Young Royal Navy sailor recalls brave moment she rushed to aid of passengers in A30 crash

• Watch the interview with Tayla Davin from the Ministry of Justice

A Royal Navy sailor has recalled the moment she rushed to the aid of a family in Cornwall who were involved in a serious crash.

Tayla Davin rushed to the scene with her medical kit and immediately headed for the crash, which closed the A30 dual carriageway in Cornwall just west of Jamaica Inn earlier this month.

Two cars had collided and one had left the road.

The emergency services took more than an hour and half to free one of the drivers.

Medical Assistant Tayla arrived just after the first ambulance and helped the paramedic from South Western Ambulance Service deal with multiple casualties in the road.

The 24-year-old said: “I arrived not knowing what to expect. There was a family who had got out of the car. They were just on the ground but the driver was still trapped.

“I spoke to the paramedic who directed me to triage the family. I was just supporting them and giving them pain relief. They were complaining of back pain and there was fear they may have had spinal injuries.

“I helped package them up for transit to hospital, getting them prepared and making sure they had the spinal collars and pelvic bindings.”

As part of the medical team at RNAS Culdrose, MA Davin is trained in trauma and emergency care, and provides cover in case of emergencies at the airfield.

Earlier this year she was part of the military who assisted the NHS during the coronavirus pandemic, working in the intensive care unit at Royal Bristol Infirmary.

Firefighters from Cornwall Fire and Rescue Service freed the driver and the whole family was airlifted to Derriford Hospital by Cornwall Air Ambulance.

Chief Petty Officer Leigh Goodgame, the practice manager at RNAS Culdrose’s Medical Centre, said: “MA Davin did not hesitate when she stepped forward to provide medical assistance to a family involved in a crash on the A30 in Cornwall, despite already being on duty to provide medical cover for a training exercise.

“This was the first road traffic collision this junior medical assistant has ever attended. She assisted the paramedic crews for more than two hours and dealt with multiple casualties. I know they were grateful for her assistance.

“Her professionalism, positive attitude in caring for others and her unassuming nature should be applauded and be an inspiration to others.”