Retired Lancaster doctor heads to Rio Olympics

A retired hospital consultant is taking a trip of a lifetime next month, when he heads to Rio to volunteer at the Olympics.
Dr John Davies, who will be volunteering as a medic at the Rio Olympics. He is pictured during his stint at the London Olympics in 2012.Dr John Davies, who will be volunteering as a medic at the Rio Olympics. He is pictured during his stint at the London Olympics in 2012.
Dr John Davies, who will be volunteering as a medic at the Rio Olympics. He is pictured during his stint at the London Olympics in 2012.

Dr John Davies, who was a consultant anaesthetist at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary until he retired in 2014, will be part of the ‘field of play recovery’ medical team (FoPRT).

The FoPRT isn’t part of any national team, but is set up by the local Olympic organisers, to go to the aid of anyone in the Olympic family, coaches, administrators and members of the Olympic committee, as well as athletes, who need urgent medical assistance on the park.

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This means Dr Davies will have one of the best views in the house as he takes his turn on a shift basis at the side of the track in the Olympic Stadium.

It’s not the first time the 69-year-old has been involved in this way – he also volunteered at the 2012 London Olympics and Paralympics and at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games.

“I was enormously privileged to be a volunteer at the London Olympics,” he said.

“We were sitting in the front and could almost touch the athletes.

“I enjoyed it so much that I decided to volunteer again.”

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Despite being retired from the NHS, Dr Davies has continued to maintain his registration to the General Medical Council, which requires continued education and work.

He will head to Rio on August 3, ahead of the Olympics starting two days later.

He will also be volunteering during the Paralympics, before returning to Lancaster in mid-September.

During his stay in Rio, Dr Davies will be sending us updates of his time at the Olympics.

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Keep an eye on our website at lancasterguardian.co.uk for blogs, photos and videos of the occasion.

“I like to record my impressions because it’s like a diary for me to keep for the future too,” Dr Davies added.

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