Concerns over ambulance delays have been raised at an inquest after it took paramedics almost 90 minutes to reach a man who had jumped from an electricity substation.
Nathan Strange of Manor Gardens,Westoning died from 75 per cent burns at the Royal London Hospital after throwing himself off of an electricity substation near the railway line in Greenfield Road,Westoning on April 7.
An inquest at Bedford Coroner’s Court on Tuesday heard that Mr Strange climbed the mast, and threw himself to the ground making contact with the electricity cable on the way, burning off his clothes and shoes.
The 29 year-old was later found by a family, naked and covered in blood, in a caravan on the grounds of their property in Higham Bury Lane in Puloxhill 1.5 miles away from the substation.
The family waited with him for an hour and 20 minutes for paramedics to arrive and he was finally airlifted to the hospital in London where he died later the same day.
PC Amy Smith based in Ampthill told the inquest: “The family found him naked in the caravan, he was alive and looked like he was covered in dust.
“At the time the family were angry that it took so long for the ambulance to arrive and that they left Mr Strange uncovered for a long period of time.”
After ruling the cause of death as severe burns and recording an open verdict, David Morris said: “The ambulance service has looked into the delay but I am not sure of what the explanation for it was.
“The delay did not contribute to the death, the burns were sufficiently severe that little could have been done for him. I will be keeping an eye to make sure all lessons have been learnt.
“A number of concerns I have related to the death have not been answered fully and may never be, therefore I am recording an open verdict.”
