Ambulance and NHS trusts admit failings over rapper death

An ambulance service and an NHS trust have admitted breaching their duty of care over the death of Ebow Graham, a founding member of the hip-hop group Foreign Beggars.

- Matthew Weaver

Graham, 40, died after falling out of a third-storey window in Clapton, east London, in April 2020 following a psychotic episode. Hours earlier London Ambulance paramedics had dismissed his friends' concerns about his behaviour.

A crisis call handler from East London NHS foundation trust also failed to properly assess his risk or arrange an urgent mental health assessment within the recommended time.

Both London Ambulance and the trust have now reached an undisclosed settlement with Graham's former partner, Francesca Macri.

Graham's friends first raised the alarm at about 4.20pm on 17 April when they called 999, worried by his erratic behaviour.

Macri claimed that when paramedics arrived at his Clapton flat, they were "dismissive and flippant" and ignored what his friends were saying about his condition.

The paramedics judged that Graham had capacity over his care. A serious incident report by London Ambulance admitted that they failed to follow protocols by not contacting the mental health team for advice.