Ambulance delayed over safety fears
8:59am Tuesday 3rd January 2012 in News
AMBULANCE crews were stopped from helping a seriously injured man for almost an hour because paramedics could have been put in danger by brawling yobs, it is claimed.
The 28-year-old man suffered a serious head injury in a brawl shortly after leaving a party in Eldon Street at 3am on Sunday.
He is fighting for his life at the Royal Bolton Hospital.
Police yesterday described his condition as “critical but stable”.
The attack happened in Pole Street, Tonge Moor, near the junction with Stone Street.
Neighbour Steven Brown, aged 51, who works as a lorry driver, said: “I phoned an ambulance at 2.54am and it took an hour to arrive.
“When the police arrived, the paramedic on the phone asked me to pass the phone to the police and the policeman said ‘I think you have been waiting for us to attend’.”
The North West Ambulance Service has confirmed staff were told not to go to the scene until police arrived as someone was reported to have a weapon. A spokeswoman said such a move was standard
procedure where crews might be in danger.
