AMBULANCE STAFF RECALL HORRORS OF TOTAL CARNAGE
Ambulance staff recall horrors of total carnage
By Nigel Gould
AN Ulster ambulanceman who was one of the first on the scene of the Omagh bombing told today how he was left traumatised by "the most horrific images imaginable".
Tony McLaughlin, an ambulance worker in Omagh for the last 17 years, said he had been having flashbacks since he picked his way through "a mass of bodies just minutes after the blast.
Mr McLaughlin, who was in the first ambulance taking part in the rescue, told how he had lifted bodies of local people whom he knew well.
"It's something I will never never forget," he said. "I cannot come to terms with it. None of us have slept since it happened.
"I can see that scene as plain as day. It is so clear in the mind.
"I knew about 90% of the people caught up in the blast.
"Another young boy of about 12 had multiple injuries.
"I saw the bodies of women and children. It was really terrible.
"When we arrived we saw total carnage - there were bodies everywhere.
'One boy knew me and shouted for help - but I couldn't recognise him with the injuries'
"The first man I went to said there was something wrong with his leg. When I looked down it was completely severed.
"The whole thing from start to finish was unbelievable. It is so hard to explain - you would have had to be there.
"But it is something that will live with me for the rest of my life."
Paramedic and Strabane station supervisor Ethel Dawson who helped co-ordinate the massive rescue operation, added: "It is something I will never forget.
"It was without doubt the worst atrocity I have ever seen."
Another ambulance worker who was too distressed to be named, added: "Words can't describe what we saw.
"There were so many bad injuries - all that terrible human suffering.
"You run on adrenalin - you just keep going. But when you stop and sit down and think about it, it really sinks in.
"This is something that will stick with me for the my life."
All of the ambulance personnel are to be offered counselling services.
By Nigel Gould
AN Ulster ambulanceman who was one of the first on the scene of the Omagh bombing told today how he was left traumatised by "the most horrific images imaginable".
Tony McLaughlin, an ambulance worker in Omagh for the last 17 years, said he had been having flashbacks since he picked his way through "a mass of bodies just minutes after the blast.
Mr McLaughlin, who was in the first ambulance taking part in the rescue, told how he had lifted bodies of local people whom he knew well.
"It's something I will never never forget," he said. "I cannot come to terms with it. None of us have slept since it happened.
"I can see that scene as plain as day. It is so clear in the mind.
"I knew about 90% of the people caught up in the blast.
"Another young boy of about 12 had multiple injuries.
"I saw the bodies of women and children. It was really terrible.
"When we arrived we saw total carnage - there were bodies everywhere.
'One boy knew me and shouted for help - but I couldn't recognise him with the injuries'
"The first man I went to said there was something wrong with his leg. When I looked down it was completely severed.
"The whole thing from start to finish was unbelievable. It is so hard to explain - you would have had to be there.
"But it is something that will live with me for the rest of my life."
Paramedic and Strabane station supervisor Ethel Dawson who helped co-ordinate the massive rescue operation, added: "It is something I will never forget.
"It was without doubt the worst atrocity I have ever seen."
Another ambulance worker who was too distressed to be named, added: "Words can't describe what we saw.
"There were so many bad injuries - all that terrible human suffering.
"You run on adrenalin - you just keep going. But when you stop and sit down and think about it, it really sinks in.
"This is something that will stick with me for the my life."
All of the ambulance personnel are to be offered counselling services.
Further Information
Publisher: BELFAST TELEGRAPH
Ref: BT/0057
Published Date: 18-Aug-98
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