The widow of a man who “died in agony” waiting for an ambulance has won a settlement after a nine-year legal battle and says it proves 999 crews were in the wrong.
Emma Latham’s husband Steven was 43 when he collapsed as they watched an
in 2013 with daughter, Teegan, then two. Emma rang 999, but it took 40 minutes for an ambulance to arrive. A first responder paramedic had arrived within 10 minutes, but she claims they watched as Steven struggled to breathe.
When ambulance paramedics found him unconscious on the ground they also failed to perform CPR at the scene. He later died in hospital. Emma, 46, from Wythenshaw, Gtr Manchester, took legal action against the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust, who made an undisclosed payout.
Emma, who has since developed MS, said: “My Steven would still be here without ambulance delays and if he had been given proper care. I still see my husband gasping for breath and begging for help, with the paramedic kneeling beside him watching him slowly die. Overnight I lost my husband, business, work and health. But the ambulance trust couldn’t care less. They haven’t even said sorry. But the fact they have paid out shows they know they were in the wrong.”
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Steven with daughter TeeganThe family were staying at a holiday caravan in Towyn, North Wales, close to where Steven and Emma had opened a cafe. They were watching vintage planes fly by in Rhyl air show when Steven, who had high blood pressure and atrial fibrillation, collapsed. The ambulance trust later claimed Steven had been shocked with a defibrillator, which Emma disputed, and instructed Carlos Lopez at Express Solicitors to take legal action. Mr Lopez said: “Ms Latham wanted justice.”
Jason Killens, of the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “Our thoughts remain with the family of Mr Latham.”
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