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Gates Jammed Shut: Grandfather Dies in Ambulance Delay
7 Jan
Summary
- Grandfather died after paramedics couldn't leave the station.
- Ambulance gates jammed shut during a power cut.
- Family believes greater candor would have ensured a full inquest.
A grandfather tragically died in March 2019 after paramedics were unable to reach him due to jammed ambulance station gates during a power cut. Peter Coates, 62, suffered a critical breathing failure when his home oxygen machine stopped working in Dormanstown, Redcar. An ambulance crew was dispatched but found the station gates locked, with no immediate way to open them.
By the time an alternative crew arrived 47 minutes after the initial emergency call, Mr. Coates had already passed away. A specialist doctor stated it was uncertain if the delay directly caused his death, as he might have succumbed quickly to the power failure. However, his daughter firmly believes prompt arrival would have saved him.
Further concerns arose as the family later discovered the second ambulance had stopped for fuel, increasing the delay. The inquest also addressed allegations of a lack of transparency from the ambulance service, with whistleblowers reporting that coroners were not initially informed of the full extent of the delays, potentially influencing decisions about holding a full inquest.
