Tonight's episode of BBC1's ambulance showed the profound emotional impact 999 calls have on those who respond to them.
The latest episode of the BAFTA award winning documentary opened with call handler Frank taking a harrowing call from a man who says he has killed his wife.
As Frank calmly tries to arrange urgent help, the caller explains that he was no longer able to cope with the demands of caring for his elderly wife.
"I've killed my wife," he said.
"She can't walk. Incontitent. And I can't cope. So I've killed her."
Ask about weapons, the man said: "Only a lump of iron."
As Frank assures him that help is on the way, the caller adds: "There's a little girl's party next door, don't use sirens and spoil it.
"She'd dead, that's all there is."
Read more of today's stories
Frank is later seen taking a quiet moment in a break room to gather his thoughts, after revealing that it is not the first time he has had to take a call of the same nature.
Justin, a specialist paramedic based in the Emergency Operation Centre (EOC), reflected on the impact difficult calls can have on staff.
'Yeah, I think it's a f***ing grenade' - a very frank admission that sparked a bomb alert
He said: "No one can do this job for any length of time and not come away a little bit a changed person.
"They have heard things that most humans don't want to hear.
"I don't think anyone has the perfect emotional bullet proof vest. Something gets to you every now and again and it just tips you over the edge.
"I don't think you can ever fully detach yourself fully from what you hear on those telephone calls .
"I think you need to have that empathy, but then you move on, because there is always one more 999 call waiting."
Later in the programme, viewers also saw paramedic Jordan's delight about seeing a baby being born for the first time.
Jordan and fellow paramedic Amy responded to a call from a panicked father whose wife was in the late stages of labour, and has a history of a heart condition.
The baby was eventually safely delivered just 'ten to 20 minutes' after Jordan and crew mate Amy got them to hospital.
The episode also followed aftermath of England's World Cup defeat to Croatia, through a night shift in which the service handled 2,246 emergency calls, including a stabbing, and the case of 17-year-old Becca, who hurt her head after being hit by a man outside a pub.
