First responders recall rescue efforts for Broncos bus crash

The rapid response of emergency personnel to the devastating Humboldt Broncos bus tragedy on Friday was nothing short of remarkable, and part of that response came from the air.

On April 6, a semi collided with a bus carrying 29 members of the SJHL’s Humboldt Broncos. The crash killed 16 members of the team and sent the remaining to hospital, some in critical condition and fighting for their lives.

STARS Air Ambulance had three helicopters attend the scene — two from Regina and one from Saskatoon.

“That was our full complement of helicopters in the province that evening,” Cindy Seidl, director of STARs provincial operations said.

Seidl said every mission has two pilots, a critical care nurse and an advanced care paramedic — but due to the severity of the crash, multiple transport physicians were also brought out to the scene.

She said they transported four patients from the trauma centres in Tisdale and Nipawin.

Saskatchewan Air Ambulance (SAA) also flew to the small towns. Jim Thompson, director of flight operations, said SAA also brought four patients to Saskatoon.

Thompson said it was really a group effort by all those involved that day.

“Those communities, them stepping up and taking care of our own, it was the people in Nipawin and people in Tisdale and we wanted to support them.”

Medical staff was also transported from Saskatoon to small towns to help care for the patients.