Report due soon into tragic case

An expert report from a doctor is awaited as inquest proceedings continue in the case of a County Durham man who died after waiting more than an hour for an ambulance.

- SAM VOLPE Reporter

Andrew Watson, 32, died in 2019

Andrew Watson, 32, died on October 10, 2019. His family believe he was failed by North East Ambulance Service (NEAS) and that the first 999 call made in his case should have been treated as a category 1 case - the most serious - from the outset, rather than initially a category 2 case.

On the morning of October 10, Andrew, who lived in Langley Moor, visited his GP complaining of a sore throat. He was prescribed antibiotics. At 5.43pm that day, he called 999 as he was struggling to breathe.

He rang again at 6.23pm. Twelve minutes later, when his condition had worsened to the point he was unresponsive, a worker at his supported living facility called again.