Paramedics Stephen Welsh and Maciej Wisniewski - Ottawa Paramedic Services

On September 4, 2021, Primary Care Paramedics Stephen Welsh and Maciej Wisniewski were called to the scene after a passenger plane collided with a hydroelectric pole and crash-landed in a nearby field. The plane landed upside-down with a ruptured fuel tank, leading to bush fires in the surrounding area. The two passengers on the plane, soaked in fuel and suffering extensive injuries, were trapped inside the aircraft as the fires quickly approached.

With resourcefulness and quick thinking, Paramedics Welsh and Wisniewski recruited bystanders and a police officer at the scene to help rotate the plane into an upright position. The paramedics were able to extract the two passengers while Ottawa Fire Department contained the fire.

The passengers were transported to hospital and treated for their injuries. A tragic situation was avoided because of Paramedic Welsh and Wisniewski’s timely and courageous actions