AN INSPRIATIONAL volunteer paramedic has has clocked up his 1,000th emergency callout after retiring seven years ago.

On Tuesday, July 11, Wokingham Community First Responder (CFR) David Pickard received his 1,000th emergency 999 call out.

The 69-year-old former engineer began volunteering for the South Central Ambulance Service in July 2010 following his retirement the previous year.

David recalled: “I was a first aider at my old engineering firm and I was enjoying my retirement, spending time with my grandchildren, gardening, going on holidays with my wife Sheila.

"I was still fit, healthy and active and had time on my hands. Sheila saw an advert looking for new community first responders and it sounded quite exciting, so I applied.”

David has been sent to numerous patients with a variety of life-threatening and less serious illnesses and injuries.

In his time as a CFR, 14 of the 1,000 call outs were to local people suffering a cardiac arrest.

Along with other members of the Wokingham CFR Scheme he also attends events to raise funds for vital medical equipment, carries out CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation or chest compressions) and defibrillator training to members of the public and gives talks to local charitable and social organisations on the work of the CFRs.

David added: “I love what I do, and whilst I don’t often get to hear what happens to patients I am sent to first if they are then taken to hospital in an ambulance, it is lovely to occasionally bump into one of them on the High Street or at an event and they remember and say thank you.

"It’s also very satisfying to be told by the ambulance crews backing us up, that we have done a good job and made a difference for the patient by getting to them quickly and starting treatment.

"As long as I can still manage it, I’ll keep going. I’ve a few more years in me yet – though maybe not quite enough to reach 2,000!”

David is one of eight CFRs in the Wokingham scheme who provide emergency medical cover on a voluntary basis to patients in the town as well as the surrounding areas of Sindlesham, Winnersh, Barkham and Finchampstead.

Nicola Wright, Wokingham Scheme Co-ordinator and a SCAS Paramedic, said: “David is an inspiration to us all and he should be justifiably proud of reaching such a significant milestone.

"As a team we work hard to support all our local communities and with housing expansion in our area, we would be very keen to find a few more Davids who could join us and provide an even better lifesaving service for local people.”