Ambulance was ‘available’ but not sent for boy (2) who died after fall, HSE says

A Health Service Executive has investigation is under way after a man told how he had to drive a seriously injured boy to hospital after the child fell from an upstairs window, 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 falling from an upstairs window at the family home.

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 abeen living in Ireland for nine years, were otherwise too upset to speak.

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, Mr Hennessy said.

At SouthDoc Mr Hennessy told how the doctor gave him a letter of referral and told him to take 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 Síochána who provided an escort part of the way to the Cork hospital.

He said the gardaí could not have been more helpful. “We couldn’t get an ambulance – that’s why I’m talking to the media. I’m highlighting he problem,” he added. He was “devastated” when he found out the child had died. “My whole family are devastated.”

A neighbour of the Lithuanian family, Sabrina Benner, described the boy’s death as an “awful loss”. “They are nice, quiet people and they have always been very friendly. He was a lovely child.”

Mayor of Midleton Ted Murphy said it was “very sad” and it highlighted the great need for an ambulance base in Midleton. “We want an ambulance in the town,” he said.

A Garda spokesman said the gardaí were shocked at the situation. “It’s a sad state of affairs when you can’t provide an ambulance,” he said.

A spokesman for the HSE extended their sympathies to the boy's family. "In order to establish an accurate account of this incident, the HSE has asked the National Ambulance Service to examine the details of what occurred and to provide an account of the facts," he said.