Worthing ambulance station create heartwarming Christmas video

It is the second year in a row that Worthing paramedic David Sneddon-Plumb has put together a video from the team.

Last year’s effort became a viral sensation, with stories about it published in the national press and even in Australia.

This year’s video, which features staff members removing their masks, had already clocked up 10,000 views in less than 24 hours.

Around 20 staff members took part in the video, filming the clips from their homes, with several children, pets and Christmas trees making an appearance.

David said: “It’s showing the ambulance staff are just normal human beings as well, we have families, we are getting ready for Christmas ourselves.

“But we are still going out there into the community as well.”

He said it was difficult to interact with members of the public, particularly children or deaf people, while wearing a mask.

“We’re trying to help people at their worst times,” he said. “Through Covid and all the changes to PPE, you don’t get to see the person who is treating you.

“You don’t get to see the face, which is quite a big part of it, where you see your emotions.

“If you’re trying to be empathetic to someone and show compassion and care, you have to do it using your body language, which social distancing makes harder.”

As well as editing the clips together, David also provided the vocals for the video, singing Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.

Fortunately he is no stranger to performing: before training to become a paramedic six years ago, David was a professional dancer.

A world champion line dancer in his youth, he went on to do a degree in ballet and contemporary dance before touring the world and working on cruise ships.

David said the reaction to the video so far had been ‘amazing’, with lots of people thanking the team for helping them.

Due to the nature of the job, David said: “It’s very difficult to get feedback sometimes.

“It’s nice to a get a bit of recognition.”

He hopes the video will spread some festive cheer.

“It’s been a rubbish year for everyone and I just wanted to try and cheer people up,” he said.