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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
National
Dion Jones & Hollie Bone

'Mother hen' paramedic killed in horror crash as training exercise goes wrong

The colleagues of paramedic killed in a five car horror crash have ridden with him one final time as they took part in a blue light convoy alongside his funeral procession.

Mark Pell, 51, was killed after a training exercise ended in a five vehicle collision involving three motorbikes, a HGV and pick up truck on the A5 in North Wales last month.

The paramedic who worked as part of the motorcycle response unit with the London Ambulance service was airlifted to hospital on April 7 but died of his injuries six days later.

Paying tribute to their much loved colleague, 29 motorcycles, an ambulance and first response vehicle drove in convoy with Mark's hearse during a 25 mile funeral procession across London on Monday May 17, North Wales Live reports.

Mark was immensely "proud" of his job and had been with the service for 28 years - his colleagues have paid tribute to him this week (@Ldn_Ambulance/Twitter)

London Ambulance Service Chief Executive Daniel Elkeles, said: “Mark is greatly missed by his colleagues at London Ambulance Service. He was a popular member of our team and an asset to the Service as a whole - he will be remembered for his dedication to patient care and the unwavering support he offered his colleagues."

The procession which travelled from Chipping Ongar to Ilford in east London, stopped at Whipps Cross ambulance station, where Mark had spent most of his career, to allow a one minutes silence.

After joining the ambulance service in August 1994, Mark spent time in Whipps Cross, Wanstead and Buckhurst Hill ambulance station in Essex.

During the pandemic he had been a mentor with the operational placement centre at Ilford.

Mark's colleagues gave him a guard of honour during his funeral (@Ldn_Ambulance/Twitter)

Mr Elkeles added: “I would like to say thank you to Mark’s family and loved ones for inviting us to join them today, and for allowing our Motorcycle Response Unit to pay tribute to Mark in the most fitting way possible, with one last ride out.

"I understand this is an incredibly difficult day for those who were close to Mark, and my thoughts and sympathies remain with his family, friends and colleagues.”

Mark had been described as a "mother hen" character by his heartbroken colleagues who said he was "caring and supportive".

“I understand Mark was often referred to by his colleagues as the 'mother hen' – this was due to his desire to ensure everyone and everything was looked after.

"I hear it was not uncommon to see Mark three hours after his shift had ended; tidying up, restocking and generally ensuring the station had what it needed to run efficiently.

Mark had worked at various ambulance stations and been a mentor to others during the pandemic (WALES NEWS SERVICE)

“Mark will be remembered for the absolute care and support that he offered to his colleagues, which was only surpassed by the care and compassion he gave to his patients.

"Mark undoubtedly exemplified everything that is great about the London Ambulance Service, and London and Londoners owe him a massive debt of gratitude for his 28 years of dedicated service. He will be greatly missed.

“My thoughts and deepest sympathies are with Mark’s father, Roger, mother, Marilyn, sister, Sarah, and partner, Sarah Jane at this extremely difficult time.

"I am also thinking of Mark’s wider family, friends and colleagues across the Service."

Police are still investigating the cause of the crash and have asked witnesses or anyone with any information to come forward.

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