The First Animal Ambulance

A horse has become the first "animal ambulance" in Britain after being saddled up with the latest medical kit to cover a 3,000 acre country park. Seven-year-old Chase gallops to the aid of injured walkers and cyclists with his owner Mark Bennett, just as doctors used to ride by horseback to patients in the Wild West.

From next month Chase will be in Cannock Chase Country park in Staffordshire, as part of the West Midlands Ambulance Service Community First Responder scheme. He will be able to respond to emergency calls from the park quicker than any ambulance, thundering over the landscape with bandages, splints, oxygen supplies and a defibrillator.

Mr Bennett, 30, said: "I think having a horse on the team is a great idea. It might sound crazy but this horse could really save lives. People get into all sorts of trouble in the park - mountain bikers, runners and walkers can all get injured and it's not always easy for ambulances to get to them quickly. But the horse is great at navigating the terrain and from within the park me and Chase can get to any area within quarter of an hour.”

"An ambulance would take much longer to get there - especially when they have to meet up with rangers to unlock gates for them. Being able to respond on horseback means that I can quickly access patients in difficult, hard-to-reach locations, prior to the arrival of the ambulance service. Chase is fully kitted out with a responder bag and defibrillator. Chase carries oxygen, a mask and valve to help someone breathe, kit for airway management assistance, bandages, splints and space blankets."

Cannock Chase Country Park is one of largest country parks in the country and is a beauty spot favoured by thousands of walkers every year. But because it is largely inaccessible by normal road vehicles, responding to incidents can prove tricky for the ambulance service. Previous methods of getting to emergencies in the park included first responders heading out on motorbikes.

Suzie Fothergill, West Midlands Ambulance Service spokesman, said: "This is the first time that a horse has been part of a First Response team. We were all very excited when we heard that Chase would be part of our crew. He'll be a welcome addition and I'm sure he'll cope very well under pressure."