Ambulance was 'available' but not sent ; A man who called emergency services was told no ambulance was available

By Georgina O'Halloran

An investigation was launched after a man told how he had to drive the seriously injured boy to hospital as there was no ambulance available.

Vakaris Martinaitis, who lived with his parents and sister in Midleton, Co Cork, lost his fight for life at Cork University Hospital on Wednesday, two days after the fall.

In a statement issued to The Irish Times late last night, the HSE said it had launched an investigation in to how the incident had been handled - and why the ambulance had not been made available.

"The preliminary examination of the facts surrounding this tragic incident has confirmed that an emergency ambulance was immediately available to respond to the call.

"In order to fully establish all the facts surrounding the management of this emergency call - including why the emergency ambulance was not made available - a formal review has been established."

The boy would have celebrated his second birthday today, his mother Aukse Martinaitiene said yesterday. His parents, Aukse and Vidas, who are from Lithuania and have been living in Ireland for nine years, were otherwise too upset to speak.

Man tells of 'shock'

Former GAA player Kevin Hennessy, who drove the boy to Cork University Hospital, part of the way under Garda escort, spoke yesterday of his "shock" at being told to bring the toddler to SouthDoc as there was no ambulance in the area.

Mr Hennessy, who lives in the same housing estate in Castleredmond, told how he ran to his assistance and called the emergency services when he saw the boy lying injured on the grass and his father crying and shouting. "I could see a bruise and a graze on his forehead and he had a noticeable swelling on his forehead," said Mr Hennessy. "I spoke to the dispatcher and I said I have an emergency. I said a young boy is after falling out of a window and he has head injuries."

"He said 'I'm sorry but we don't have an ambulance in the area' and [he asked] had I transport. I said I have transport and he said to take him to SouthDoc in Midleton," said the father of three.

Mr Hennessy and the boy's father laid the toddler in the back of the car and made the five-minute drive to SouthDoc.

At SouthDoc Mr Hennessy told how the doctor gave him a letter of referral and told him to take the child to Cork University Hospital.

Mr Hennessy said that on the way he realised the traffic was heavier than expected and called the garda - who he said could not have been more helpful - to provide an escort part of the way to the hospital.

The HSE statement added that the review team who will carry out the investigation will include experts in pre-hospital emergency care and primary care from both Ireland and the UK. The terms of reference are also being finalised. A representative from the team will liaise with the family on the review.

Originally published by Georgina O'Halloran.

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