Nurses praised for kindness in tragedy
The family of a 14-year-old girl who died from carbon monoxide poisoning when fumes from a disposable barbecue filled her tent at a Shropshire campsite has paid tribute to hospital staff who treated them.
Hannah Thomas-Jones died at the Baron of Bucknell campsite in Bucknell, near Clun, on May 6.
Her 11-year-old brother Ben was found unconscious as the tragedy unfolded, and he was airlifted to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital in a critical condition for urgent treatment.
Now the ward sister who cared for Ben, his mother and step-father, has been commended by health chiefs for the compassion she showed to the family, from Handforth, Cheshire.
Martin Beardwell, acting chairman of the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust, presented a special Chairman's Award to Sister Sandra Copson at a board meeting on Thursday.
He said she had also been nominated for two national NHS Heroes awards.
The citation confirmed that Sandra and a colleague had been nominated by Hannah and Ben's mother, Danielle Jones, who said: "They looked after my son in intensive care.
"They made me laugh and smile even though we lost his sister in the same accident. They gave me a shoulder to cry on, on which I cried buckets, and somebody to talk to while I sat at my son's side.
"They protected us, loved us and looked after us with the whole of their hearts."
The RSH staff were also nominated by Hannah and Ben's auntie, Andrea Masefield, who said: "Ben was sedated on arrival, but after being awoken, the care, love and attention he received from Sandra was amazing as he was understandably terrified after a horrific and traumatic experience.
"Not only did Sandra ensure Ben was safe, she also gave massive reassurance to my sister and her husband, who had just lost their daughter. I cannot thank her enough."
