Five-year-old Troy Hicks is a big fan of Wellington Free Ambulance paramedics after they helped him when he was kicked in the face by a horse. PHOTO/SUPPLIED
GIANINA SCHWANECKE
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Five-year-old Troy Hicks hasn’t let getting kicked in the face by a horse stop him from having fun on the farm.
Looking to beat the lockdown blues, he and six-year-old brother Toby, along with mum Mandy Bedingfield, ventured out on to the family farm in Carterton to feed the horses on April 1.
As Bedingfield began to unload the hay, Troy let out a loud scream.
She turned to see him clutching his face and realised he had been kicked by one of the horses.
“I ran to Troy and got him out of the paddock,” she said.
“I yelled for Toby to get some help and then dialled 111. I was immediately transferred through to a call taker, but I was unable to hear them as Troy was crying loudly.
“At this stage there was a lot of blood and I think we were both in shock.”
Toby found a neighbour who took over the phone and brought towels to help stop the bleeding.
Bedingfield was filled with relief when she saw the Wellington Free Ambulance [WFA] paramedics arrive.
“It was a horrific day for our family, but I really felt like everything was going to be okay when the paramedics arrived; they had the situation under control.”
The ambulance crew took him straight to Hutt Hospital where he could get the specialist care needed and he was operated on within hours.
Troy ended up losing eight baby teeth because they were damaged. He had a small jaw fracture and also received a number of stitches to his mouth and cheek.
With his injuries healing well, Troy is back to his normal self again.
Bedingfield was immensely grateful to the WFA paramedics.
“I have had to call 111 for an ambulance in the past but this time there were so many emotions involved.
“I would never have been able to drive Troy to the hospital in the state I was in; their reassurance that everything was going to be okay was invaluable to me as a mum.”
WFA were “a vital resource for our community”, Bedingfield said.
“We are so lucky to have them.”
Troy was also very grateful to the paramedics and plans to show his support by putting on his onesie for Wellington Free Ambulance’s Onesie Day on September 4.
- To join him or donate, visit onesieday.co.nz
