Man dies after ambulance breaks down

pies4ever · Joined: 11 Feb 2002 Location: rosebud,vic,australia

Man dies after ambulance breaks down
October 19, 2007

A MAN has died after paramedics from a broken-down ambulance were forced to run almost two blocks to try to revive him in Melbourne's southeast.

Ambulance Employees Australia (AEU) general secretary Steve McGhie confirmed a 56-year-old man died from a cardiac arrest before paramedics could reach him at his Elwood home tonight.

Mr McGhie said an ambulance broke down about two blocks from the house about 6pm (AEST), forcing paramedics to run with life-saving equipment, including a defibrillator.

But the man's heart had stopped by the time the paramedics arrived.

�The vehicle had 160,000 on its odometer - it should be retired ... even though the Government has assured Victorians that they are safe and secure,� Mr McGhie said.

�The ambulance had power failure and they couldn't keep it running.

�They grabbed the defibrillators and the oxygen equipment and ran to the house.

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/story/0,21985,22616833-5005961,00.html

member34258 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

And what happened in the dash to the house? Was the ambulance held up by mindless drivers who seem unaware that there is an ambulance up their arse? Who do we blame?
What happens when an Ambulance has a puncture? Who do we blame?
I've had a brand new car roll out of the showroom and break down in an hour. It was only the battery, but who do I blame?
Like it or not, there are a lot of variables when an Ambulance is called. I find it hard to connect the break down with the death.

eddiesmith · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:12 am

Of course its anyones fault but the Labor government Rolling Eyes

member34258 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

eddiesmith · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:56 am

Dave The Man · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 12:23 pm

Is the Health System this Stuffed?

Alec. J. Hidell · Joined: 12 May 2007

bwphantom · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 3:37 pm

In QLD they used to have Fords and they had problem after problem with them. Ever since the QLD Government changed to Mercedes Sprinters they have less problems.

I have a mate who is an Ambo and he informed of this from the Ambo newsletters they all receive.

In reference to the above...if the motor was a diesel then 160000 klm then that motor has just been loosened up. Seems just a freak thing that happens.

I often say that the hearse will break down on me to my funeral.

My feelings go to the family...

stui magpie · Posted: Sat Oct 20, 2007 5:07 pm

I don't get why they would think that 150,000 is time to retire the vehicle. Confused

Where do they service them? You'd think for such a vital machine they'd do preventative maintenance and replace parts regularly to ensure nothing broke down.

Bucks5 · Nicky D - Parting the red sea Joined: 23 Mar 2002

On the MMM news at noon they said that 3 ambulances attended the scene and that although one broke down it didn't contribute to the guy's death.

Alec. J. Hidell · Joined: 12 May 2007

stui magpie · Posted: Sun Oct 21, 2007 1:24 pm

Which is why I said about preventative maintenence. You know that certain things start to go after a certain period of time/kms, so you have them replaced before they fail and service the bloody thing properly.

Joel · Joined: 23 Mar 1999 Location: Mornington Peninsula

The guy died before they even called the ambulance.

Apparently his wife came home and found him, and called the ambos, but he was already gone before she called.

member34258 · Joined: 05 Nov 2006

Whats this?
Facts getting in the way of a good story?
What is the world coming to.............

Someone should tell the Hun about what you have heard Joel. Here's a quote;

Joel · Joined: 23 Mar 1999 Location: Mornington Peninsula

Well they interviewed the nephew on TV, and he said the bloke was already dead before they called the ambulance.