Teen hurt in Cork match waited 75 minutes for ambulance

A teenager injured while playing a soccer match in Cork at the weekend was left waiting over an hour for an ambulance, despite the fact that the HSE ambulance centre was is approximately five minutes drive away.

Craig Linehan (14) was seriously injured while playing for Kilreen Celtic at Ballyphehane Park in Cork at 1.30pm on Saturday. Club officials contacted the emergency services to request an ambulance.

Kilreen Celtic coach, Mark Towler told The Neil Prendeville Show on Cork's Red FM that the boy's parents were so upset at the delay that at one point, one parent got into his car and drove after an ambulance which was spotted passing on a nearby road.

“We thought at the start that Craig had dislocated his hip. We didn’t know if there was other damage caused. It could even have been a bad fracture,” said Mr Towler, adding that the first 999 call for an ambulance was made at 1.35pm.

Mr Towler said further calls were made for an ambulance at 1.52pm, 2.18pm and 2.31pm with an ambulance finally arriving at the pitch at 2.50pm - some 75 minutes after the first call was made.

“The poor lad was in agony. It was very upsetting to see him in such pain. My heart was breaking just looking at him. We were desperate to get him some form of pain management before he was moved to hospital.”

Initially, it was thought that Craig may have suffered a dislocated hip or a leg fracture but it transpired that he had sustained a severe soft tissue issue injury and is expected to make a full recovery. Mr Towler said the incident highlighted difficulties with the ambulance service.

“I have great respect for people working in the health system - they do an incredible job but it is clear they are working to breaking point.

“I have never been so ashamed of our healthcare system than I was last Saturday, watching this poor lad in absolute agony on the pitch waiting for help.

“What the hell is going on that a young lad in terrible pain has to wait an hour and a quarter for help in Ireland’s second city. It just isn’t on,” said Mr Towler who pointed out that the HSE ambulance depot on the Kinsale Road is around five minutes drive from the football pitch.

Contacted about the delay, the HSE issued a statement in which it confirmed the National Ambulance Service received a phonecall at 1.36pm on Saturday that a young boy had been injured in Ballyphehane.

“The caller informed the call taker that a young person had sustained a hip injury. The first available resource was immediately dispatched to the scene. All resources in the local area were engaged on other calls,” said the HSE in its statement.

“An emergency ambulance from Dungarvan (in Waterford) was dispatched to the scene. While the Dungarvan ambulance was on route an emergency ambulance became free in Cork city and was reallocated to this call arriving on scene at 2.49pm.”

“The Dungarvan ambulance was stood down. The patient was treated at the scene and then transported to Cork University Hospital,” the HSE, adding in its statement that instructions were given by the call-taker to those with the injured boy prior to the arrival of an ambulance.