UPDATE: In a gripping account, paramedic Chris Nicholls reveals the extraordinary events of his 15 years in service, including delivering a baby in a shower and responding to the Lindt Cafe siege in Sydney. His stories, shared ahead of NSW Ambulance Appreciation Day on September 19, highlight the unpredictable and often intense nature of paramedic work.
Nicholls, based in Queanbeyan, has witnessed both heartwarming and harrowing moments. Just last week, he helped deliver a baby in a shower, a situation that turned comically chaotic as the infant became stuck. “It was quite funny in retrospect, but at the time, I was really concerned,” he said. After maneuvering through the confined space, mother and baby were safely transported to the hospital.
The paramedic’s career took an unexpected turn in 2010 when he transitioned from construction to emergency services during an economic downturn. He expressed, “I wanted to start looking at helping other people a bit more.” This decision led him to a career that has been anything but ordinary.
One of the most intense experiences of his career occurred during the Lindt Cafe siege in December 2014. Nicholls and his wife, also a paramedic, were called to the scene where Man Haron Monis held 17 hostages for hours. “It was tense, and we spent most of the night waiting,” he recalled. The situation escalated at 2am when gunfire erupted, prompting them to assist in evacuating hostages.
“It all happened so fast,” he noted. They quickly loaded a patient onto a stretcher and rushed through Martin Place as police advised them of potential explosives on-site. After the crisis, friends and family contacted them, having seen their involvement on television. “We were all heightened, thinking about what had just occurred,” he said.
Now, as an intensive care paramedic, Nicholls balances a life of emergency response with family commitments in Cooma. He and his wife coordinate schedules to manage their three children’s needs alongside their demanding shifts, which can last a minimum of 12 hours. “Before kids, we worked the same shifts, but now it’s complicated,” he explained. “We have to work like a nine-day week instead of a seven-day week.”
Nicholls was recently honored with a Certificate of Appreciation for his dedication to his patients and profession. As Queanbeyan Ambulance Station opens its doors to the public from 11am to 2pm on September 19, community members will have the chance to learn more about the vital work paramedics like Nicholls perform daily.
The stories of Chris Nicholls serve as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of emergency services and the profound impact paramedics have on their communities. As he continues to answer the call, his experiences underscore the importance of their work, especially on days like NSW Ambulance Appreciation Day.
For more updates on this engaging story and others like it, stay tuned as we continue to cover the critical work of our first responders.
