matt, based at Salisbury Ambulance Station, fled to the scene.

Here they assessed Mick and recognised the potential seriousness of his condition.

Kerry said: “[Mick] was staggering across the car park and I knew something was very wrong, so I dialled 999 for an ambulance.

“They kept the whole situation calm, got him on a stretcher and into the ambulance.

“The next thing I knew I was driving to the hospital, not knowing whether he was alive or dead.”

“We knew we had to act fast,” Fred said, “Mick could still talk when we arrived on scene, but he was displaying all the red flags for a bleed on the brain.”

Further assessments at the hospital showed that Mick needed a specialist operation at Southampton General Hospital. Fred and Matt continued to care for Mick by transferring him there.

The operation was a success and Mick was eventually transferred again, this time closer to his home near Skegness to recover.

Following his procedure Mick said: “I can’t thank everybody enough – we don’t have enough praise for what Fred and Matt did. Their quick actions saved my life.

“We wanted to take the opportunity to thank Fred and Matt by inviting them to the blessing.”

(LtoR) Fred, Mick, Kerry and Matt after the wedding blessing at St Mary's Church in Hogsthorpe

Kerry added: “If it weren’t for Fred and Matt, our life together could not have happened. We are just so grateful to them."

The pair had met on March 18, 2021, through the local parish council.

They married in October 2021. Fred and Matt attended their wedding blessing at St Mary’s Church in Hogsthorpe on Saturday, May 14. 

Talking about the invite to the wedding, Fred said he was “really chuffed”.

“Kerry turned up at the ambulance station a couple of days after the incident to say thank you and to give us an update on Mick,” he said.

“Then some time later, out of the blue, came the invitation to the wedding blessing. It doesn’t happen very often.

"I have been in the ambulance service for six years and this is the first one I’ve had.”

Matt added: “I just feel so pleased that we were able to get to Mick in time and provide him with the help that he needed.

“Joining him and Kerry at their wedding blessing was such an honour and we had a fantastic time. We wish them a happy and healthy life together.”

Jane Whichello, Wiltshire’s deputy county commander for SWASFT, said: “We are all very proud of Fred and Matt; they demonstrated such care and compassion.

“When we respond to calls, we don’t just care for the patient, we often care for the wider family too and this is just what Fred and Matt did for Mick and Kerry.

“Fred has since qualified as a paramedic and I couldn’t be prouder.”

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