Brian Hurton, a 55-year-old from East Kilbride, died after making two harrowing 999 calls in which he begged for an ambulance that never arrived in time. The calls, released to his family, reveal his final moments as he struggled to breathe. An ambulance reached his home three hours and 24 minutes after his first call at 5:55 pm on November 18, but he was already dead.
First Call: 'I'm Struggling to Breathe'
In the first call, lasting 2 minutes and 50 seconds, Brian tells the call handler he is struggling to breathe and feels like he will collapse. He is audibly gasping and breathing heavily. The handler advises him to slow his breathing and says a clinician will call him back instead of dispatching an ambulance immediately. Brian is told to keep his phone line free and call back if his condition worsens.
Second Call: 'Please... I'm Losing Breath'
Ten minutes later, Brian calls again. He can be heard gasping and sobbing, saying, 'I'm losing breath... please.' The handler again tells him that based on the information provided, a clinician will call him back. Brian says 'please' twice before the call ends after 2 minutes and 8 seconds. His family described the calls as so distressing that many have been unable to listen to them.
Family's Demand for Answers
The Scottish Ambulance Service released the transcripts after pressure from Brian's family. A spokesperson said: 'We are deeply sorry for the loss of Brian Hurton and offer our sincere condolences to his family. We are conducting a thorough investigation into the circumstances and have been in contact with the family to discuss their concerns.' The family is calling for changes to the triage system to prevent similar tragedies.
According to the Scottish Ambulance Service, the delay was due to high demand in the area at the time. However, the family argues that Brian's condition should have been prioritized. The case has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for better emergency response systems.
