Student paramedic dies in Burton ambulance crash

Tammy Minshall had been on a placement with West Midlands Ambulance Service since May

A "promising" student paramedic has died after the ambulance she was in was involved in a crash with a car.

Tammy Minshall, 31, was airlifted to hospital and later died after the crash in Needwood, near Burton-upon-Trent, Staffordshire, on Wednesday.

West Midlands Ambulance Service (WMAS) said it was "tragic that someone died doing the job they loved".

Two other crew members and the driver of a BMW were treated for injuries.

Ms Minshall, from Stretton, Burton-upon-Trent, who was a first year student at Staffordshire University, was travelling in the back of the ambulance.

She was taken to Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, where she died of her injuries.

The other crew, who were in the front of the vehicle were assessed at the scene and taken to hospital for a check-up, but later discharged.

A woman driving the car was also taken to hospital with a leg injury.

There was no patient in the ambulance at the time of the crash. No arrests were made, but police appealed for witnesses including those with dashcam footage of the crash.

Floral tributes to Ms Minshall are being left at the scene of the crash

"When it's one of your own, it really hurts and we as an ambulance service are hurting now," Nathan Hudson, from WMAS, said.

"We have been overwhelmed with the kindness and support of people who have sent messages of condolence.

"It is truly humbling and reflects the high esteem that people in our profession, like Tammy, are held in."

The Ambulance Trust's chief executive Anthony Marsh said the death "will affect every member of our staff".

"Our staff deal with difficult incidents every day, but to lose one of your colleagues will always make it that much harder.

"We are very lucky to have so many student paramedics who want to work with us and it is tragic that someone who showed so much promise has died doing the job that they loved."

Dr Ann Ewens, dean of the school of health and social care at Staffordshire University, added: "This has come as a huge blow to our university and our thoughts are with the family and friends of Tammy who has tragically lost her life."

The damaged ambulance was lifted on the back of a low loader