FORMER EastEnders actor Dean Gaffney has been reunited with the paramedics who saved his life after his Derby car crash – and said the experience left him lost for words.
The 35-year-old had the opportunity to say thank you to Lee Coulson and David Saxby after being invited to an awards ceremony for staff at East Midlands Ambulance Service.
Dean suffered head injuries in the incident on the A38, between Markeaton roundabout and Kingsway, on January 30 and was taken to the Royal Derby Hospital.
He told the Derby Telegraph: "It was overwhelming to meet Lee and David again – almost like when people see their long-lost relatives.
"You really don't know what to say other than to keep saying thank you.
"But it was so endearing because, as I was saying: 'Thank you so much', they were saying: 'We were just doing our job' – they don't want to wallow in glory, they just wanted to help me."
Dean – who had been staying in the city while appearing in Agatha Christie's A Murder Is Announced at Derby Theatre – said he only remembered "bits and pieces" about the crash.
He said: "I remember going towards the barrier but then I was out for the count. Then I remember the paramedics arriving and the noise of their voices. Somebody was saying: 'Shall we get a board for him?' because of my injuries.
"I saw the cup holder in the car was brimming with blood and I must have said to the paramedics: 'Please don't let me die' hundreds of times."
Dean said appearing at the awards ceremony, at the Colwick Hall Hotel, in Nottingham, was the "least he could do" to show his appreciation.
He was accompanied by friend and former EastEnders co-star Des Coleman, who lives in Derby, and presented one of the awards.
Last month, Dean donated three tickets for the final of BBC One show Let's Dance for Comic Relief – in which he was performing – to staff at the Royal Derby Hospital to thank them.
At Thursday night's ceremony, Dean said: "The NHS gets a lot of stick sometimes but the way I was treated at the hospital was brilliant – it's an amazing place. That's why I really wanted to thank staff there, as well as Lee and David."
Lee, 25, and David, 26, of Derby, are based at Raynesway ambulance station. Lee said: "On the night, I got a call to a basic road traffic collision and arrived to find a patient with serious injuries who needed calming.
"It was only when Dean told me his name and date of birth I realised who it was, so I made a few EastEnders references to keep him with us.
"It was a fast-moving job and it's always nice when you get to see them turn out well. And it's lovely to be thanked – it brings a smile to your face."
David said: "Very often, you don't get to know how people get on after they leave us, so it's great to see Dean doing so well."
Nine winners received awards at the ceremony – which was the first time EMAS had held the Values and Recognition Awards to honour staff going "above and beyond the call of duty".
It was paid for through sponsorship, donations and the EMAS Charitable Trust.
One award winner from Derbyshire was Tim Evans, 43, of Chesterfield – based at Heath station.
He received the respect award after dragging a patient out of a house fire and, on the same day, stitching up wounds at the roadside following a collision.
Long service awards were also presented to staff who had been at EMAS for 20 years or more.
Trust chairman Jon Towler said: "The evening was a fantastic opportunity to take the time to thank our dedicated staff and volunteers for a job well done.
"I'm proud of the 122 people and teams who were nominated for awards."
