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| Daniel Cripps inquest: Paramedics 'left him to sleep it off' after drinking game | Daniel Cripps inquest: Paramedics 'left him to sleep it off' after drinking game |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A man who took part in a drinking game died should have been taken to hospital by paramedics, an inquest has heard. | |
| Daniel Cripps, 22, became "completely out of it" after drinking 14 shots of vodka at a house party in Newport. | Daniel Cripps, 22, became "completely out of it" after drinking 14 shots of vodka at a house party in Newport. |
| Paramedics were called but left him to sleep if off. He became ill and died. | Paramedics were called but left him to sleep if off. He became ill and died. |
| "With the benefit of hindsight he should have been transferred to hospital," said the Gwent coroner, recording a narrative verdict. His family plan legal action. | "With the benefit of hindsight he should have been transferred to hospital," said the Gwent coroner, recording a narrative verdict. His family plan legal action. |
| After the inquest, Mr Cripps' father Michael said he was planning legal action against the Wales Ambulance Service. | After the inquest, Mr Cripps' father Michael said he was planning legal action against the Wales Ambulance Service. |
| The inquest heard Daniel Cripps drank 14 shots of vodka in the drinking game with friends in April 2010. | The inquest heard Daniel Cripps drank 14 shots of vodka in the drinking game with friends in April 2010. |
| Party hostess, Danielle Baker, said: "Daniel was drinking the shots in quantity. He was fine at first but later he was completely out of it. | Party hostess, Danielle Baker, said: "Daniel was drinking the shots in quantity. He was fine at first but later he was completely out of it. |
| "We were worried about him so we called an ambulance. The paramedics told him that he needed to sleep and let it wear off. | "We were worried about him so we called an ambulance. The paramedics told him that he needed to sleep and let it wear off. |
| "I was surprised that they left him and we thought he should have gone to hospital in the ambulance. After they left, he began being sick and his lips turned blue." | "I was surprised that they left him and we thought he should have gone to hospital in the ambulance. After they left, he began being sick and his lips turned blue." |
| A second ambulance was called and the inquest heard paramedics tried to revive him, but Mr Cripps died before reaching hospital. | A second ambulance was called and the inquest heard paramedics tried to revive him, but Mr Cripps died before reaching hospital. |
| 'Nice quiet place' | 'Nice quiet place' |
| Mr Cripps, of Maesglas in Newport, was a fit soccer player with ambitions to be a male model. | Mr Cripps, of Maesglas in Newport, was a fit soccer player with ambitions to be a male model. |
| A post mortem examination found he was nearly four times over the drink-drive limit, and the cause of death was alcohol intoxication and choking on his own vomit. | A post mortem examination found he was nearly four times over the drink-drive limit, and the cause of death was alcohol intoxication and choking on his own vomit. |
| First paramedic Ian Powell said: "We put him in the recovery position and in the back of my mind was the thought to take Daniel to hospital. | First paramedic Ian Powell said: "We put him in the recovery position and in the back of my mind was the thought to take Daniel to hospital. |
| "But we left him. His friends were saying to let him sleep it off and we were swayed by the environment. | "But we left him. His friends were saying to let him sleep it off and we were swayed by the environment. |
| "He was in a nice, quiet place with people he knew. | "He was in a nice, quiet place with people he knew. |
| "If it was a pub, club or raucous party I might have taken a different decision. | "If it was a pub, club or raucous party I might have taken a different decision. |
| "We deal with alcohol-related cases frequently but you get a lot of stick from other staff if you take them in." | "We deal with alcohol-related cases frequently but you get a lot of stick from other staff if you take them in." |
| The inquest heard how an independent review after his death found that Mr Cripps would "most likely" have been saved if he had been taken to hospital. | The inquest heard how an independent review after his death found that Mr Cripps would "most likely" have been saved if he had been taken to hospital. |
| Dr Charles Deakin, an independent expert, said: "If he had been taken to hospital, airway management would have been able to prevent his death. | Dr Charles Deakin, an independent expert, said: "If he had been taken to hospital, airway management would have been able to prevent his death. |
| "The chance of him dying if left at the party was only one per cent but it was a significant risk." | "The chance of him dying if left at the party was only one per cent but it was a significant risk." |
| Gwent coroner David Bowen recorded a narrative verdict, saying Mr Cripps died after "binge drinking". | Gwent coroner David Bowen recorded a narrative verdict, saying Mr Cripps died after "binge drinking". |
| Mr Bowen said: "Daniel had died within 20 minutes of the first ambulance. | Mr Bowen said: "Daniel had died within 20 minutes of the first ambulance. |
| "With the benefit of hindsight he should have been transferred to hospital." | "With the benefit of hindsight he should have been transferred to hospital." |
| After the hearing, his family warned against the dangers of binge drinking and alcohol-fuelled party games. | After the hearing, his family warned against the dangers of binge drinking and alcohol-fuelled party games. |
| His father Michael, 44, said: "I'm absolutely distraught. He should have been taken in the first time and we are taking legal action against the ambulance service." | His father Michael, 44, said: "I'm absolutely distraught. He should have been taken in the first time and we are taking legal action against the ambulance service." |
| He added: "He was not normally a binge drinker. He did like to have a drink, but by no means was he abusive with drink." | He added: "He was not normally a binge drinker. He did like to have a drink, but by no means was he abusive with drink." |
| A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "The Welsh Ambulance Service accepts the coroner's verdict and would like to offer its sincere condolences to the family at this difficult time. | A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "The Welsh Ambulance Service accepts the coroner's verdict and would like to offer its sincere condolences to the family at this difficult time. |
| "The trust has ensured that all learning from cases like this help to improve our services for the future." | "The trust has ensured that all learning from cases like this help to improve our services for the future." |