AN ‘AMAZING’ mum died in bed at home while waiting for an ambulance that never arrived.
Cath Groom, 51, from Brisbane, Australia, called the emergency services around 10.30pm last Friday after suffering chest pains.
FacebookCath Groom, 51, died in bed at home while waiting for an ambulance that never arrived[/caption]
The ambulance should have arrived in 15 minutes but an exhausted Ms Groom cancelled the request after waiting an hour and a half, deciding to go to bed and hope symptoms would subside instead.
Her teenage son tragically found her dead the following day — when she would have turned 52.
Queensland Ambulance Service Commissioner Craig Emery said the service should have arrived at Cath’s home much sooner.
He told 9News: “We obviously should have done better in this set of circumstances, we have started a comprehensive review.
“We should be able to respond to somebody in that set of circumstances in a much more timely manner.”
Chest pains can be a sign of heart attack — which cause 100,000 hospital admissions and a year in Britain, according to the British Heart Foundation.
The deadly medical emergency is caused by the blood supply to the heart suddenly being blocked, usually by a blood clot.
Other symptoms include feeling pain in other parts of the body, including the arms, jaw and neck, feeling lightheaded, sweating, shortness of breath and feeling sick.
The NHS recommends you call 999 and ask for an ambulance immediately if you suspect someone is suffering a heart attack.
Cath was found dead from what is believed to be a heart attack at her home in Forest Lake at 9.28am on Saturday.
Friends and family took to social media to pay tribute to the “amazing and genuine woman taken far too soon”.
Her sister said: “Rest In Peace Sis, may you rest easy now with Dad and your life’s love and husband.”
A friend wrote: “Cath you’re an amazing mother, woman and friend. Heaven is a greater place for having you.”
Queensland Ambulance Service has launched a review into her death.
A spokesperson said: “Firstly the Queensland Ambulance Service’s thoughts and condolences go out to the lady’s family and friends.
“The QAS was experiencing a high level of demand for service at the time of the 000 calls.
“QAS is undertaking a comprehensive review of the clinical and operational aspects of this case as well as referring to the coroner.”