Pensioner waited two hours for ambulance on Kerry beach, inquest hears

A pensioner who suffered severe spinal injuries when he fell while crossing rocks on a Kerry beach was left waiting two hours for an ambulance, an inquest has heard.

John Williams (70) from Upper Kilmacud Road in Dundrum, Dublin 14, died at the Mater Hospital on October 1st, 2013 just over two months after he fell at Clogher beach on the Dingle peninsula.

His wife of 45 years Marion Williams told Dublin Coroner's Court they were holidaying in Ballyferriter, Co Kerry, when they drove to Clogher at 11am on July 24th.

It was a beautiful day, she said, so Mr Williams went for a walk while she went back to the car. At around midday she became concerned and went searching for him. She headed toward the steps down to the beach, which had no handrail, and saw him lying face down on a bank of rocks which had to be navigated before reaching sand. She initially thought he was dead.

“John was not moving at all. I could see his right foot was bent at an unnatural angle. I went back up the steps to the car park where I screamed for help,” she said.

A couple came to her aid and Mrs Williams called some friends to come and help. An ambulance was called. A short time later, an ambulance appeared on the road but this turned out to be privately operated.

The ambulance for Mr Williams had to travel from Tralee, a distance of 30 kilometres, the inquest heard.

Mrs Williams told the court they were waiting “at least” two hours for the ambulance to arrive. While they waited a nurse holidaying in the area attended to Mr Williams and local GP Dr Conor Brosnan administered intravenous fluids.

When paramedics arrived, he was placed on a spinal board and transferred to Tralee General Hospital. Mrs Williams told the court she heard him making a “horrible sound” like “a wounded animal” as he was moved to the ambulance.

He was diagnosed with a traumatic cervical spinal injury on transfer to the Mater Hospital. His injuries were irreparable and he continued to deteriorate until his death.

Consultant orthopaedic surgeon at the Mater Noelle Cassidy said he had an ankylosed or fused spine that he seemed “unaware” of but which made him more prone to injury. “We rarely see injury extended over so many levels in a cord,” she said.

The cause of death was given as multi-organ failure following a spinal cord injury suffered in the fall.

Mrs Williams told coroner Dr Brian Farrell that three weeks after her husband's fall, Kerry County Council removed the steps, concreted the area and erected fencing and warning signs.

Dr Farrell gave a verdict of misadventure identifying the configuration of the steps and rough rocks as risk factors.

Following the inquest Mrs Williams said she would like to find the couple who came to her husband’s aid “to say thanks for all they did for John and I on the day”. “They were amazing,” she said.

She asked the couple to contact her via her solicitor Mary Flanagan on (01) 2063956.