Western Morning News
TEIGNMOUTH, England — An investigation has been launched after a paramedic claimed he was unable to enter a street without a police escort.
Retained firefighter Lee Grimshaw, who fell ill at his Teignmouth home, is furious after an ambulance waited for police before entering his road.
Mr Grimshaw, 22, said he was stunned to learn an ambulance had requested a police car to accompany it into Barnpark Terrace as he was battling severe stomach pains. The ambulance service has apologised and has launched an investigation.
The drama unfolded in the early hours of October 27 when Lee woke up in bed with stomach cramps which left him unable to breath.
He went outside for some fresh air but the pain was so severe he had to lie down in the pouring rain.
His partner Eloise Chick, also 22, phoned for an ambulance and his mum Lindsay rushed from her Dawlish home.
Lee said: “When my mum arrived she said that there was an ambulance waiting at the top of the road.
“She ran back out and asked the ambulance man what he was doing. He said there had been an incident in the road earlier that day and he needed a police escort to come down the road. Police later told me that was not the case.
“He only came down after she told him I was a retained firefighter.”
The ambulance went into the road without a police vehicle and Lee was taken to Torbay Hospital where it was found he was suffering from acute appendicitis.
A spokesman for the ambulance service said: “We would like to apologise for any distress this incident may have caused Mr Grimshaw. The trust is currently looking into this matter and is therefore unable to comment further at this stage.”
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