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Last Bradford Fire Nurse Retiring After Inspiring Career
31 Oct
Summary
- A nurse who cared for victims of the 1985 Bradford City fire is retiring.
- She recalls the overwhelming smell and organized chaos of the disaster.
- She plans to focus on family, travel, and cherished memories in retirement.
Angela O'Neill, a nurse who provided care following the devastating 1985 Bradford City fire, is retiring after a remarkable 44-year career. O'Neill, 62, is believed to be the last active nurse at Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust who was involved in treating victims of the tragedy.
On the day of the fire, May 11, 1985, O'Neill was off duty but responded immediately to the call. She vividly recalls the overwhelming smell and the scene of "organized chaos" in the emergency department as she helped set up a dressing clinic for the injured.
Her career spanned decades, focusing on trauma and orthopaedic nursing, and she rose to become a ward manager. O'Neill has twice battled breast cancer, first diagnosed in 2009 and again in 2022. She plans to focus on cherished family time with her six grandchildren and elderly parents, as well as travelling with her husband in their restored camper van.
O'Neill expressed gratitude for her many years serving the people of Bradford, stating that nursing remains an integral part of her identity. Her retirement marks the end of an era for those connected to the 1985 disaster.
