Father proud as son joins him in ambulance service
BBCParamedic Adrian Utting says he feels "pride" watching his son on the job, with the pair both working at East Midlands Ambulance Service (EMAS).
Adrian, 55, is currently a specialist practitioner having started in patient transport following a career change 25 years ago.
Now his son Ashley Utting, 25, has arrived at the same starting point.
He is an ambulance support crew member, after his own career change, and aspires to train as a paramedic in the future.
Neither father nor son, from Leicester, had set out to join the emergency service from a young age, but that is exactly where their career paths have led them.
"People always think that I've always followed in his footsteps... but it's always been my own decision," said Ashley. "Dad's never been one that forced me into it."
As a teenager Ashley said his interest was in catering.
"But then as I did it at college - it turns out it wasn't my passion as I originally thought it was," he said.
This led to an apprenticeship at Leicester General Hospital, then Glenfield Hospital, before taking up his position at EMAS.
Adrian said he tried to avoid being too doting over his son at work.
"I didn't want that nepotism," he said.
"Seeing them from a distance, you see them progressing. Standing on his own two feet, making his own friends, how they're doing and all that, it's nice."
The pair say it is rare for them to work together during a shift, but it has led to amusing encounters when on the job.
Adrian said: "I may sometimes slip in darlin' rather than his first name. And a patient's relatives did pick that up once and said 'I hope you are related'... it was quite funny."
Meanwhile Ashley told the BBC there was "no shame" in working with family, and it helped reassure patients they treat together.
"If they see the dynamics we've got, they can see that they're in good hands and that we are able to deliver our job, not only as father and son, but working together as colleagues.
"There's been the support when I've felt like I've been struggling at times. He's definitely been there to support me and show me that it is possible to do [the job]," he added.
Looking at the future, Adrian said he planned to work on the NHS front-line for about 10 more years in a role that he continued to love.
He said: "I still have to pinch myself thinking that it's a privilege to see our patients and to do this job.
"When I was an engineer [before my career change], you welded something, and it was there the next day. Here, no two days are the same."
A spokesperson for EMAS said that it was "wonderful" to have Adrian and Ashley working together and improving each other's skills.
"We employ 4,300 people across the East Midlands in a huge variety of roles, and I'd encourage anyone that's interested in joining the service to have a look," they added.
Follow BBC Leicester on Facebook, on X, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to [email protected] or via WhatsApp on 0808 100 2210.