Firefighters Drive Patient to Hospital After Tower Block Blaze in Portsmouth
Last night, just after 6pm, Hampshire Fire and Rescue rushed to a high-rise fire on the 15th floor of Edgebaston House in Portsmouth. The blaze started in the kitchen, putting a 50-year-old man in serious danger from smoke inhalation.
Patient Left Waiting as Ambulance Fails to Arrive
Despite urgent calls, the South Central Ambulance Service failed to send an ambulance even after an hour of waiting. Firefighters quickly stepped up to provide emergency oxygen therapy to the man at the scene.
Fire Crew Forced to Drive Patient to Hospital
With ambulance delays causing a critical hold-up, the officer in charge made a bold call. Firefighters loaded the patient into their fire engine and sped off to Queen Alexandra Hospital themselves.
“Given the current ambulance delays at QA, this shows just how badly the NHS is struggling,” the officer said.
NHS Under Strain as Emergency Services Step In
- Firefighters step in when ambulances can’t respond
- Patient treated with oxygen on scene
- Fire engine used as makeshift ambulance to save vital minutes
This shocking incident highlights the growing crisis in emergency response times and the NHS’s current strain under pressure.
