South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust logo

Welcome to SWASFT

Paramedic Wayne celebrates MBE after sepsis recovery

A South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust (SWASFT) Paramedic is celebrating being made an MBE after recovering from severe sepsis.

Former soldier Wayne Ingram from Weymouth in Dorset was given the accolade in the 2021 Queen's birthday honours list for his fundraising efforts. 

Wayne raised £140,000 to pay for a series of operations for four-year-old Stefan Savic from Bosnia who had a rare facial cleft.

Wayne and Stefan first met on Army patrol in Bosnia in 2003, and Stefan went on to make a full recovery.

Wayne said: “I’m honoured to have been given an MBE. My headmaster said I wouldn’t make anything of my life, because I left school with very few qualifications. But I joined the military as soon as I could, and have spent my adult life serving my country. So this means a lot. I’m still in shock!”

In 2017, the former staff-sergeant became the first British citizen to receive a humanitarian award in Serbia for his efforts to help Stefan.

His other charity work included a sponsored bike ride to build a new orphanage in Mauritania, Northwest Africa where he was working as a remote paramedic practitioner.

He also spent seven days on a life raft in Portland Harbour with very limited food and water to raise £15,000 for Great Ormond Street Hospital.

Wayne volunteered as a helicopter medic during the first wave of the pandemic, transferring Covid-19 patients from Shetland Islands to mainland Britain.

He developed severe sepsis in early June after being bitten by an insect while walking his dog, and spent more than a week in hospital.

Wayne added: “It came on very quickly and knocked me for six. But I received fantastic care and a lot of antibiotics! And I’m fully recovered now.”

South Western Ambulance Charity logo

South Western Ambulance Charity

The South Western Ambulance Charity, founded in 1995, uses gifted monies to benefit those in our communities who use our service and to improve the welfare of the staff and volunteers of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust. 

Our charitable support covers Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Devon, Dorset, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire including Bristol and Swindon.

If you would like to show your appreciation for the care that you or your loved one has received from us in the form of a charitable donation please visit our online giving website: Donate to South Western Ambulance Charity | Give as you Live Donate