Ambulance technician killed in ‘tragic accident’ had recently returned from retirement

A 66-year-old ambulance technician who was killed when an object pierced the windshield of the vehicle he was travelling in had recently returned from retirement.

Jeremy Daw, who died on Saturday morning at the junction of Moreton Road and the A49 in Herefordshire, was known to his friends as Jack and was described by a colleague as “one of life’s good guys”.

While responding to a 999 emergency, the former paramedic was in the passenger seat when an object struck and pierced the windshield at approximately 8am.

West Midlands Ambulance Service’s operations delivery director, Nathan Hudson, has said that the death was the result of a “tragic accident”.

“About a minute after eight we had a 999 call to say the crew had been involved in an incident,” Hudson said, “whereby an object of some description had gone through and pierced the windscreen and one of the crew members were unconscious.

“We don’t think this was malicious.”

“The driver of the vehicle, who was also injured, was able to get out and try and help and support Jack because he was unconscious and started life-saving treatment to try and resuscitate him.

Daw had just recently returned from retirement as a technician in February 2021 as he wanted to “support the trust during the pandemic”.

A West Midlands Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: “Sadly, despite everyone’s best efforts, nothing could be done to save our colleague, who was the front passenger, and he was confirmed dead at the scene.”

“He was a remarkable character,” said Hudson. “He was one of life’s good guys and he will be sorely missed in and around Hereford. Everybody knew him and he was just a genuinely nice person.”

West Mercia police are asking anyone who may have seen the incident or have dashcam footage to contact them on 101 quoting incident 00101i of 24 April.