A QUICK-thinking Kidderminster ambulance crew and their patient took a more sedate journey when they commandeered a barge on the Droitwich canal.

Mike Horton and Grant Salsby had to ask for a lift back to their ambulance from a couple passing by in their narrow boat, after treating the patient - a man in his 70s who had collapsed.

They were forced to park up their ambulance and walk a mile-and-a-half to the pensioner, who fainted during a sponsored walk for Worcester’s St Richard’s Hospice, as there was no direct access to him.

Fellow walkers raised the alarm by summoning help from the canal towpath, near Ombersley Road, Hawford at around 10.30am on Sunday.

Mr Horton said: “We were stuck for a way back to the ambulance when we noticed a narrow boat approaching. It was a very kind gesture by the boat owners to give us a lift.

“The patient had recovered sufficiently to travel without any undue problem and we accepted an invitation to enjoy the pleasure of travelling at 5mph instead of our normal blue light speed.”

The crew was reunited with their ambulance and the patient was then conveyed to Worcestershire Royal Hospital for further assessment.