University paramedic expert is consulted by makers of Coronation Street

University of Gloucestershire’s Martin Hilliard has been consulted by the makers of Coronation Street to ensure scenes in the long-running ITV soap are as true to life as possible.

Martin, Academic Course Lead for BSc Paramedic Science within the University’s School of Health and Social Care, was consulted by researchers from the show about life-threatening injuries sustained by one its characters, Nina Lucas, in a recent episode.

Nina, played by Molly Gallagher, nearly died after she slipped down a river bank, banged her head, and rolled unconscious into the water. Nina’s life was saved after she was found by Brian Packham, played by Peter Gunn, who successfully performed CPR before paramedics arrived to help and rushed her to hospital.

In the soap, Nina’s girlfriend Asha Alahan, played by Tanisha Gorey, is now training to become a paramedic following the traumatic experience of seeing Nina nearly die.

A paramedic for West Midlands Ambulance, Martin (pictured) drew on his knowledge and experience to provide the Coronation Street team with detailed answers to their questions about medical best practice.

This included how the paramedics would diagnose Nina’s injuries, what they would do to address them, and how they would to try and make the character as comfortable as possible.

Martin said: “I think it’s fantastic that the Coronation Street team are taking every effort to portray the paramedic service as accurately as possible to the millions of people who watch the programme.

“I’m thrilled to have been involved in providing information to the programme, which has obviously been a very big part of national life for many decades.

“The scenes showing the care of attention provided by the paramedics in carrying out their work might inspire some of the millions of people watching the programme to train to become one themselves, which would be great.”

Main image: Coronation Street character Asha Alahan, played by Tanisha Gorey, thanking a paramedic for saving the life of Nina Lucas in a recent episode (credit: Coronation Street/ITV1)