A pregnant woman whose husband was dying in the back of an ambulance had to take the driver to hospital because he did not know the way, an inquest heard.
Motorcyclist Aaron Morris, 31, died in hospital after an accident with a car at a junction in Esh Winning, County Durham, on the afternoon of July 1, 2022.
His wife Samantha Morris was 13 weeks pregnant with twins and celebrating her birthday when the accident occurred.
She was on her way to meet him after spending the night in the hospital when she found her husband lying on the road.
Mrs Morris told Durham and Darlington County Coroner’s Court that her husband was conscious and breathing when she arrived at the scene moments after the collision.
However, in the 54 minutes it took for ambulance crews to arrive, his condition worsened.
Motorcyclist Aaron Morris, 31 (right), died in hospital after an accident with a car at a junction in Esh Winning, County Durham, on the afternoon of July 1, 2022.
Samantha Morris was 13 weeks pregnant with twins and celebrating her birthday when the accident occurred.
Mrs Morris pictured with her twin sons Aaron-Junior John Robson Morris (left) and Ambrose-Ayren Morris (right)
He died shortly after arriving at North Durham University Hospital. Mrs Morris told the inquest: “I was there to hold Aaron’s hand as his heart took its last beat.”
The investigation found that several people at the scene that day made several attempts to call an ambulance, including a friend of Ms. Morris, a nurse practitioner.
However, an external ambulance company, Ambulanz, arrived almost an hour after the first call was made.
Morris said the driver had asked where the nearest trauma center was and was heading to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary (RVI) when her husband went into cardiac arrest in the ambulance.
He then had to send the driver to the nearest hospital, according to the investigation.
“I was 13 weeks pregnant and my husband was receiving CPR in the back of the ambulance,” Mrs Morris said.
‘Why should I make the decision about which hospital my husband should be taken to? I have to live with the fact that if I said the RVI I might still be alive to this day.
She added that the driver “made the right decision by asking” and that she doesn’t “blame him for that.”
Ms Morris (left) told Durham and Darlington County Coroner’s Court that Mr Morris (right) was conscious and breathing when he arrived at the scene, moments after the collision.
He died shortly after arriving at North Durham University Hospital. Mrs Morris told the inquest: “I was there to hold Aaron’s hand as his heart took its last beat.”
It took ambulance crews 54 minutes to arrive, but his condition deteriorated in that time, the inquest heard.
“My fault is that the people who manage him and train him should have given him the tools to know where the nearest hospital is,” he said.
“He made the right decision that day to use what he had, which was me, who lives in the local area.”
Mr Morris’ inquest was first opened in May and then adjourned after the coroner identified the Great North Air Ambulance Service (GNAAS) as a party of interest.
Two Durham Police officers who attended the scene of the collision were the first to give evidence today, including DC Rebecca Shaw, who told the hearing that she was the first officer to arrive at the scene.
She was off-duty at the time driving and in the area when members of the public swerved her to avoid the collision.
DC Shaw told the inquest he stopped his car after seeing a body lying on the road, which was surrounded by several people.
Several 999 calls were then made from his mobile, which were then passed to nurse Helen, who was off duty.