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ITV News
13-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
Ambulance crew's 'neglect' and 'gross failure in basic care' caused man's death, inquest finds
A 39-year-old man died from a cardiac arrest due to "gross failure" and "neglect" by the ambulance crew sent to help him, an inquest has concluded. Coroner Bridget Dolan says Frazer Irvine, who lived in Jersey, would have survived if basic care had been provided, such as putting him in the recovery position. She explains: "The crew did nothing to adjust his position to one in which his airway would be protected, despite Frazer beginning to vomit." The Coroner adds that the advanced life support given to Mr Irvine by the crew after his cardiac arrest was "inadequate in a number of respects" and could have contributed to his death. The two medics involved, ambulance technician Tom Le Sauteur and paramedic John Sutherland, were found guilty of failing to provide adequate care to Mr Irvine under Jersey's Health and Safety Law last June. They were sentenced to a two-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £500 each in court costs - both men ultimately resigned from the Ambulance Service at the start of this year. The Coroner states that on Friday 18 March 2022, Mr Irvine was "very drunk and had taken some prescription drugs when he called an ambulance asking for assistance". She says he met the two medics "with ambivalence and at times, verbal aggression". Mr Irvine then fell to the floor on the landing outside his flat but concerned that they could face further aggression, the Coroner explains the medics "conducted no physical observations of Frazer before police arrived". However, she adds: "Frazer's level of consciousness was deteriorating and there were clear signs that this was happening. "After the police crew arrived, there was no good reason that steps could not then have been taken to conduct observations ... Yet for at least 12 minutes he was still not placed in a recovery position and nothing was done by the ambulance crew to effectively assess and manage his airway." The Coroner concludes: "There was an unreasonable and protracted delay by the ambulance in providing basic care to him. "This was a gross failure on their part when the need of a patient in their care should have been obvious. "Had Frazer received the care that should have been provided to him ... he would not have suffered a cardiac arrest and he would not have died. His death was a result of neglect by the ambulance crew." Speaking earlier at the inquest, Mr Irvine's mother Linda said: "In those last moments ... I only hope he knew how much he was loved. "They say your legacy is what you leave in people. Frazer will never see his dreams come to fruition. "He was too big a personality to ever be forgotten. His passing has devastated our family, and he is missed every day." Want the inside track on the key issues that will shape Guernsey's Election this June? Listen to Guernsey Votes, an ITV Channel podcast packed with expert guests, local insight and analysis you can trust...
ITV News
10-06-2025
- Health
- ITV News
'Devastated' mother of Jersey man who died whilst under care of medics speaks at inquest
Channel Inquest Health The family of a Jersey man who died after his care breached health and safety law say he will "never see his dreams come to fruition". Frazer Irvine, 39, died in March 2022 from a cardiac arrest, whilst under the care of ambulance technician Tom Le Sauteur and paramedic John Sutherland. At the inquest on Tuesday 10 June, Mr Irvine's mother described what she called the privilege of being his parent. Linda Irvine explained how her son was "much loved" and a "dependable friend" who "relished his role as a big brother". She added: "They say your legacy is what you leave in people. Frazer will never see his dreams come to fruition. "He was too big a personality to ever be forgotten. His passing has devastated our family, and he is missed every day. "When Frazer used to phone me, he used to end them with, 'Love you mum, more than you ever know'. "In those last moments [...] I only hope he knew how much he was loved." Le Sauteur and Sutherland were found guilty of failing to provide adequate care to Mr Irvine in the moments before his death under Jersey's Health and Safety Law. During the trial last June, the Royal Court heard how the medics had failed to put Mr Irvine in the recovery position, did not recognise he was struggling to breathe, and failed to provide adequate care during resuscitation. They were sentenced to a two-year conditional discharge from Jersey Ambulance Service and were ordered to pay £500 each in court costs. Their subsequent appeal to overturn the conviction failed in October, and both men ultimately resigned from the service at the start of this year. As part of the inquiry, Jersey Ambulance Service and the States of Jersey Police will be judged on whether there were any shortcomings in policies, procedures or guidance which could be relevant to Mr Irvine's death and if changes may help prevent similar deaths in the future. The inquest is expected to continue until Friday 13 June.
