Moaning note posted on ambulance as man dies
RELATIVES of a dying man were left “horrified” after a resident posted a note on an ambulance moaning that his drive was being blocked.
Paramedics were trying to save the life of the 42-year-old who had been staying at a rehabilitation centre.
The scrawled message read: “I know you’re saving lives but don’t park your van in a stupid place and block my drive.”
John Hagans, who manages the centre, said the victim’s parents had been made to feel “50 times worse” over the death. He said: “They are absolutely horrified. They said it’s hard enough as it is with the loss.”
Mr Hagans added: “I am absolutely disgusted that an individual complained about the ambulance’s parking. An ambulance is a sacred space. What goes on inside there, it shouldn’t be interfered with.”
Paramedics were stunned when they found the note under their windscreen wiper after treating the patient suffering a “major internal bleed”.
West Midlands Ambulance Service say they were at the address for no longer than 30 minutes.
Paramedic Tasha Starkey was so enraged by the message’s lack of compassion that she tweeted a picture of the note.
The man who died had been staying at the rehabilitation centre in Small Heath, Birmingham, when he collapsed after vomiting blood. But yesterday the man who penned the note apologised, saying it had been written in the heat of the moment.
Hassan Shabbir Ali, 27, said: “I am deeply sorry. I regret what I did, if I could take it back I would.
“I am someone who relies on the NHS. I suffer with a life-long disability, I know the truly amazing work the NHS does.
“I’ve just come from the mosque after work. I’ve sought forgiveness from God.”
A neighbour of Mr Ali’s said: “It’s terrible that anyone would take a pop at paramedics. They save lives.”