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Ambulance Delays Linked to Man's 2019 COPD Death

3/21/2026

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Story summary
  • The coroner's report concluded ambulance delays may have contributed to Peter Coates's 2019 death from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
  • The first ambulance was delayed by a power outage that affected station gates.
  • A second ambulance refueled and arrived 47 minutes after Coates called for help.
  • The North East Ambulance Service has since implemented changes to prevent similar incidents.