Ambulance men arrested for 'ignoring dying man'

Two ambulance medics have been arrested for allegedly failing to treat a dying man because "he was not worth saving".

By Richard Edwards, Crime Correspondent
Last Updated: 8:08AM GMT 31 Dec 2008

Ambulance controllers overheard a private conversation between the crew members in which they supposedly made disparaging remarks about the victim's untidy home, allegedly failed to attempt to resuscitate him, and then apparently decided to claim he was already dead when they arrived.

Barry Baker, 59, dialled 999 from his home in Patcham, near Brighton in the early hours of November 29 and said that he was suffering from severe chest pains.
Controllers sent a paramedic and ambulance technician immediately, and although Mr Baker collapsed while talking on the phone, the line to the control centre was left open as he lay on the floor.

Minutes later the control staff heard the crew enter the house. A police source said: "What they heard after their ambulance crew arrived frankly astonished them. "Apparently their first reaction was to comment on the untidy and unkempt state of the house. Then they are heard to comment on seeing Mr Baker and allegedly saying that it was not worth bothering to try to carry out resuscitation to try to save him. They then are heard discussing what to tell ambulance control and allegedly decide to say that he was already dead when they arrived. "Obviously the crew did not realise that the phone was still connected and, of course, the 999 call was all recorded on tape," said the source.

The unnamed ambulance staff were arrested after the tape was handed to the Sussex Police Major Crime Team. They have been suspended from duty and a file has been passed to the Crown Prosecution Service to consider prosecuting the pair for wilfully neglecting to perform a duty in public office.

Police confirmed the two medics, both based at Brighton ambulance station, were detained on December 5, six days after Mr Baker's death. They were later freed on bail until next month, pending further inquiries.

A spokesman said: "The men, aged 35 years and 44 years and from the Brighton area, have been arrested and questioned following the death of a man in Brighton. They were detained on suspicion of wilfully neglecting to perform a duty in public office, contrary to Common Law."

A spokesman for the South East Coast Ambulance NHS Trust said that both men had been suspended from duty.
"We have suspended two male members of staff from duty as police conduct an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the sudden death of a man at his home. We are giving the police our full co-operation in this matter and are not in a position to comment further at this time due to the police investigation taking place."

Mr Baker, who walked with the aide of two sticks after undergoing hip replacement operations, was said to be a popular local figure in village.
He was described by neighbours as a smartly dressed civil servant who was picked up by taxi every morning at 8.30am to go to the job he had been working at since he was 16.

Ralph Virgo, 79 said: "He was always picked up at the same time every morning to go to his job in the benefits office and was always smartly dressed. He had had two hip operations over the years and walked with two sticks and he was quite overweight but he was a very friendly chap and always said hello." Mr Virgo who has lived in the neighbouring house for 15 years said Mr Baker's parents had died before he moved in when he had inherited the house. "I always used to offer to help him out getting the trees cut and such like but he always said no. He didn't like to let anyone in the house." Another neighbour who asked not to be named said Mr Baker was a regular in the local pub where he liked to drink real ale and was a member of the Campaign for Real Ale. The neighbour added: "He seemed to have a good social life and by all accounts he was quite outgoing. He was a decent chap and always friendly."
Mr Baker's dilapidated detached house lies in a well-to-do street not far from the centre of Brighton.

Paul Newman, landlord of the local Ladies Mile pub, said: "He used to come to the pub every Sunday morning at opening time. He arrived by bus and met friends here and together they played a few hands of cards. He did it every Sunday without fail and was a really nice chap," said Mr Newman.

His funeral has been delayed but a memorial service is due to take place next month.