Emergency Overkill

[nailit]

http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/police-cordon-off-hanley-car-park-after-crash-left-man-trapped-in-vehicle/story-30351043-detail/story.html

Came home this morning to find 5 police cars (one of them unmarked), a paramedics car, a doctors car, a fire engine, 2 ambulances and the police helicopter flying overhead. Turns out that (according to the link above) that an ''elderly man'' had trapped his legs in his car. And I think that's its my next door neighbour. Looks like his car (its usually kept in a garage, but I'm sure that's his car) and there no one answering the door or phone so I will have to wait and see.

However my question is, isn't this a bit of an overuse of emergency services? I can understand having a quick response paramedic on the scene along with a doctor, but TWO ambulances? FIVE police cars? And a helicopter? (the car hadn't even left the carpark).

If it is my neighbour, I hope he's OK (him and his wife have been the best neighbours ive ever had)

[Mamyalynne]

I too hope the gentleman is alright and recovers.

Re the response, often when calls come in it isn't always clear what the severity is and more services than necessary may be deployed.

[vulcan42]

We had this at the beginning of March.
http://www.theanswerbank.co.uk/News/Question1542066.html

[marval]

They will often send more vehicles and people than is necessary. But it is better to be on the safe side. I hope the gentlemen is alright.

[nailit]

I suppose until I get further details I shouldn't really have commented but it just seemed a little OTT.
Yes, I recall reading that link Vulcan but that was a little more than an elderly man trapping his legs in a car. Why the police chopper should be deployed is beyond me. And TWO ambulance for ONE man?
I only nipped out to pick up a few groceries and when I came back my street was closed off.
As I said I think its my next door neighbour, I'll find out in due course. Such a great bloke as well.

[jlcm]

try calling 999 when someones trying to get into your house ,we did seventeen hours later the police phoned to say they weren't coming

[tonyav]

He's in hospital with serious leg injuries, nailit.

http://www.stokesentinel.co.uk/update-driver-in-hospital-after-crashing-into-2-vehicles-on-hanley-car-park/story-30352755-detail/story.html

[Mamyalynne]

Poor chap.

[hc4361]

Having read the reports I can imagine the phone call to the emergency services:

Yes, that's right. Three vehicles have smashed in to each other and one bloke is trapped by his legs, dunno how many casualties there are. Yes, as I said, one car has hit a block of flats, dunno if petrol is leaking...no, I can't see how badly damaged the building is.....