A paramedic who began his career at Keighley ambulance station is heading Down Under.

Chris Croden is to spend five months on exchange at Matwochydore, near Brisbane in Queensland.

He is swapping jobs, homes and lifestyles with Aussie paramedic Craig Hickson.

Chris, who was based at Keighley for nine years after joining West Yorkshire ambulance service in 1979, says: "Craig came over last year and we became friends. We exchanged a couple of letters and then out of the blue I got a phone call.

"I am looking forward to trying out my skills in Australia. The people are the same and the incidents they deal with are the same, but there are some differences in the way they manage them. They administer different drugs and use some different techniques."

Chris says the exchange is the chance of a lifetime for the whole family including wife Christina and children Alex, nine, and Natasha, two.

He adds: "Alex is a bit worried about going to school over there but he is very excited.

"I want to see something of the country. I enjoy visiting different countries and seeing what they are like.

"When you go to a place on holiday you don't get the full experience."

While in Australia he hopes to visit some old friends, and to try snorkelling on the Great Barrier Reef.

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