Man dies after two-hour ambulance wait in Brisbane

Summarised from 3 outlets · Updated 17 Oct, 01:57 · Archive

A 51-year-old man died in his Brisbane home more than two hours after calling emergency services with chest pain and shortness of breath.

Nick Bradford, 51, a civil draftsman, was found dead in his Annerley home in Brisbane after waiting more than two hours for an ambulance. He had called triple zero complaining of chest pains and shortness of breath. The Queensland Ambulance Service categorised him as a code 1C, which is typically responded to within 27.2 minutes. However, QAS called him back and asked whether he could make his own way to Princess Alexandra Hospital, which was a short distance away, three streets from his home. Bradford declined to drive himself, believing it unsafe given his condition.

When paramedics finally arrived, they found him dead inside his home. Bradford was not taking any medication and had no diagnosed health conditions before his death, according to his brother Daniel Bradford.

The family's distress was compounded by initial reports suggesting an ambulance had arrived within minutes of the emergency call. Daniel Bradford said: 'He did what he should have, and it still didn't make any difference ... that's the part that really upsets me.' He added: 'I thought that it was a really sudden, catastrophic event where he didn't suffer. But now it's just upsetting ... knowing that there's a possibility that he was in fear and desperate for help, and there was no one coming.'

The Bradford family found out about delays to Nick's care through news reports on Thursday. Health Minister Tim Nicholls issued a public apology to the family on Friday, confirming he was first notified of the death on Monday but did not have family contact details. A coroner is investigating the death as part of incident reviews into the case and another ambulance-related death that week.

How it is being reported

• Coroner probes ambulance delay as man's family grievesA civil draftsman called triple zero complaining of chest pains. More than two hours later, when paramedics finally arrived, they found him dead.Perth Now · 17 Oct, 01:48
• Coroner probes ambulance delay as man's family grievesA civil draftsman called triple zero complaining of chest pains. More than two hours later, when paramedics finally arrived, they found him dead.The West Australian · 17 Oct, 01:48
• Man found dead after waiting two hours for ambulanceThe man lived just three streets away from hospital, and was asked to find his own way there after calling Triple Zero with chest pain and shortness of breath.WAtoday · 15 Oct, 09:53

In this story: Nick Bradford · Daniel Bradford · Tim Nicholls · Queensland Ambulance Service · Princess Alexandra Hospital · Annerley · Brisbane

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