Stonehaven storm paramedic’s family pay tribute

A GRIEVING family has paid tribute to Peter Trudgill, the “exceptional” paramedic who died after being swept into the sea at Stonehaven Bay in Aberdeenshire earlier this month.

Peter Trudgill died when he was swept out to sea at Stonehaven. Picture: PA

43-year-old Trudgill, who lived in Stonehaven, died in hospital in the early hours of 19 January after he was rescued from the sea by a police officer and two members of the public.

He is understood to have been walking in the harbour area with members of his family and had been taking pictures of the high seas around Stonehaven harbour when he was swept into the bay by a huge wave.

His funeral is due to be held at Aberdeen Crematorium’s West Chapel on Wednesday.

Mr Trudgill, who had worked with the Scottish Ambulance Service for 20 years, was described by a spokesman for the service as an “exemplary paramedic and a popular member of the team in Aberdeen.”

Today his parents Jean and David Trudgill and wife Anne-Marie issued their own tribute to the popular paramedic who was father to twin daughters Abby and Keira.

The family said in their statement: “Pete was genuinely caring and committed to his job and his calm demeanour in any circumstances made him an exceptional paramedic. He was a union representative helping many colleagues and was held in high regard.

“On an almost daily basis paramedics now deal with a wide range of serious and acute conditions, often in difficult circumstances and his family believe they are often not given the recognition and credit they deserve.”

The statement continued: “Pete had a sense of fun and a zest for life. He was an outstanding father to his twin daughters, and was much loved as a husband, brother, son and friend, all of whom will greatly miss him.”

The family added: “So that most of his colleagues can attend his funeral on Wednesday paramedics and ambulance technicians from all over Scotland have volunteered to cover the shifts of their Aberdeen colleagues.”