Maureen says thank you to heroes who saved her life

Published on Wednesday 17 June 2009 10:13

SHE owes her life to the two hero passers-by who launched themselves into moving traffic to come to her aid.

And 69-year-old grandmother Maureen Lipscombe has never had the chance to thank them – until now.

Yesterday she was reunited with Dog's Trust worker Christine Corrigan, 35, and youth worker Kenny Toshack, 45, who rushed to help after she was hit by a car and left for dead at a pelican crossing on the junction of Lothian Road and the West Approach Road.

The pair are now set to receive lifesaving awards for their actions on 16 December, 2007.

Miss Corrigan said: "The most horrifying thing was that none of the other cars stopped to help her. It was the week before Christmas and people looked more concerned about getting their Christmas shopping than stopping to help an old woman who was bleeding on the road.

"I just had to fling myself in front of the traffic to protect her because if I didn't she would have been run over again and again.

"The real hero of the day, in my opinion, was an off-duty police officer who jumped out of his car to direct the traffic.

"I'm not normally in the business of saving human lives – I'm more used to caring for animals – but I just did what any human being should do when they see a person in distress."

Miss Corrigan was quickly joined by Mr Toshack, a keen mountaineer and hillwalker who learned his first aid proficiency in the hills.

Mr Toshack, a father of four, said: "She was bleeding from her head and face and there was quite a lot of blood, but the cars just kept whizzing past us as we tried to help her. I didn't really think about it. We had a job to do."

Ambulance crews arrived within half an hour, and told Christine and Kenny that their actions probably saved Mrs Lipscombe's life.

"She was taken to hospital where she was found to have a ruptured aorta, collapsed lung and head injuries, as well as a broken jaw.

Mrs Lipscombe said: "I can't remember anything about what happened. The last thing I remember was seeing the green man, and then it was as though someone turned off the tap.

"I was unconscious in hospital for six days. I couldn't see or speak, but I became aware of my family talking around me and urging me to respond in anyway that I could.

"I remember them getting quite excited when I wiggled my toe in response to one of their questions.

"I'd never met the two people who saved me before, but I'm extremely grateful to them for what they did."

Although Mrs Lipscombe's heart valve was repaired and she is mobile again, she said the accident has left her with a number of lasting health problems and she is still receiving physiotherapy.

Miss Corrigan and Mr Toshack are to be awarded by the Royal Humane Society for their bravery. The society's secretary, Dick Wilkinson, said: "Working together, the rescuers cleared the injured woman's airway, removing debris including broken teeth. Despite the heavy traffic that continued to pass them, they continued to administer first aid, in the road, until an ambulance arrived.

"The police report states that her injuries were initially classified as likely to prove fatal, so without their fast response and first aid expertise, this woman could well not have survived."

No date has yet been fixed for presentation of the awards, which have been made on the recommendation of Lothian and Borders Police.