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Fred Pring died waiting 42 minutes for 999 ambulance | Fred Pring died waiting 42 minutes for 999 ambulance |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A man with severe chest pain died after waiting 42 minutes for an ambulance, an inquest has heard. | A man with severe chest pain died after waiting 42 minutes for an ambulance, an inquest has heard. |
Fred Pring, 74, died at his home in Mynydd Isa, Flintshire, on 21 March 2013, a hearing at Ruthin Coroner's Court was told. | Fred Pring, 74, died at his home in Mynydd Isa, Flintshire, on 21 March 2013, a hearing at Ruthin Coroner's Court was told. |
His wife Joyce called for an ambulance three times but was told the service was "very busy" in her area. | His wife Joyce called for an ambulance three times but was told the service was "very busy" in her area. |
On her fourth call she told the operator her husband had died saying it was "too late now, he's gone". | |
The inquest was told ambulance staff had been very busy that night with one member of staff confronted at knifepoint in a dispute on a call before Mrs Pring's. | The inquest was told ambulance staff had been very busy that night with one member of staff confronted at knifepoint in a dispute on a call before Mrs Pring's. |
Mr Pring, who had been receiving treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was crying in pain as his wife phoned for help, the hearing was told. | Mr Pring, who had been receiving treatment for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, was crying in pain as his wife phoned for help, the hearing was told. |
His wife said an ambulance had taken a while to arrive on an earlier occasion and she was worried the same would happen again. | His wife said an ambulance had taken a while to arrive on an earlier occasion and she was worried the same would happen again. |
On her third call the operator told her an ambulance crew would be there "as soon as they can" and apologised. | On her third call the operator told her an ambulance crew would be there "as soon as they can" and apologised. |
After that call Mrs Pring told the hearing how her husband's condition got worse. | After that call Mrs Pring told the hearing how her husband's condition got worse. |
"He just said 'I'm going' and slumped back on the pillow and stopped breathing," she said. | "He just said 'I'm going' and slumped back on the pillow and stopped breathing," she said. |
Coroner John Gittins described the 999 calls, which were played to the inquest, as "very distressing and horrific". | |
In her final call at 01:51 GMT Mrs Pring said: "This is the fourth time I have rung for an ambulance. It is too late now, he's gone, he was 74. | |
"There's nothing you can do for him now. You are too late, I am sorry." | |
Considerable delay | Considerable delay |
Mr Gittins asked Mrs Pring if she wanted him to write a report advising what lessons could be learned from the incident. | |
She replied: "I would like to think that but I don't believe it. I think that similar incidents will probably happen in future." | |
Ambulance technician Clwyd Richards told the inquest staff were very busy that night and he had been threatened at knifepoint in a dispute over which hospital to take a patient to on the call before Mrs Pring's. | Ambulance technician Clwyd Richards told the inquest staff were very busy that night and he had been threatened at knifepoint in a dispute over which hospital to take a patient to on the call before Mrs Pring's. |
PC Jonathan Ashton, who arrived at Fred Pring's house shortly after the ambulance service, said Clwyd Richards, said to him: "I feel embarrassed about this, but there's a chance that we could have saved him if we got here earlier." | |
He said that Clwyd Richards went on to talk about the busy evening they were having, with ambulances "stacked up" at Wrexham Maelor hospital. |