Local waste crew goes above and beyond in park emergency

In a remarkable display of compassion and kindness, a local crew from SUEZ Recycling and Recovery UK made headlines this week by not only performing their regular duties, but also stepping in to assist an individual in distress at Repton Park in Ashford.

This January, while the crew were emptying litter bins, they noticed a man had collapsed on a nearby path.

Without hesitation, the team acted swiftly, assessing the situation and ensuring the man was safe. Recognising the urgency of the situation, they immediately called emergency services and kept him safe and warm until medical professionals arrived.

"We’re proud of our team for their quick thinking and compassion," said Ryan Hinton, Contract Manager at SUEZ. "Our crew is out there every day on the front line and it's important to us that we’re contributing positively to our local communities."

"Dale Shaw and I were emptying the bins as usual and at first we weren’t sure it was a person, Joshua Foster-Naisbit, Street Cleaning Operative at SUEZ, added. “As soon as we realised someone needed help, we called emergency services and made sure they were safe and warm until they arrived."

All of SUEZ’s front line staff have recently received CPR training in partnership with the British Heart Foundation.

The waste crew’s actions not only highlight the importance of looking out for one another in the community, but also how taking part in first aid training sessions like these could mean the difference between life and death.

“We’re extremely grateful for the swift action from the crews,” Cllr Steve Campkin, Portfolio Holder for Environment at Ashford Borough Council, stated. “We often hear from our residents that the crews go above and beyond in the work they do and this certainly proves that point.

“On behalf of the Council, we’d like to extend our many thanks to Joshua and Dale for how they handled the situation.”