A FORMER JEP photographer – who has been saving lives on Ukraine’s frontline – has spoken of the moment a young soldier ‘came back to life’ as medics prepared to stop a seemingly hopeless revival attempt.
Martin Wyness described the tearful reactions from his fellow medical workers, after their patient was brought back from the brink of death ‘to everyone’s disbelief’ and transferred to safety.
Mr Wyness – an emergency medical technician and the owner of a Southampton-based company that teaches ambulance crews medical skills – recently spent three weeks in the war-torn country, teaching tactical combat casualty care while using his experience and abilities to save lives.
It is the third time that the former Islander has travelled to the region, having already operated alongside a mobile-hospital team in the ‘red zones’ where some of the heaviest fighting is taking place.
‘I was in the east, close to the front lines where our stabilisation units are very busy doing emergency surgery on soldiers and civilians. From there patients get evacuated to safer areas for ongoing treatment,’ the 65-year-old explained.
He recalled the moment medics fought to revive a young Ukrainian soldier who ‘came in dead from blood loss’.
‘It was a rare lull in demand from the doctors, so they decided to keep the CPR going,’ Mr Wyness said, adding that after an hour the situation had not improved.
‘The doctors left the room, leaving one of the crew still on his chest. She knew there was nothing she could do for him any more so, as she was preparing to stop, she said a prayer and was astounded as the monitor lit up with a shockable rhythm. She shouted for help and as the first doctor entered the room she delivered a shock,’ he continued.
‘To everyone’s disbelief the patient came back to life and stayed alive for the transfer to safety. Clinically this cannot happen and no one could explain what had just occurred. The room was full of tearful but happy medics and the feeling was that science cannot explain everything – and that there is more to the world than we sometimes realise.
‘Rare wins like this carry the team forwards, especially after an incredibly hard month when they were worked off their feet,’ he added.
Mr Wyness is currently fundraising for additional vehicles and equipment, and said the medics were ‘very grateful’ for the thousands of pounds that had already been donated. He revealed that more than £80,000 had been raised since July, enabling the purchase of generators, medical equipment, clothing, vehicles and other supplies.
Among those who had made significant contributions to the medics’ efforts, Mr Wyness added, was Islander Genette Dagtoglou – the granddaughter of Victoria Cross recipient Harold Ackroyd. Mr Ackroyd was an officer and medic who was posthumously awarded the military honour for his actions in the First World War.
Ms Dagtoglou said: ‘To me, Martin was doing effectively the same thing – I admired him and those who put themselves into extreme danger. I wanted to do something to help and also in memory of [my grandfather].’
She added that she was ‘very pleased’ that two medical vehicles had been named after her in light of the donation.
Those who would like to find out more about Mr Wyness’s efforts and how they can help should email info@solentmedicalskills.co.uk.
‘So far [I] have half of the £35,000 needed for the next phase,’ he added.
