NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan presents paramedic Harriet Moore with the Commissioner’s Conspicuous Service Medal for her actions after a fatal crash near Bodalla. Photo: Adam Yip.
Calm, capable and practical, paramedic Harriet Moore is exactly the kind of person you would want to show up if you had to call the ambulance.
In May 2023, instead of responding to an emergency, she found herself in the middle of one.
Harriet was driving her partner and two patients from Narooma to Moruya hospital when an oncoming car failed to take a corner and crashed into the ambulance at 100 km/h.
At the recent NSW Ambulance awards in Wollongong, Harriet received one of the state’s top honours for what she did next.
Harriet overcame a broken foot and bruised rib to treat her partner, patients, and to do what she could for the other driver, before calling for help.
“It was just a routine transport; we were doing what we normally do every day,” she said.
“I remember the air bags going off, and I remember I did an initial self-assesment to make sure I was OK.
“My partner who had been treating the patient in the back ended up in the front with me between the seats.
“It was quite confronting. Thankfully he moved pretty quickly and that was a big relief.
“I realised I had to get us out of the car and I had to let the control centre know what had happened so they could get ambulance resources to us.”
Harriet, her partner and the two patients were able to walk away from the ambulance.
The other driver wasn’t so fortunate however, and died at the scene.
Harriet said she feared she wouldn’t be able to drive again after the accident, but thanks to support from NSW Ambulance and her family, as well as some time off, she was able to recover physically and emotionally.
She was awarded the Commissioner’s Conspicuous Service Medal for her actions – but Harriet said seeing the team who came to help her receive their Commissioner’s Certificates on the same day was far more rewarding.
“It felt really uncomfortable to receive the award – we don’t do our job for recognition,” she said.
“It’s a significant and important award, but to see my colleagues recognised for what they did for me and my partner that day was the best part.”
NSW Ambulance Commissioner Dominic Morgan said Harriet’s actions were extraordinary – and also typical of her as an officer and a person.
“Paramedics in the normal course of things are trained to compartmentalise when they are called to help at an emergency, but this actually happened to her,” he said.
“To then have your training kick in, that is really remarkable, but when I read about what she did, knowing her background I wasn’t the least bit surprised.
“She has had a remarkable career. Harriet has previously been recognised for an app idea to provide real-time support to paramedics when they are overwhelmed.
“She has a history of engagement, commitment and collaboration with her peers that well surpasses this one particular event. “
