MIND the Channel
with Joe Cartwright , AKA ‘ the _ paddling _ paramedic ’
Words : Joe Cartwright Pics : Will Chetwode
My name is Joe Cartwright , AKA ‘ the _ paddling _ paramedic ’; I ’ m 47 years old and couldn ’ t live much further away from the sea in Bedfordshire . I have worked for the Ambulance Service for over 21 years and slowly worked my way up to commander level .
As you can imagine , my line of work is very different to most . I deal with people ’ s emergencies daily , and I get to see the very best and worst of people .
I could be at the scene of a fatal road traffic collision one minute , a suicide after break , and delivering a baby before the end of shift . It ’ s a rollercoaster of emotions and adrenaline spikes .
Over the years , suicides are the one job that has always adversely affected me , the brutality of some cases , and the sad stories behind many more . The first ever suicide I attended was back in 2001 ; we were called to a male hanging in the woods . I remember my heart beating out of my chest as we rushed to him with blues and twos blaring . I will never forget the one part of this incident was what I found in his abandoned van , a note and his dog . My heart melted .
Since then , sadly , I have attended hundreds of suicides of all ages . One of the stigmas around suicide is that people who end their life have mental health problems , which is so untrue ; in some cases , absolutely yes , but not in all . I have attended young children that have been bullied , people in a small amount of debt , people who ’ ve had a picture shared that they sent someone in confidence , lonely people , and persons struggling with addiction .
As a health care professional , I can ’ t find any evidence to say any of these true stories are classifications of mental health issues ; they are just people that couldn ’ t cope on that particular day .
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