Doctor Drives Third Ambulance From Wales To Ukraine After First One Was Shelled

A heroic doctor has driven his third ambulance from Wales to Ukraine just days after his first one was shelled by Russian forces. 

Dr Aled Jones, who used to work for the Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil, drove the first two ambulances from their location to London, where they were handed over to a British-Ukrainian Aid representative to be taken to Ukraine. 

But this time round, the doctor, who now works at a vaccine centre in Cardiff, took the NHS vehicle past the border himself, where it was delivered to a rep to be taken to the frontline. 

WalesOnline reports that the ambulance was packed full of vital medical supplies, as well as spare parts to repair the first damaged vehicle, which was struck by a missile in the southern city of Mykolaiv.

The spare parts were donated by Euro Commercials, a Swansea-based Mercedes-Benz car dealer.

Dr Jones said he wanted to help out after seeing the ‘Ambulances For Ukraine’ GoFundMe page, launched by Prince Charles Hospital A&E worker Dr Mateo Szmidt last month. 

The page explains that while there have been numerous donations to aid the people of Ukraine, ‘there is a lack of ambulances to help aid the wounded’. 

The idea was to raise enough money to buy one of the many ‘roadworthy ambulances that go up for sale’ and to donate it to the medical teams in the country as they continue to fight against the Russian invasion. 

Not only did they achieve this goal, but the donations continued to grow - over £27,000 at the time of writing - and they’ve been able to buy six ambulances so far, with the fourth currently in Poland. 

Speaking to the publication, Dr Jones said that he stayed in Drohobych in western Ukraine until yesterday (12 April) and is now planning his journey back home. 

Getting through the border was no mean feat, and he had to ‘stop at every checkpoint’ and ‘show documents to the guards’. 

When he arrived, he stayed with the charity rep’s mum, describing how there were air sirens at night although they were ‘very far’ from where the fighting was taking place. 

He said: "My main fear going [to Drohobych] was that I didn't want to take up a refugee's space to sleep.

"They were incredibly welcoming. They were giving me great hospitality and food and things – and I felt guilty accepting hospitality from them.

"I visited a military hostel nearby to get an idea of what else they particularly need. I had a good conversation with the staff, who said the kind of things they do need. I also met an American surgeon coming over with a second cargo jet full of medical donations."

Speaking about the experience, he continued: "Even though we know what was going on, being there gave me a sense of what is happening in the country as a whole. 

“[In Drohobych], they're not in danger from the fighting, but still so incredibly committed to helping out. 

“People are going about their daily lives, but doing everything they can. The whole country feels mobilised, in a way."

If you’d like to support ‘Ambulances For Ukraine’, you can donate on their GoFundMe page here. 

They’ve also setup an Instagram page where Dr Jones keeps followers updated on his journeys.

If you would like to donate to the Red Cross Emergency Appeal, which will help provide food, medicines and basic medical supplies, shelter and water to those in Ukraine, click here for more information