CRIKEY, OUR AMBOS THE BEST

News Source: Sunshine Coast Daily, page 7, Monday 20th September, 2004
By: Libby Hunt

Crocodile Hunter sings praises of paramedics to mark Ambulance Week

Steve Irwin is lucky enough to have avoided a ride in the back of an ambulance so far but as the Australian most likely to need one at some stage, he definitely knows the importance of our paramedics.

To mark the first day of Ambulance Week, Steve opened Australia Zoo to Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) paramedics and their families – and he made sure they all knew how appreciated they were by shouting an animated “go the ambos!” whenever he got the change.

“I’m so proud of our ambos – a lot of people think I have a tough job, but crikey when I look at these guys and the work they do, I just think ‘wow’, he said. “Every single day they’re our there, helping Aussies and dealing with some pretty horrific things and they just take it all in their stride.”

QAS Commissioner Jim Higgins said Queensland had one of the best ambulance services in the world – but Steve was of a different opinion. “No way mate, not one of the best – the very best – we have the greatest service in the world right here in Queensland,” he said. And he should know – having visited just about every country in the world, and earning himself a variety of colourful injuries along the way, Steve said he breathed a sign of relief every time be returned home. “I’ve had broken fingers, scratches and bites and I’ve got a big, swollen knee at the moment but nothing too serious yet. “I have to know a lot of first aid myself because alot of the places I travel to, you can’t go to the doctor and you wouldn’t dare go to the hospital. I’m always super relieved to come home to Queensland and know these guys have got my back.”