SURGEON TELLS OF AMPUTATION HORROR
Surgeon tells of amputation horror
A LEADING surgeon spoke of how he amputated a 10-year-old child's foot.
But Dr Clive Russell carried out so many amputations yesterday, he couldn't remember if the child was a girl or a boy.
Amputations, extensive shrapnel wounds, glass and burns injuries, and multiple fractures made up the bulk of the injuries.
Dr Russell, medical director of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, said: "The vast majority of injuries were major orthopaedic and glass injuries, and extensive shrapnel injuries to children and adults.
"There have been traumatic amputations to lower and upper limbs, some serious burn injuries - which have had to be transferred - and some serious abdominal injuries, which necessitated patients going to theatre."
Dr Russell said a total of 44 casualties had been transferred on six helicopter flights, three to Altnagelvin and three to the Royal.
He added that some had also been taken to the Ulster Hospital with extensive hand and tendon injuries, while some other patients will require plastic surgery. Senior nurse, Glynis Henry, said that among those injured and still in hospital, were 43 foreign teenagers, on holiday from Spain. Four of them were seriously injured in the blast. "At least four Spanish children, some of whom had serious injuries, were transferred to Belfast," she said.
Jolene Jamison, aged 16, was working in Nicholl and Shiels, which took the brunt of the blast.
"I was in the kitchen, and heard a big bang. Everything fell in on me -the cupboards blew off the wall. The next thing I got blasted out into the street. "There was smashed glass everywhere - bodies, children. People were inside-out."
Her friend, Nicola Thompson, 18, narrowly escaped the explosion but rushed to help the injured.
"I brought a wee girl into hospital who was six years old. She had a bit of metal stuck in her stomach.
"It has shaken everybody terribly.
"Jolene was lucky to survive. She's got stitches, and she is pretty bad.
"But one of her work colleagues has been taken to the Royal.
"She had to get a skin graft, and her wedding is in a couple of weeks."
Earlier, local MP Willie Thompson nearly broke down in tears as he spoke of what he had seen in the hospital.
"There is a lady I know who has lost an arm and leg," he said.
"Another woman I know who is dead.
"If only those who planted the bomb could see the suffering here, could see the grieving relatives."
A police officer, who was helping relatives frantically trying to find their families, spoke of his disgust at what happened in the town.
"It was total carnage. People were lying buried in rubble.
"Nobody could say this was the Continuity IRA. This is IRA country. It was a dirty job."
A LEADING surgeon spoke of how he amputated a 10-year-old child's foot.
But Dr Clive Russell carried out so many amputations yesterday, he couldn't remember if the child was a girl or a boy.
Amputations, extensive shrapnel wounds, glass and burns injuries, and multiple fractures made up the bulk of the injuries.
Dr Russell, medical director of the Sperrin Lakeland Trust, said: "The vast majority of injuries were major orthopaedic and glass injuries, and extensive shrapnel injuries to children and adults.
"There have been traumatic amputations to lower and upper limbs, some serious burn injuries - which have had to be transferred - and some serious abdominal injuries, which necessitated patients going to theatre."
Dr Russell said a total of 44 casualties had been transferred on six helicopter flights, three to Altnagelvin and three to the Royal.
He added that some had also been taken to the Ulster Hospital with extensive hand and tendon injuries, while some other patients will require plastic surgery. Senior nurse, Glynis Henry, said that among those injured and still in hospital, were 43 foreign teenagers, on holiday from Spain. Four of them were seriously injured in the blast. "At least four Spanish children, some of whom had serious injuries, were transferred to Belfast," she said.
Jolene Jamison, aged 16, was working in Nicholl and Shiels, which took the brunt of the blast.
"I was in the kitchen, and heard a big bang. Everything fell in on me -the cupboards blew off the wall. The next thing I got blasted out into the street. "There was smashed glass everywhere - bodies, children. People were inside-out."
Her friend, Nicola Thompson, 18, narrowly escaped the explosion but rushed to help the injured.
"I brought a wee girl into hospital who was six years old. She had a bit of metal stuck in her stomach.
"It has shaken everybody terribly.
"Jolene was lucky to survive. She's got stitches, and she is pretty bad.
"But one of her work colleagues has been taken to the Royal.
"She had to get a skin graft, and her wedding is in a couple of weeks."
Earlier, local MP Willie Thompson nearly broke down in tears as he spoke of what he had seen in the hospital.
"There is a lady I know who has lost an arm and leg," he said.
"Another woman I know who is dead.
"If only those who planted the bomb could see the suffering here, could see the grieving relatives."
A police officer, who was helping relatives frantically trying to find their families, spoke of his disgust at what happened in the town.
"It was total carnage. People were lying buried in rubble.
"Nobody could say this was the Continuity IRA. This is IRA country. It was a dirty job."
Further Information
Publisher: SUNDAY LIFE
Ref: SL/010
Published Date: 16-Aug-98
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