The hospital felt deserted. A deadly silence filled the air, the beds stood empty and neglected, a chilling breeze flowed through cubicles hastily moving odd files and whistling through the doors to Resus, creaking their hinges. The curtains around cubicles hung on their rails limply, faded, burned and torn. The floor was covered by strewn bits of paper, tiles and cloth. What was left of posters only just clinging to the smoke damaged walls, ruffled slightly as the breeze crept under them, casting soft whispers into the murky air. The clock on the wall above what was the nurses station had since fallen to the ground, broken, only the hands remained, showing the time of 3:10. The once filled reception area was empty, the plastic chairs scattered all over, some broken. The well-kept desk was covered with odd files, books and patients notes, not at all what it used to be. The doors welcoming you into the hospital had been smashed from the force, the glass lying everywhere on the floor. Amongst it and other things, lay a broken photograph. In the lone photo were the grinning faces of the 16-strong staff at a party. Each of the faces a mixture of happiness, Christmas spirit and alcohol, as everyone had a drink in their hand, toasting to the camera.
Not of them would even have been able to dream of what happened the next day. The deep sadness and loss felt by the community of Holby was and still is felt by the nation, even now, two years on….
The morning was the 20th of December 2006. There was the usual Christmas feeling to the day, whether it was the chill or the smell of snow in the air, the atmosphere was cheery. The hospital was its usual busy self, patients coming in and out of the ever-open doors, the doctors rushing around after them, trying their best to compete with the newly-installed Four Hour Rule. Tinsel and brightly coloured chains decorated the walls around reception, having been put up for the season, and were topped with a large fir tree in the corner, its baubles and lights twinkling gently. The fact that their was a supermarket Santa sitting in one of the chairs in the waiting area, although he had his beard off and a gash on his arm, he still added to the effect. Most of the staff were also in the mood for Christmas, some humming familiar Christmas time hits, some even with tinsel wrapped round their wrists and heads. The then Staff Grade and Registrar had gone one step better and were wearing a set of antlers and a Santa hat, adamant that it was 'all in good cheer' much to the dismay of their Clinical Director. Due to his lack of festiveness, he had been dubbed Mr Scrooge by his colleagues and their younger patients. It wasn't long before he tired of their enthusiasm and retired to his office. From everyone in the hospitals point of view, that day was as every other day, just a little more special because of the time of year. All in all, the day had started out well.
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It wasn't the blink of an eye before midday had come and gone. As the clock approached three in the afternoon, the hospital had slowly filled again, patients in most cubicles, and only two cases in Resus, who were both stable. Most of the staff had gathered round the nurses station, chatting away with each other about the party the night before, or Christmas being just round the corner. As the clock struck ten past three that was when it all happened.
The whole of Holby felt the tremors cast off from the blasts. Records show that a totally of nine went of simultaneously from inside the hospital, sending it into a fireball of flames and terrifying sight. The most emotive eye witness account of the accident was the one of Josh Griffiths, a long serving paramedic to the hospital.
"I had been asleep in Ambulance Control when I was woken by one of my colleagues. At first I couldn't understand what Jan was saying but her words suddenly sunk in, she explained quickly that the hospital seemed to be on fire with explosions occurring as the flames grew. I quickly got to my feet and rushed outside, only to met by a terrifying sight. There were flames spewing out of every window in sight, few fire hose were aimed high, but the water didn't seem to be making any difference. I tried to run nearer the hospital but I was stopped by a fire crew chief, him telling me that I was not permitted to go any further until the area was safer. I stood back in horror, watching as flames devoured the windows and smoke billowed into the fresh mornings air. Jan suddenly appeared beside me, a worried look in her eyes. I asked her what was going on and had everyone got out safely. The look on her face told me everything I needed to know. 'Josh, no one been able to get out and no helps been able to get through the fire yet." I couldn't believe it, my mind began to race, thinking of the shift rota and trying to figure out who was inside. After about three minutes I had it sussed, but I wish I hadn't. I knew every person who was on shift, was inside. Harry, Selena, Kelsey, Abs, Nathan, Alice, Tess, and Sam. I also knew that Guppy and Maggie had been called in to help with a major RTA the night before and there was always the possibility Comfort and Greg may have been in the wrong place at the wrong time. My heart began to sink, the sense of helplessness flooded me, I couldn't do anything and anything I did do wasn't going to help anyway. It was devastating. It didn't bare thinking about what was going on inside, every blast that I heard go off was like a stab in my mind. Knowing that my dearly regarded colleagues who I'd come to know and love were fighting for their lives and there was nothing I could do about it was horrible. That day has never left my thoughts, I still hear the twisting of metal, flickering of flames, the screams. The smell of fire and burning and death. Everything."