St John launch inquiry over 111 response to dying man

File photo / NZH

St John Ambulance has launched an internal investigation into why it took staff 22 minutes to reach a dying man in Taupo.

Benjamin Lucas was dragged ashore after getting into trouble on the Waikato River between Spa Park and Huka Falls. Two ambulances were dispatched, but they were initially sent to the wrong side of the river. One ambulance was then rerouted, but stopped to collect a paramedic mountain bike.

The 20-year-old died and his friends reportedly believe he may have been saved if ambulance staff arrived earlier.

St John spokesman Alan Goudge has extended a sincere apology to the family of Mr Lucas. He says their priority when taking an emergency call is establishing the victim's exact location.

"We didn't manage that as well as we should have or could have. We are investigating, but our initial findings would suggest that there was a problem in identifying the exact location as quickly as we should have," Mr Goudge said.

He says the call centre worker thought they had established where the victim was.

"You know, somebody rings in and they've had an accident and they say that they can see trees, a lake and mountains - and that's 70 per cent of the South Island. And so it is very difficult."

Mr Goudge says a thorough and robust inquiry is already underway.

"There were well in excess of 25 transmissions associated with this incident. So all of those are being transcribed and will be analysed in detail."

Mr Goudge hopes the inquiry will be completed by early next week. He says staff are devastated by what has happened, and are keen to prevent it happening again.

- NEWSTALK ZB