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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Inquiry into 999 'fat joke' claim | Inquiry into 999 'fat joke' claim |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Claims that ambulance staff made fun of a woman for being overweight moments before she died are being investigated. | Claims that ambulance staff made fun of a woman for being overweight moments before she died are being investigated. |
| Sandra Teague's husband John said the paramedics joked about calling the fire brigade to move his wife out of their home in Podsmead, Gloucester. | Sandra Teague's husband John said the paramedics joked about calling the fire brigade to move his wife out of their home in Podsmead, Gloucester. |
| "They [joked about] getting her out through the window, which I thought was rather disgusting," he said. | "They [joked about] getting her out through the window, which I thought was rather disgusting," he said. |
| Great Western Ambulance Service said it was taking the complaint seriously and was investigating the allegations. | Great Western Ambulance Service said it was taking the complaint seriously and was investigating the allegations. |
| Mr Teague had called 999 when his 52-year-old wife began to have trouble breathing. | Mr Teague had called 999 when his 52-year-old wife began to have trouble breathing. |
| He said she had had a history of illness, including asthma and diabetes and the steroid drugs she needed had caused her weight to balloon. | He said she had had a history of illness, including asthma and diabetes and the steroid drugs she needed had caused her weight to balloon. |
| Mr Teague said the ambulance crew had been at their house for two hours deliberating how to move her. | Mr Teague said the ambulance crew had been at their house for two hours deliberating how to move her. |
| But he believes she may have been saved if they had put her in a wheelchair and got her to hospital. | But he believes she may have been saved if they had put her in a wheelchair and got her to hospital. |
| A spokeswoman for Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust said that because of patient confidentiality, it could not comment further until a full investigation had been carried out. | |
| Gloucestershire coroners' service said Mrs Teague had died of "natural causes". |